I made $70 last night!

@TheHorse (220084)
Walnut Creek, California
November 15, 2015 12:13pm CST
A Country music band I played in did a gig last night at a bar that's been struggling financially. The bar is on a 9-hole golf course that couldn't sustain itself, but the bar itself is popular in the community and has remained open. We publicized this one well and packed the house! I don't think we (the band) charged a set fee. The bar owners shared the evening's revenues with us, plus someone passed the tip jar around. We wound up making $280 (plus dinner and unlimited drinks), which is pretty good for an evening of fun. I brought home $70 (there are four of us), which I will deposit in the bank today when I go cycling. I mostly played mandolin last night, and played guitar on two songs. Like writing on MyLot, it's another example of turning a hobby into something that can generate a little extra spending cash. Do you have hobbies (other than writing) that generate a little cash on the side? When I see "artisans" selling pot holders, hand-made mugs, hand-made pens, and things like that, I try to pick something up, as I like supporting the "non-corporate" economy.
18 people like this
21 responses
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
15 Nov 15
I played with a folk dance band and song group for just short of 50 years before I retired. I play tenor banjo, mandolin, mandola and guitar (as well as singing). Recently I've been invited back to play a few gigs with what remains of the band. The little extra does come in handy!
3 people like this
@owlwings (43910)
• Cambridge, England
16 Nov 15
@TheHorse I certainly can. Many times we talked about 'going professional' and always we came to the conclusion that it would take most of the fun out of it.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Making money doing it is fun. But I bet you can relate to my feeling that just doing it for its own sake (and the bonding with other music-loving people) is the best part.
3 people like this
@Rollo1 (16679)
• Boston, Massachusetts
16 Nov 15
I would much rather go play guitar and sing to make extra cash than to write on the internet. Unfortunately, most people would rather I didn't.
2 people like this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Nov 15
Heh heh. Sometimes I feel the same way. Nah, we're getting decent. I enjoy the interaction here. It's a nice reward for getting stuff done.
1 person likes this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
Best comment award!
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Nov 15
What a great result!
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
It was fun. But, as with writing, I don't think I'd want to do it for a living. That would put the pressure on and take away some of the joy of doing for its own sake.
1 person likes this
@boiboing (13153)
• Northampton, England
15 Nov 15
@TheHorse I totally agree. The fun goes out of things when the rent and food depend on your success.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
@boiboing Exactly. I enjoy my "day jobs," but I think hobbies are important. I wouldn't want to be dependent on my hobbies, though.
1 person likes this
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
15 Nov 15
My hobby is sculpting and I have made a lot of money selling off my wooden sculptures. They are basically island design now but many times I do other types of designs that people love. it is nice to get money for what you love doing.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Have you posted pictures of your work here? I enjoy seeing what others do in the musical and artistic world. Our band leader's wife is a painter, and I enjoy her paintings!
@poehere (15123)
• French Polynesia
15 Nov 15
@TheHorse No not yet. Not sure what type of s discussion I could make out of this one and if anyone would bother to read it or not. So I just haven't written anything about sculpting.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
@poehere I post pictures of my speaker restoration projects now and then. They don't necessarily get lots of reads, but they're of interest to me, so I post them anyway!
1 person likes this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
That is great for an evening of fun. I can't think of a hobby that has ever earned me anything. And I have tried a couple of times.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
I think you have to persevere. With what hobby did you try to make money?
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
@paigea Ah, that sounds like fun, even if you didn't make a profit. Maybe you could do cookies and other things year-round to build up an "audience."
1 person likes this
@paigea (36316)
• Canada
1 Dec 15
@TheHorse my friend and I made gingerbread houses to sell at Christmas time. Really, I don't think we ever had a profit. Fun though and something we were recently reminiscing about.
1 person likes this
• Dallas, Texas
1 Dec 15
I'm late seeing this, but congrats! That is so exciting. I played in a band for a short time about 25 years ago. I used to get paid $25 a night. Which even then was nearly nothing. But I loved it, as I can tell you do. Best of luck - hope you have more and better gigs in your future too.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
1 Dec 15
Thanks. Sometimes we bring home about $25 (or more usually $40) per person. You have to do it for the fun of doing it.
