The band sounded great. Being musician has to be a calling like being a priest because there doesn't seem to be a lot of money in it. Thanks for sharing.
Man this is an awesome video. I love Nashville but unfortunately I'm in swga I really hope this channel blows up. I subbed to it within the first few minutes. Nice!!!
Hey John! Loved the video! Awesome idea! Really made me miss seeing you at The Stage and dancing up top! We should be coming down real soon. Looking forward to seeing you.
Love that old Silverado so much. Scary taking trucks like that into parking garages though. I’ve cleared by an inch or less. Sorry to hear it’s that rough down there. Our society doesn’t value music the way it once did, and you can hear it in the popular stuff these days. It’s there to be background noise, not actively listened to and admired.
That’s a way bigger stage than most venues out here in the flyover. Usually we’re whacking each other with our headstocks. Looking at the bar, they lost money too!
I hope your still at it , bro . IMO it's sad how cheap the pay is the struggling arts can be . Let's be real , we can only have so many superstars. But damn , musicians are looked at as though we aren't putting in work . Playing music is fun and it's done in a "good time" atmosphere but some folks think we are up there "partying" too & not putting in time at home & on stage . All the best , John ! Your Dad wouldn't happen to be ole #44 ?
@@NoCoverCharge i understand your enthusiasm. I had it once as well! Take your skills and go give them a whirl. It’s a different animal than it used to be! Cheers!
@@JohnRigginsMusicThat's a great idea to have your "lucky keg" with you. Loved this entire video. It shows the reality of a working musician playing shifts in Nashville. Just wondering if any musicians ever carpool equipment with a van? 5x15 bucks really adds up to big money over the course of a year's gigs. Or is there ever a loading zone from the back, or does everyone always come through the front door with all that gear?
Wow! It frustrates me how little musicians are valued in one of the biggest music cities in the world. The hourly rate after gas and parking is well below the minimum legal wage for an unskilled school aged worker here in Australia. You love your country but does it love you?
Don't play in Nashville ! In ( other part of east coast that hasn't had a slightly famous country or Bluegrass scene for sixty years , paid gigs are $100 - $150 per person, plus tips . And at that , that's barely Semi Pro status . It will cover the gas and bar tab , and if you're doing good / lucky partly subsidize instruments and gear . Nobody's paying rent/ mortgage and putting food on the table for that . One of the posters in this Thread wasn't joking . If you actually Need money for roof over head , or shoes on children's feet , entry level convince store cashier net income is a lot more than playing bar gigs that pay 4 or 5 time what this one did . For 95 % of musicians, they play because the music is in them , and has to get out ! If they pick up a few $ to help subsidize their expenses , it's a bonus.
It is a labor of love. You have to be called to be a great musician, because it takes a lifetime of practice, patience and work. There’s 1000 musicians in Nashville for every half dozen great paying careers in music. The rest are grinding out money where they can.
I don’t know how in the hell anyone makes it there ,you really can’t afford to play hardly ,You have to have a good backup supply of money and resources to make it ,looks like it has cut many musicians out of it as a commercial cold place trying to get out of there without being mugged or robbed.The average musician cannot make it for a month.
Your right. In the last 5 years it’s changed even more! I quit playing down there at COVID and haven’t been back. It was refreshing and sad at the same time. Some places are definitely paying a bit more base salary but still really hard to try and be a full time artist(singer). Musicians can make decent money. They can play 2-4 shifts a day if they want. Singers can’t quite do that.. for long at least. Blow your vocals
You’re right on about that. I had to have a great day job to be able to afford to complete there as a Songwriter. Working musician there is a great weight loss program. It’s tough to earn a living solely from music.
@@JohnRigginsMusic I noticed on my last trip to Nashville that there were a few people that played multiple instruments and sing. That is a tough act to follow for sure. I'm older than you, and back when I was playing clubs you just had to be good at one instrument. I think about what I might do after I retire from my corporate job, and Nashville was one of the places that I thought about. When I visited last summer I thought it was amazing that there were so many great musicians in such a small footprint and it was a very humbling experience. You have a great voice and I respect the dedication to the craft. I'll have to come see you next time I'm in Nashville.
