From: someone@anywheret.net   
      
   "Jim D"  wrote in message news:201902181215472901-Not@ThisAddresscom...   
      
   > They know how much we work. They are just too thick headed to understand   
   > why we have so much work.   
      
   If they're really interested, they'll start Thinking about it, if not, then   
   it's no big deal to them in the first place.   
      
   > There are many reasons. We do songs people want to hear. We learn songs   
   > people ask for.  We don't drive all but the deafest out of the room by   
   > playing stupid loud. We sound good. We have one of the best female singers   
   > in the area .... lots of reasons.   
      
   Then they can either get a clue, or remain clueless. In any case, it's their   
   choice.   
      
   > Of course, if we were doing biker bars, we'd not succeed.  Those places   
   > want a different thing.  They want LOUD. Loud drums, shreading guitars,   
   > drunk chick out front screaming in the mic ......   I get that.  I just   
   > don't want to work there.   
      
   And loud motorcycles ;)   
      
   > Oh, and last saturdays gig, we did that three piece. It went fine.  They   
   > payed us our normal $$$.   I actually had talked to the management   
   > beforehand, offered to do it for less, as we cut the band back in   
   > personnel. They said, no, they had a budget, would pay the normal rate. So   
   > same pay as for a four piece band, we split it in half. Band girl got   
   > half, wife and I took the other half.  Seems odd, but not really, wife   
   > made that decision. We ( wife and I ) still came home with far more than   
   > if we'd have taken the other two guys.   
      
   They must like your sound to do that.   
      
   > It feels weird talking about this and dancing around real numbers, so I'll   
   > spill 'em.  We do our small club gigs ( 3 hours typically ) in the range   
   > of $300 to $400 dollars, for the trio.   
      
   Maybe I need to think about moving to OH ;)   
      
   > Band girl gets half, wife ( drums ) and I take the other half.  No, that's   
   > not Vegas level  money, but since we play a lot, it does seem to add up   
   > :-) The trio plays every weekend at least once, and I average 2 or 3 solo   
   > or duo gigs thru the week. Basically, I'm playing every other day pretty   
   > much out until sometime mid to late summer.  Then a gap, then in the fall   
   > the schedule starts up again.   
      
   Sounds like high class compared to what's around here in my neck of the   
   woods.   
      
   > Adding details like this might explain why we're cutting back on some of   
   > the lower paying gigs.  I want some time to rest and learn matertial. Or   
   > even write some. Plus if one of us gets sick or hurt that'd be a problem.   
   > No backup people to help us limp thru jobs.  But we're on a roll, so go   
   > with it.   
      
   When you're on a roll, things are usually going relatively well and Vibes   
   are better, which means less stress and that means stronger immune systems   
   to keep you from getting sick ;)   
      
   > a little more ... I don't make enough playing music to live on.  That's   
   > just not doable in the rural area where I live.   
      
   Your 'rural' area is a lot better then my being only several miles from   
   Chicago!   
      
   > I could earn a living playing music, and I did for many years. One thing   
   > is, you have to be in a big metro area. One with a lot of venues. I played   
   > 6 nights a week for 15 years spread over several large cities.  Could I do   
   > that now ?  Don't see why not. The only limit would be my physical ability   
   > to do the work. I'm older, and so who know's. Doesn't matter.   
      
   I want the *real* venues, where the pay can buy some roadies as I'm not too   
   interested in packing up, loading, unloading, setting up, and round  and   
   round  over and over ;)   
      
   > The playing money is extra for us.  Playing out gives me something to do.   
   > A reason to get up every day. I want to be out there with people having   
   > fun.  That's the reason I do this. And it's why band girl does also.   
   > Financially it's the same for her. She doesn't need to work. Does is   
   > because it's better than sitting at home waiting to die.   
      
   > That'll happen soon enough in any case.   
      
      
   JimD   
      
   That's the result of the Misery of winter. IF the weather ever gets any   
   better, I know I won't feel like I'm waiting to die...but I did write a song   
   about it, from the second album, Ignite The Sky:   
      
   1. Stranded   
      
   verse1   
   like a time of hibernation   
   except for being wide awake   
      
   better off to be unconscious   
   than suffer every pain and ache   
      
   a growing sense of aimless   
   and such a challenge to create   
      
   though everybody's 'blameless'   
   there's still rejection fear and hate   
      
   prechorus1   
   still I keep going   
   though not sure where   
      
   not really knowing   
   if someone else would care   
      
   chorus1   
   sometimes I feel like I've been stranded   
   marooned left behind to die   
      
   forgotten set aside unhanded   
   although I can't imagine why   
   or even try   
      
   verse2   
   broken off communication   
   longing for transmissions lost   
      
   constant worry and frustration   
   a fire freezing in the frost   
      
   of all the frozen isolation   
   of a whole lifetime to endure   
      
   in search of and appreciation   
   of real Love that's true and pure   
      
   prechorus2   
   still I won't leave   
   the path I chose   
      
   without reprieve   
   despite the blows   
      
   chorus2   
   sometimes I feel like I've been stranded   
   abandoned left out in the cold   
      
   denied and overlooked disbanded   
   deprived again for countless times untold   
   and it's gotten old   
      
   bridge   
   when I need the Love I've missed where can I find it   
   will it fall through the cracks like so many times before   
   'cause I'm still into life I've not resigned it   
   and I dare to hope for better things in store   
   worth living for   
      
   verse3   
   hanging on but hanging in there   
   praying so hard not to fall   
      
   to be delivered from this nightmare   
   backed all the way against the wall   
      
   still searching for a way around it   
   a chance to finally break out   
      
   unceasing effort 'til I've found it   
   to live what life should be about   
      
   prechorus3   
   and that is why   
   I have to try   
      
   and go for broke   
   it's do or die   
      
   chorus3   
   but sometimes I still feel like I've been stranded   
   though I try my best a better place to find   
   hoping someday soon that I'll have landed   
   and leave this hell on earth so far behind   
   for something less unkind   
   ----------------------------------------------------   
      
   See what the Misery of winter can inspire!   
      
   Ouisie   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)