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Topic: Lucrative Gigs In Ca |
Steven Finley
From:
California, USA
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 7:49 pm |
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Some years back, one of the most sought after gigs was useful for networking because of the industry people who frequented the club--that was
the prestigious toilet known as the Palomino--which by the way, only paid $40/night. The A bands played the circuit of larger clubs; Anaheim Cowboy,
Mule Lip, Foothill Club, DJ Ranch, BandBox, The Forge, George's Roundup, etc, but would not consider playing the lesser toilets; Loretta's, Sundowner,
Winchester Inn, Mudflap Inn, Clyde's, Henry's Lariat, Pappy & Harriet's (slip & slide in the beer on the dance floor), etc, which offered much lower wages.
I mention this because now, with the shortage of paying gigs (any pay) musicians are currently clawing at the musical bathroom door. If there is
room to set up, and an electric plug to plug in, some are grabbing the gig just to play. But the cruelty of it is that these outhouses are being
advertised as if they are playing Carnegie Hall while still paying outhouse pay!
Amenities you ask? What, not even a free glass of water? One club told the band to use the hose out back. These shit gigs for shit pay
won't even give you enough TP to wipe your ass on the way out. And players at these outhouse jobs will not allow you to "sit in" because
you might steal their job--just like they did to the previous musician who worked at that outhouse.
You might hear the rumor of the attempt to resurrect the heyday of country music in CA (the Buck & Merle sound which is obviously a very dead horse).
I was part of that former era having played with names such as Billy Mize, Eddy Drake, backed Hank Thompson, Johnny Rodriguez, Gary P. Nunn,
Sonny Martin (writer of Truck Driving Man), Red Simpson, Joe Maphis, The Singing Cowboy Eddie Dean, Freddie Fender, Rose Maddox, just to mention a few.
When the industry died due to DUI laws, DJs, etc, I too was put out of work. Matter of fact, I was so disgusted with the music business that I refused
to make the outhouse owners any richer and volunteered at a local church to play for free, which I very much enjoyed because
no one in church spilled beer on my amp or steel and they fed me after the service.
Several people have asked me how I obtained my current position with recording artist Tom Bovine. It was strictly by serendipity. I volunteer and am
on the board of a dog rescue in the high desert. Tom saw one of our cattle dog pups on the internet, contacted me, one thing led to another and,
this has turned out to be one of the best on-going gigs of my career--respect as a musician, and very fair pay.
Bottom line: If it seems that you are being excluded from the secret clicks, the inner circle, black-listed, disrespected, shunned, and otherwise left out of job opportunities,
it is symptomatic of the snakery that abounds. It has become so blatant that I know of one person who books some of the lower-end clubs who has
black-listed me from just filling in with the out-of-town bands who frequent my area--I refused to play his other bookings for free to get into the "inner circle."
The fewer the jobs, the more vicious it becomes. Very sad to see the end of friendly jams and camaraderie.
So where are the lucrative gigs in CA? Please post here. |
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Herb Steiner
From:
Briarcliff TX 78669, pop. 2,064
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 9:10 pm
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Wow, I left LA for TX at just the right time... 1972.
I worked a bunch of the clubs you mentioned, 68-72; the Pal, the Forge, Eddie's Playtime, George's RR, Cajun Country, Nashville West, Holiday II, and also some dives like The Checkers.
Tons of gigs that paid between 25 and 40 bucks. 'Bout like Austin is now. 
_________________
My rig: Infinity and Telonics.
Son, we live in a world with walls, and those walls have to be guarded by men with steel guitars. Who's gonna do it? You? You, Lt. Weinberg? |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 10:05 pm
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indian casinos, private ranch party weddings, etc..corporate party functions...
$100-200 apiece.
moose (and other animals) lodge dances..$75-125ish |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 10:27 pm
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| one bandleader i work with occassionally has all his info on an internet booking site (small annual fee..like $150 or something) that people actually hire him from. has gotten some really well paying gigs. may have to drive a couple hundred miles...but $200-400/man for 7piece band. the main thing is someone has to do the basics..put up a lame video and bio, and talk to people to hustle up the gig. you will get repeat business. probably helps if the guy hustling is a likeable guy, not a complainer. |
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Dave Hopping
From:
Aurora, Colorado
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 10:29 pm
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| The lucrative California gigs did NOT go to Colorado,and I have no idea where the lucrative Colorado gigs went! |
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chris ivey
From:
california (deceased)
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Posted 1 Sep 2013 11:06 pm
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a few years back people kept running out to idaho for some club gig or another.
i think casinos are a good target. at least they've got the cash on hand to pay you. |
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Mark Lawrence
From:
Greenfield, Indiana, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2013 3:44 am
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| Yep, I played some of those gigs as well. Before packing up for Indiana in 2000 the only gigs I had left were the Western Connection in San Dimas and the Cocky Bull in Victorville. No regrets about saying good-bye to California. |
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Barry Blackwood
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Posted 2 Sep 2013 7:37 am
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| I'm still in California, but I long ago said goodbye to those gigs - The Pal, Anaheim Cowboy, the Crazy Horse Saloon, Western Connection, the Forge, the Longhorn, the Cowboy Palace, the Cocky Bull, DJ Ranch, and Pappy & Harriet's to name a few. (Steven, you overlooked one of the lesser toilets, the Rodeway Inn.) Not a one of them paid a living wage. Deservedly, a lot of them are now parking lots or Mexican restaurants.. |
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Dean Rimmer
From:
texas
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Posted 2 Sep 2013 9:40 am
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| hey steve....yep the same dean rimmer from the raven n the rose ..them was some fun times... |
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Steven Finley
From:
California, USA
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Posted 2 Sep 2013 10:47 am
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Dean,great to hear from you,those were some fun and great times back then.
I always enjoyed hearing you play back then,and your band Pecos was Top Notch,to say the least,hope all is well with you and hope your still picking,take care....steve |
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Dean Rimmer
From:
texas
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Posted 3 Sep 2013 9:21 am
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| hey steve.....thanks for the pecos shout out.....been awhile since i heard that ......dean |
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