Being a musician expertly sounds like a pretty sweet concept for many individuals. Concerts, the road and some think, a ton of cash. However, it isn't much of a living, even for bands that get a ton of interest, as the cost of touring is through the roof.
Not cheap to tour
A lot of people might imagine the life of a touring musician involves plush tour buses, groupies, endless partying and lots of cash. Maybe for some, but most bands or artists trying to make a living don't make much of one.
It is quite fascinating when you think about what The Dresden Dolls, a Boston group, made on their tour, according to a 2007 NPR interview. The two in the group, Brian Viglione and Amanda Palmer, only made $1,500 a month from the tour each. That is not a ton of cash for spending time in a record deal and touring. They even opened from some pretty large gigs.
They will only be getting $18,000 a year, which is not a lot and only really occurs if they tour year round.
CD sales may bring them a little bit more cash considering they get $1 off every CD sale.
Working up the ladder
Oh, Sleeper is a band that is known as "mid-level" since it has been around for a few years and has a following. Band member Shane Blay posted typical expenses related to touring. He said that bands make money depending on the amount of merchandise sold and the number of fans who arrive. The groups have to pay the location for using the facility too. His band made about $600 per night for the venues on average because of $300 in merchandise sales and $300 in venue profits.
Of the $300, the band had to pay to print the shirts, which costs $7.50 per shirt that they sell at $15. The band's manager gets a 15 percent cut while the venue charges about 25 percent. That means of the $300 in merchandise sales, the band really gets $63.75. Of the $300 for playing at the location, the band gets $225 before travel expenses because the band manager gets 15 percent and the booking agent gets 10 percent. After all the travel expense, it is really only $78.75 total per night since it costs about $10 a day for food and $150 for gasoline between gigs.
Then there are extra emergency costs not calculated out. Without the emergencies, each band member will get $13.12 a night to play, which is not a ton of cash.
Only pays for the big wigs
The Daily Mail explained that the very best way to make cash while touring is to be big enough that enough tickets will sell to make the extra cash. Roger Waters toured in 2010 which made about $90 million. The costs were only $60 million, which means he made a ton of extra cash.
Being an artist means you will struggle a lot. According to NBC News, the 2008 gas price increases made it so most bands had to end tours since they could not pay the additional price for gasoline.
It also hurts a band when music is downloaded for free, so make sure you always avoid doing that.
Not cheap to tour
A lot of people might imagine the life of a touring musician involves plush tour buses, groupies, endless partying and lots of cash. Maybe for some, but most bands or artists trying to make a living don't make much of one.
It is quite fascinating when you think about what The Dresden Dolls, a Boston group, made on their tour, according to a 2007 NPR interview. The two in the group, Brian Viglione and Amanda Palmer, only made $1,500 a month from the tour each. That is not a ton of cash for spending time in a record deal and touring. They even opened from some pretty large gigs.
They will only be getting $18,000 a year, which is not a lot and only really occurs if they tour year round.
CD sales may bring them a little bit more cash considering they get $1 off every CD sale.
Working up the ladder
Oh, Sleeper is a band that is known as "mid-level" since it has been around for a few years and has a following. Band member Shane Blay posted typical expenses related to touring. He said that bands make money depending on the amount of merchandise sold and the number of fans who arrive. The groups have to pay the location for using the facility too. His band made about $600 per night for the venues on average because of $300 in merchandise sales and $300 in venue profits.
Of the $300, the band had to pay to print the shirts, which costs $7.50 per shirt that they sell at $15. The band's manager gets a 15 percent cut while the venue charges about 25 percent. That means of the $300 in merchandise sales, the band really gets $63.75. Of the $300 for playing at the location, the band gets $225 before travel expenses because the band manager gets 15 percent and the booking agent gets 10 percent. After all the travel expense, it is really only $78.75 total per night since it costs about $10 a day for food and $150 for gasoline between gigs.
Then there are extra emergency costs not calculated out. Without the emergencies, each band member will get $13.12 a night to play, which is not a ton of cash.
Only pays for the big wigs
The Daily Mail explained that the very best way to make cash while touring is to be big enough that enough tickets will sell to make the extra cash. Roger Waters toured in 2010 which made about $90 million. The costs were only $60 million, which means he made a ton of extra cash.
Being an artist means you will struggle a lot. According to NBC News, the 2008 gas price increases made it so most bands had to end tours since they could not pay the additional price for gasoline.
It also hurts a band when music is downloaded for free, so make sure you always avoid doing that.
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