Is LIVE music what it used to be?

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 27 Dec 2001 3:33 pm

Myron,
I live in Nashville. I know back when the players played for $25.00 a night. Today they make more than that. Anyway, you can hear great music on lower broad or in other clubs if you look in Nashville! Theresa

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 27 Dec 2001 8:41 pm

Oh Boy! Lets say pickers make $50.00 a night,5 nights a week...and thats a stretch.I don't think $250.00 a week,$13,000 a year is anything to write home about.Last time I checked a person working at Wal Mart can make a better living.That might be ok for a young player starting out,but for somebody with a family and a mortgage,I would have to hit the welfare office for a supplement in income.
Your right about one thing Theresa,there are some great players working the joints in Nashville,but at what cost? I have been told by a well known steel player,who played for tips on lower broad,that there were many nights when he would go home with $20.00 in his pocket after a 4 hr gig. Not only is that degrading its down right immoral.
Richard Bass hit the nail on the head,the pay scale has kept up with the poverty level.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 27 Dec 2001 9:51 pm

I haven't been through Nashville lately but my picker friends from around there backup Earl's posts...I admit it's pretty much hearsay, but everyone I know says the same as Earl; that if you're one of the studio vets you can definitely make good money there but in actuality most of us are not a Paul Franklin or Brent Mason and $25-$50 a night is pretty much what's available for the working non-big-name band in the nightclub, bar etc. scene. Las Vegas has really dried up too since Country Tonight and all the copies left. There are a few Country bands making a living but they're having to go out of town to out-of-town casinos like in Mesquite, Laughlin, other nearby towns. Most of the Casino lounges have top-40 bands, lot of sequenced...now THERE'S a whole 'nother subject.

Gene Jones · Post by **Gene Jones** » 28 Dec 2001 4:58 am

....as Henson Cargil used to say, "Come see our show folks, we've got "live" musicians, come see 'em in their cage".... www.genejones.com

Bill Crook · Post by **Bill Crook** » 28 Dec 2001 6:32 am

Theresa......
As much as I hate to this,but here goes:

I don't think you have a real graspt of the music scene here in "Nashburg" as seen by the average picker,be it steel player or lead guitar picker. Going down on lower Broad Street and finding a Garth Brooks wannabe or some Chicky Diva doing a "Snot Twaine" gig isn't Country by any means.

The outfit I play with can put much of what you see on the "Grand Ole Opry" to shame !! We can do a 4 hour show and NOT repeat a singular number twice (unless asked for). The "Opry" shows has too much "Acid Punk Country" plus a large portion of the performers haven't even begin to understand the meaning of "music" as we (the true pickers) know and play it.

The shows on the "Opry" has about 2 or 3 songs in a 30 minute show. the rest is just milling around and the "Guest" performer givin credit to his/her "Punk Rock" band.

You will note that you don't see any of the "Master" players giging down on Broad Street. Why..... The money's just isn't there. Wherever you see a hi-profile player, you can bet it's a special event or such.

Teresa, I may should have posted to you in a personal e-mail but I truely fail to see the "Well, here in Nashville it's great!" attitude.

(O.K. guy and gals.... You can slam me now.)

(Just my 02 cents)

Jason Odd · Post by **Jason Odd** » 28 Dec 2001 8:06 am

Now you're just insulting punk rock bands with that association.

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 28 Dec 2001 10:45 am

I don't think $250.00 a week,$13,000 a year is anything to write home about.Last time I checked a person working at Wal Mart can make a better living.

Earl, Wal-Mart employees probably have a nice benefits package (Medical, Dental). I played a couple of gigs with my friend Anthony Crawford a couple of years ago here in town and got $80.oo each gig. That is the most I've ever got in Nashville. Most of the time it is $30.oo-$50.oo. I think if you want to make a good living with music here in Nashville, get yourself a Professional Karaoke Machine.

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 28 Dec 2001 11:27 am

Benefits package in the music business? HAH! What a joke! I wasted...er' worked at Opryland for a total of 8 yrs.and there was no medical or dental package for the musicians because the corporate giant had us pigeon holed as seasonal employees,1099,independent contractors,you know...how convenient.I guess what I am trying to say is that pickers will get the shaft no matter who they work for.The musicians at Opryland were no better off financially than anybody else. We still had to supplement our income to make a living.
Larry, I too played gigs in Nashville where the pay was $75.00 but the venue was the country club circut...City Club, Bell Meade,Hill Wood,etc. and I have heard that the guys on lower broad have made that much in a night but that is the exception and not the rule.I am happy that the pickers on lower broad have fun playing there,but just having fun doesn't pay the bills.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 28 Dec 2001 11:34 am

...And THAT'S sad.......also brings to mind another question... true as mentioned earlier, many bands/musicians are irresponsible morons who get plastered on the job, don't show up on time etc; and with aids and blood-alcohol levels so low for legally drunk you can't have a beer anymore, this must have affected the business. But if that's true, what about the discos and karaoke bars, why are THEY still going strong? Remember 'way back when recording first started getting popular, (me neither but I read about it) and musicians were griping about it and afraid if people could just go buy a record, it would put all the musicians out of work? We all know that was not how it worked out, but what about now? Maybe the proliference of CD players, free music downloads and "file sharing", it's finally started happening, enough people just don't bother to go out of their way to hear a band, not enough for the club owners to pay a fair price for one? Or maybe we're in a recession and nobody's telling?

