Since 2009, I have lived as a semi-professional musician. Quite how my life would have turned out if I did not have that - albeit relatively small - income would be anyone's guess. Local gigs have helped fuel my car and put groceries in the cupboard, and bigger, European or worldwide gigs have helped buy the car, tax it, pay rent, pay child maintenance, buy clothes, and allow me to....yes, go to the pub.
A long time ago I decided it would be much more interesting to be rich rather than famous. It seems this thinking is in stark contrast to many of the X-Factor / Big Brother addicted kidz growing up now. Fame seems to be a pain, whereas having some nice folding money on your hip brings with it a feeling of security and mild happiness.
With this in mind, I never really like taking compliments from people concerning the bands, and certainly don't see why people would ask me to sign their CD's at Frenzy gigs. Its a scribble and, if anything, devalues the CD rather than increases its monetary worth. Regardless, if I declined a signature, I would definitely be considered a rock star.
So I am aware that in the future I will look back at this time in my existence fondly, and accept that I was very fortunate to have lived this way for as long as I have. Some weeks are a famine, others a feast. Right now, its famine time, but that will swing back the other way soon enough.
A friend of mine though, has recently been experiencing a degree of success with his band. They have acquired a manager, a bloody good thing to have, and luckily for them this chap knows his onions. He has gotten them all manner of good things, and there's plenty more to come. They have magazine coverage, they are doing a Radio One session, they are playing the festivals with their more influential, more successful peers. So far, so rock star.
However....they're all skint. They're all on the dole, most of them because they believe they're already rock stars and shouldn't have to work. It seems rock stars these days need their mum and dad to wash, iron, cook and clean for them though. Claiming benefits is one thing, but it seems that despite their festival slots and excellent supporting opportunities, the money isn't forthcoming. Would it be alarmist to say its a form of exploitation? As a jaded musician I'd say no. If someone does a job for you, you pay them for their services. Unfortunately, contracts are rarely exchanged in the music industry, unless they heavily benefit one party and financially penalise the other.
I would like some of their opportunities, really I would. But whilst opportunity brings with it experience, it seldom pays the bills. I appreciate this is where age may creep into the proceedings, as I now believe that whilst it is important to see and do as much as you can with this very short life, I also think that for the young, the experience is a large part of it, and not the financial reward. However, this comes from a lack of responsibility. These guys don't have to make rent, pay for the electric, and pay the council tax.
I hope they eventually invest enough free gigs in the band so that later on, they won't have to worry about where the money is coming from. Myself; I would much rather be in a small band that gets paid well regularly, than have the luxury of bragging to my friends about the green room at Radio One. I too get a lot of great experiences, but I come back in the black. And long may that continue...
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