Making money as a guitarist

D-Man

Hi there,

I've been thinking a lot lately, how could a simple solo guitarist start making money by doing what he loves.....Playing guitar? It's all good and well doing it for fun but it's not exactly a cheap passtime. I am only 15 years old so there's practically no way to get a job but what about busking or asking to perform at small venues............. Could this work????

vic

D-Man wrote: Hi there,

I've been thinking a lot lately, how could a simple solo guitarist start making money by doing what he loves.....Playing guitar? It's all good and well doing it for fun but it's not exactly a cheap passtime. I am only 15 years old so there's practically no way to get a job but what about busking or asking to perform at small venues............. Could this work????

One small problem....I speak under correction...because you're under age, you cannot operate (play) where liquor is served..this may be a big minus. ☹
You may play at weddings and private parties though... ?

D-Man

Gee. That could be very right. I didn't think of that.... What about busking? Is that legal?

vic

D-Man wrote: Gee. That could be very right. I didn't think of that.... What about busking? Is that legal?

Not sure....but you WILL have to get an OK from your Municipality

Keira-WitherKay

the idea of making money from music /playing guitar is great ........ i have done it for a living my entire life.......

but you do need to look at it realistically .........

ask yourself some questions

1. do you have a polished product/show? .......

2. and the toughest question is whether people will pay money to hear you play ....

3. will you sing??? if so do you have a good enough voice.........

4. do you have 'gear" or enough gear (small PA system) to perform in a small restaurant and get an acceptable sound..........?

if you answered yes to all of these then i see no problem ..........why you could not make money from music

as for the age thing...... as long as you don't look too young for your age since at 15 most guys look old enough to be a young looking 18 especially if you tall or big built .... and yeah legally maybe there is an issue....... but if you look the part sure no one will ask questions.....
and especially if you try get gigs at restaurants ...in major clubs i would be more cautious but by what you wrote does not sound like you have a band who can play the major clubs but wanna do the solo thing

and busking ???/ mmmmmmmm dodgy to do in this country mainly cos you may just get the wrong cops trying to move you on....... and risk getting mugged and your gear stolen ...... maybe in a shopping centre might be the place but then get permission from centre/mall management .....but forget doing it on the streets.......even in london on the underground the busking is now formalised.......

good luck...... and keep playing

vic

@Keira...I love those specs...damn sexy ?

DonovanB

vic wrote: @Keira...I love those specs...damn sexy ?

Vic that dog won't hunt... 8)

vic

DonovanB wrote:
vic wrote: @Keira...I love those specs...damn sexy ?
Vic that dog won't hunt... 8)

LOL.... ?

D-Man

Thanks Kiera, that was pretty helpful.

zohn wrote: Join a band and hone your skills and gain confidence from performing at gigs. Experience in the setup and application of gear in a band setup is most valuable. If you stand out in the band, opportunities for greater things will come with time. The main thing is to be seen and heard by people.

Thats been my thought for a while but I don't know any bands to join and I don't know enough people to form a band with. If I could find a bassist and drummer, that would definitely be my route because I have a vocalist and another guitarist that I jam with already..

DonovanB

D-man,
One day I was sitting in my office and I thought, "Man, I think it's time I got into a band again."

A rep came to see me and we started chatting. It turned out he was in a band that needed a guitarist. what are the odds? Out of the blue this oke turns up to sell Fume Cupboards for a lab!!
So I joined Swell band and have stuck with them since. We don't make much money but we do get paying gigs. I have made in the region of nothing (for the freebies) to R5,000 for a gig. I didn't do it full time and lately things have been very quiet but it opened a door for me. I had a jam with Steve Fataar on his 67th Birthday on Sunday! What a jol!

zohn wrote: Check out your local Junkmail, Gumtree, as well as printed media - even this forum. There are always people looking for mu'zos...

Yeah, Advertise on gumtree or something. I have also just put together a guitar duo from a gumtree ad. Neither of us are Paco or Al di Meola, but we have fun and do our songs simply and well.

You'll never know who you meet, it could be good or bad but it is an experience and you learn from it.

D-Man

Posting where-ever I can right now.....

vic

D-Man wrote: Posting where-ever I can right now.....

Just some friendly advice D-man.....watch out who you hang out with..you may get responses from real freak-ous... Sorry to sound like an old f..t ?

D-Man

HAHA.

good point. Thanks a lot I really appreciate it

Keira-WitherKay

and yeah .don't let your age get in the way .. martin taylor the great UK jazz guitarist was doing pro gigs at age 9 with his dads band,and lied about being 16 when he got a gig on QEII in the ships band and at that point martin could not even read music he bluffed his way through each show... being good enough to just 'wing it " and make up appropriate parts without reading the charts ...apparantly according to martin himself he was only discovered to half way across the atlantic.then when he got to new york he left the boat and played there for a while ........ now thats talent at 15 ......... tommy emmaneul too started at 6 with the family band....... and look where he is today ......
so if you 15 and can play well don't wait to mature .......... just be like nike and "do it"

a warning is issued with this encouragement .............. if you by any chance are not up to pro standard be careful to just play pro gigs...people can be very cruel to muso's they don't like ........ and it could destroy your whole love for music.........

Keira-WitherKay

DonovanB wrote:
vic wrote: @Keira...I love those specs...damn sexy ?
Vic that dog won't hunt... 8)

thanks for the compliment ....... it's my middle age look ......... they look great but truth is without em i can't read the charts ? ....... oh and my girlfriend loves em too

kingr

You can make money as a guitarist, I encourage it if you are capable of doing so.

I recently joined my church band, not getting paid though, but it's great experience building for me. I play with good musicians and i'm the underdog in the band, but I'm learning how to play in a band, the logistics of technical music issues, new songs and music in general.

So if you can, join a church to start with.

singemonkey

kingr wrote: So if you can, join a church to start with.

Just be aware that they may expect you to partake in their religion as a requirement ?

tentop

singemonkey wrote:
kingr wrote: So if you can, join a church to start with.
Just be aware that they may expect you to partake in their religion as a requirement ?

Is it like one of those "here's a free plate of food in exchange for your immortal soul" things?

D-Man

kingr wrote: So if you can, join a church to start with.

Sounds like something to consider

kingr

of course if you do join a church band there will normally be some type of conduct that's expected from the band members.

At our church it's very relaxed and most of the musicians play in other bands outside the church too.