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 28 Dec 2001 12:05 pm

Jim, if you were a club owner and had a choice of increasing your profit margin by hiring a kareoke guy at a $100.00 a night or a four piece at $400.00 a night,which would it be? I think the choice is obvious.Its pure D economics.

I don't think any recession is the problem its the mind set.

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 28 Dec 2001 12:10 pm

Yep, I understand that and no doubt you're right. It's just hard for me to accept that paying $400 for a 4-piece for a night won't bring in more than the karaoke guy. Actually, my wife and I have been considering buying a club and you can bet there will be NO karaoke, ha. If we really ever do it and live music doesn't make it I'd rather sell the place.

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 28 Dec 2001 12:13 pm

It is extremely sad to see someone like Curly Chalker, who is the idol of many and still gives us great pleasure, end up without a Pot or a Window. Something is wrong with this picture. These stories are many. Earl, one good thing about the union, I got my Sam's card!

Jim Phelps · Post by **Jim Phelps** » 28 Dec 2001 12:38 pm

Talking about Curly sure touches a nerve. I was extremely fortunate to know him as a close friend in the late 80's - early 90's. Too bad it was during a time when I'd quit music, didn't even have a steel anymore, so I didn't get to learn all kinds of great things from him, even tho he even offered several times for me sit down and learn some stuff, I was 'way too far out of it musically. Blew a chance that'll never come again. One thing I did learn from Curly though, is that he took himself out of the music mainstream. His well-known so-called "attitude", really he was a great musician who just couldn't stand the politics of the business, he refused to play pattycake, more or less. There's a lesson for everyone there, somewhere. Sometimes, some can maintain their musical integrity and still make a good living, other times in some guy's lives, no matter how great they are, you still have to get along with the world. Everybody knows Curly was a great player, he was a great guy too, he'd just had enough of the business and that's why he - unfortunately - didn't die a very rich man.

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 28 Dec 2001 1:19 pm

Amen,Jim.
Larry, I have a Sam's Card too.Man, some of us just have the luck!

Larry Miller · Post by **Larry Miller** » 28 Dec 2001 3:27 pm

LMAO ROTF!!!!

VERNON PRIDDY · Post by **VERNON PRIDDY** » 28 Dec 2001 4:28 pm

SomePlaces I Know On Broadway In Nashville The Band Plays For What Ever People Put In The Can And Some times That Is Not Much. SONNY.

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SONNYPRIDDY

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 28 Dec 2001 11:31 pm

I believe Nashville has a great venue for music. Theresa

Theresa, you are right again! On any given Sunday, one can drive past a Black Church or a Holy Roller Church and hear good music but it sort of ends there. Enlighten us on where the rest of the good music is in Nashville as I do spend some time there lurking about.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 29 Dec 2001 5:46 am

Bill,
Is LIVE music what is used to be? I gave my opinion

Anyway, where does your Outfit play? I would like to hear you.

Mike, next time you lurk in town pick up "The Nashville Scene" magazine. You might be surprised

Theresa

p.s. Gregg said, "he got $10 or $15 down on lower broad back then. I know today musicians are making much more than that a night.[This message was edited by Theresa Galbraith on 29 December 2001 at 05:54 AM.]

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 29 Dec 2001 7:54 am

Mike, next time you lurk in town pick up "The Nashville Scene" magazine. You might be surprised Theresa

I did and I wasn't. In all fairness though, Mike Sweeney is at the Palace, John Hughey is at Legends on Wednesdays and weekends and Bucky Reid is at the Dugout on weekends, the Players occasionally at 3rd and Lindley and Johnny Cox is at Station Inn on Mondays but that is basically it!

Gregg said, "he got $10 or $15 down on lower broad back then. I know today musicians are making much more than that a night

You're right again! I believe it is up to $21 or $25 now and sometimes even $35 or $40. Yes, things are moving right along down on lower Broad.

Anyway, where does your Outfit play? I would like to hear you.

Theresa, where do YOU play because we would like to come hear you. I'll be at the Tiki Lounge next month filling in for my son. It's a little shithole and we only get paid $100 each for the night, damnit!

Earl Erb · Post by **Earl Erb** » 29 Dec 2001 8:09 am

OUCH!

No need to elaborate here.

Theresa Galbraith · Post by **Theresa Galbraith** » 29 Dec 2001 8:27 am

Mike,
I don't play steel. Do you? Theresa

John Steele (deceased) · Post by **John Steele (deceased)** » 29 Dec 2001 9:24 am

From what I read here, I guess I have to count myself amongst the fortunate as well.
I hope this doesn't come off as a smart-ass question, becuase it's not meant to be but:
Why does anyone want to live in Nashville?
-John

Mike Weirauch · Post by **Mike Weirauch** » 29 Dec 2001 10:06 am

<BLOCKQUOTE>quote:<HR>Mike,
I don't play steel. Do you? Theresa<HR></BLOCKQUOTE>
Theresa, I told you I play Oboe, Bassoon and Marimba. I only collect steel's, Profex II's and broken strings but if you insisted, I might be able to do something recognizable with a steel but it would be REAL country and you probably wouldn't like it!

After all, I'm just an undertaker not a musician!