Dgambl 1 actually answered his own question The reason that you worked the Corporate Career , was to have a generous enough Retirement package , to subsidize your music hobby after you retired .
My Friend You are the Real Deal! You Entertain, I admire your Tenacity!!! JW
Gotta give you credit for sticking with this.
You’ve got a smooth voice👍
Super insight into the life of a Nashville musician.
This guy is too cool! Love his voice and love that truck too! Going to the website too!
All my music is also on all streaming apps. Hope you enjoy
Fantastic video John, really gives insight into a day in the life of a Nashville singer/ songwriter/ musician.❤️❤️❤️
The band sounded great. Being musician has to be a calling like being a priest because there doesn't seem to be a lot of money in it. Thanks for sharing.
It is a calling you can’t stop. Only you don’t have to take a vow of poverty like priests. It comes free with being a working musician . lol
Man this is an awesome video. I love Nashville but unfortunately I'm in swga I really hope this channel blows up. I subbed to it within the first few minutes. Nice!!!
I appreciate you. All my stuff is available on all streaming platforms as well. Hope you enjoy and share!
Thanks!
Subscribed! Great video. I learned alot from this one.
Hey John! Loved the video! Awesome idea! Really made me miss seeing you at The Stage and dancing up top! We should be coming down real soon. Looking forward to seeing you.
Love that old Silverado so much. Scary taking trucks like that into parking garages though. I’ve cleared by an inch or less. Sorry to hear it’s that rough down there. Our society doesn’t value music the way it once did, and you can hear it in the popular stuff these days. It’s there to be background noise, not actively listened to and admired.
@@K707OR30 that’s very true. Most people know a song and don’t know the artist or have ever listened to more of that person’s catalog
That’s a way bigger stage than most venues out here in the flyover. Usually we’re whacking each other with our headstocks. Looking at the bar, they lost money too!
Wow, what a nightmare of a venue to get to! I’ll never complain about parking again 😂
Thank you John !
Thank you for doing this. It gives an honest view of what its like for a musician in Nashville. Great voice, great bass/drummer groove!
This is a great video John, but it made me really miss Nashville! Hopefully we are coming down real soon. See you then.
Wait a Second ! * Thursday Morning * live band is actually a thing ?!?
@@margarethouse404 if you’re being serious…yes. Every day of the week, 10am start time at almost every bar
Enjoyed the video!
Thanks for the info an video man Iam possibly moving to the area an play guitar or drums or bass
Loved the video! I’m headed over to your website to get me a 🧢. Can’t wait to visit Nashville again.
Johnrigginsmusic.com/merch
Did you find the page? Just wanted to touch base and make sure you didn’t have a problem
I used to make more playing the public garden in Boston
I hope your still at it , bro . IMO it's sad how cheap the pay is the struggling arts can be . Let's be real , we can only have so many superstars. But damn , musicians are looked at as though we aren't putting in work . Playing music is fun and it's done in a "good time" atmosphere but some folks think we are up there "partying" too & not putting in time at home & on stage . All the best , John ! Your Dad wouldn't happen to be ole #44 ?
No he isn’t.. lol. Would love to meet him though. Was always a huge fan growing up.
Not to mention the thousands we spend on instruments and equipment!
" park at the Library..." Ole School
i've never seen anyone count tips on the bar in front of others ... i always find a private little corner of the stage or venue for that ✌️🤔
Completely solidified my decision to stay in the Carolinas and not move to Nashville, best decision I made many years ago.
Wise move. If you’re playing for fun or money there’s easier gigs elsewhere.
I don't miss lugging gear around...I done it for 40 years....
So the house band learns your songs or do you send them covers?
@@daltenheifner6250 there’s no house band. I hire the people playing for me when I do those shows.