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
16 Nov 15
Wow! What a good result. Sometimes it's nice when you can use your hobby and earn a little.
@dodo19 (47336)
• Beaconsfield, Quebec
16 Nov 15
@TheHorse I'm sure that it's not easy to get some gigs. I've heard of the bumper sticker thing, and I can believe it. Hopefully you'll get some more good evenings.
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
16 Nov 15
Yes! But I wouldn't want to be dependent on money made from playing music. It can be hit or miss. And it's never very much. You've probably seen the bumper sticker "Real musicians have day jobs!" Very true.
1 person likes this
@1hopefulman (45120)
• Canada
15 Nov 15
Getting paid for doing something you love, not bad! At this time I'm not doing anything to generate any income. Just managing on my senior's pension.
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
I have some money in a retirement account (actually, spread over three accounts--kind of a pain to follow), but I wish I had more! My TIAA-CREF account (from teaching) seems to be the best managed.
1 person likes this
@vandana7 (100533)
• India
15 Nov 15
No..:( I mean I like singing but I am no good as professional singer..I like cooking somethings not everything..actually I was debating whether or not to make some sambhaar sometime this week. Dad bought drumsticks and that is perfect for sambhar. But I might not make it. I don't like to make small quantities. lol. I like to share with the entire floor, if and when I make it. lol
@vandana7 (100533)
• India
16 Nov 15
@TheHorse ..no dad asked for something different and the plan fizzled out...may be next time..:( I love sambhar and I have my little friend who loves it too. :)
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Did you do it? I'm getting a bit hungry.
1 person likes this
@crossbones27 (49703)
• Mojave, California
16 Nov 15
That is awesome. Sounds like you had a great time. I personally would love to see more people earn money this way. Like you said in a non corporate way and I bet people would be a lot happier. Maybe some of this violent madness would not happen as often.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Nov 15
I think a lot of people haven't found their "passions"--things they would do for free, but can also generate money if they choose to use them in that way.
• Glasgow, Scotland
15 Nov 15
Good stuff, would love to hear your playing some time. :)
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
I think some people were recording some of our songs last night but I doubt the acoustics are that great.
1 person likes this
@amadeo (111938)
• United States
15 Nov 15
Good for you there.You seems to be doing fine.Keep up the good work.
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Thanks! Playing music is fun. I hope we keep getting a bit better (and a bit looser) each time we play.
@sallypup (61566)
• Centralia, Washington
15 Nov 15
Lovely photo. Only side line that I've gotten money from other than writing was to sell eggs. That did not last too long but it was fun.
@sallypup (61566)
• Centralia, Washington
15 Nov 15
@TheHorse We have turkey, duck and chicken hens.
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Did you have hens?
@Plethos (13581)
• United States
25 Nov 15
its so true in what you say about using a hobby to make money . i roadie for my brothers band and get paid for it. every once in a while someone will see me shooting a slingshot and ask if i wouldnt mind making one to sell. even something as simple as making a dozen cup cakes or an upsidedown pineapple cake will make me $20 easy.
1 person likes this
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
25 Nov 15
There's opportunities to make a few bucks on the side doing fun stuff all over the place. Sometimes I think I should sell those guitar sound hole coasters I make.
• United States
25 Nov 15
Nice to get paid for something that's fun to do
@cpefley (1926)
• San Jose, California
30 Nov 15
That's awesome! I hope you get more gigs soon. I try, but I don't really have time anymore. I think I should get back into making things to try to sell them. Especially because it is that time of year when everyone is buying, buying, buying.
@cintol (11261)
• United States
25 Jan 16
I used to make crafts to sell long ago, now I only have my wreaths at Christmas and a yard sale now and then.
@babaraimc (1310)
• Pakistan
15 Nov 15
good for you
@TheHorse (220084)
• Walnut Creek, California
15 Nov 15
Thanks so much. What kinds of music do you most enjoy?
@T_gray (7774)
• Salina, Kansas
19 Nov 15
I don't have any hobbies that make money but I do a lot of different side jobs to make extra money
@shellyjaneo (1081)
• United Kingdom
16 Nov 15
Well done, getting $70 dollars for doing something you love is great. I love country music x