The Steel Guitar Forum

Sometimes I figured you have to spend money to make money. I remember years ago playing jamborees at local bars and clubs. The only one that made out was the bar or club owners.

Kevin Fix wrote:Sometimes I figured you have to spend money to make money. I remember years ago playing jamborees at local bars and clubs. The only one that made out was the bar or club owners.

You figured right. Nobody ever got a gig for having a great idea for a steel guitar solo. You have to actually buy one, learn how to play it, get a car to haul it in, buy gas to put in the car, pay taxes for the road to drive the car with Guitar in it... And then you can think about joining a band, rehearsing, and auditioning for the gig. Why do we do this, again?

Fred Treece wrote:Why do we do this, again?

For the great benefits package and the awesome retirement plan, of course!

From a business point of view....you have Gross, Profit and Expenses.
Say $100 Gross per man and a 150 mile round trip, divide hours from home to back home with your profit. Average trips around here are easy 12 -15 hrs with set up and tear down.

$100 minus $40 fuel and food equals $60, divided by 12 hrs, equals $5.00hr pay.
No 401k or health insurance

Here's a question: Do you pay taxes at the end of the year? I average around $5,000.00 per year playing weekends and I get a 1099 from the bandleader every January. When's all said and done I end up netting around $4,000 after write-offs.

A new steel guitar is a great tax write-off, Bob.

A new steel guitar is a great tax write-off, Bob

Now you got me thinking.

b0b wrote:A new steel guitar is a great tax write-off, Bob.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/hobby-or-b ... -to-decide

Earnest Bovine wrote:

b0b wrote:A new steel guitar is a great tax write-off, Bob.

https://www.irs.gov/newsroom/hobby-or-b ... -to-decide

Of the 9 factors that determine hobby or business, this is my favorite:
“Whether you change your methods of operation in an attempt to improve profitability.”

I’m 49 years old now and from my mid 20’s until my late 30’ and early 40’s, I played a lot of Friday and Saturday night gigs here in upstate South Carolina. I played 6 string both as a rhythm and lead man. I fronted the band at times(which I really didn’t care to do. I’m a marginal singer at best.). But, what I’m getting at is, everyone made the same amount for the gig. Which was usually $100/man for the weekend. New Years Eve parties paid twice that for one night. We all did it for the love of the music. We all had day jobs that paid the bills. The gigging money was to play with.