Do you have to be connected to Honkey Tonk School “ To play downtown??
Hell no!! That is a joke! Don’t fall for the tootsies thing.
I’d pay to play there
@@NoCoverCharge i understand your enthusiasm. I had it once as well! Take your skills and go give them a whirl. It’s a different animal than it used to be! Cheers!
Is that a keg? Lol
Yes it is! Lol. I have carried I to nearly every show since 2010. People keep giving me stickers to put on it from my travels
@@JohnRigginsMusicThat's a great idea to have your "lucky keg" with you. Loved this entire video. It shows the reality of a working musician playing shifts in Nashville. Just wondering if any musicians ever carpool equipment with a van? 5x15 bucks really adds up to big money over the course of a year's gigs. Or is there ever a loading zone from the back, or does everyone always come through the front door with all that gear?
Wow! It frustrates me how little musicians are valued in one of the biggest music cities in the world. The hourly rate after gas and parking is well below the minimum legal wage for an unskilled school aged worker here in Australia. You love your country but does it love you?
It’s called competition. Lots of musicians looking for gigs and not many venues. It’s exactly the same here in Australia mate!
Supply and demand. More musicians per square mile than about anywhere there is. Especially guitarists.
Don't play in Nashville !
In ( other part of east coast that hasn't had a slightly famous country or Bluegrass scene for sixty years , paid gigs are $100 - $150 per person, plus tips .
And at that , that's barely Semi Pro status . It will cover the gas and bar tab , and if you're doing good / lucky partly subsidize instruments and gear . Nobody's paying rent/ mortgage and putting food on the table for that .
One of the posters in this Thread wasn't joking . If you actually Need money for roof over head , or shoes on children's feet , entry level convince store cashier net income is a lot more than playing bar gigs that pay 4 or 5 time what this one did .
For 95 % of musicians, they play because the music is in them , and has to get out ! If they pick up a few $ to help subsidize their expenses , it's a bonus.
Hey John!!
@@TerryWendt hey man! What you up to now a days
Tough being a musician. Guess, you have to love it to work so hard for so little on lean days. Parking alone takes such a big bite of your $.
It is a labor of love. You have to be called to be a great musician, because it takes a lifetime of practice, patience and work. There’s 1000 musicians in Nashville for every half dozen great paying careers in music. The rest are grinding out money where they can.
That's piss poor money. How do you eat?
It was definitely rough. Obviously if you play later(afternoon /evening) shifts you make better money.
@@JohnRigginsMusic It's very similar in New Orleans. The earlier you play, the less money you make.
I don’t know how in the hell anyone makes it there ,you really can’t afford to play hardly ,You have to have a good backup supply of money and resources to make it ,looks like it has cut many musicians out of it as a commercial cold place trying to get out of there without being mugged or robbed.The average musician cannot make it for a month.
Your right. In the last 5 years it’s changed even more! I quit playing down there at COVID and haven’t been back. It was refreshing and sad at the same time.
Some places are definitely paying a bit more base salary but still really hard to try and be a full time artist(singer). Musicians can make decent money. They can play 2-4 shifts a day if they want. Singers can’t quite do that.. for long at least. Blow your vocals
You’re right on about that. I had to have a great day job to be able to afford to complete there as a Songwriter. Working musician there is a great weight loss program. It’s tough to earn a living solely from music.
@@JohnRigginsMusic I noticed on my last trip to Nashville that there were a few people that played multiple instruments and sing. That is a tough act to follow for sure. I'm older than you, and back when I was playing clubs you just had to be good at one instrument. I think about what I might do after I retire from my corporate job, and Nashville was one of the places that I thought about. When I visited last summer I thought it was amazing that there were so many great musicians in such a small footprint and it was a very humbling experience. You have a great voice and I respect the dedication to the craft. I'll have to come see you next time I'm in Nashville.
Dgambl 1 actually answered his own question
The reason that you worked the Corporate Career , was to have a generous enough Retirement package , to subsidize your music hobby after you retired .