What is it about the local cover-band scene that makes musicians think they are doing something that puts them on the same level as top touring/recording bands? Seriously, it seems many of my local music buddies have this delusional thought they are better than those not playing shows (free or paid gigs for that matter) around town. Because you are gigging and playing in front of 10 or 100 or even 1,000 people means nothing.
If you are playing I hope it is because it is something you are passionate about, something you would be doing if not a single body was in the room to hear you. In fact, I would suggest first that if you can sit by yourself playing your chosen musical instrument and find yourself becoming more and more energized, that you have found the real reason for being a musician. If you take that energy and turn it into something that brings the same to those around you, then you have found even more reason for being a musician. Fame and fortune are nothing worth having unless that inner passionate feeling for playing is there. The money will come to those whose passion for music is what drives them.
When I first started writing this 6 months ago, I had just bumped into a couple of music buddies. They were walking and talking with their chests puffed out (not too literally, but you hopefully get the picture), acting like they had just scored a $150k advance from the record company. In fact, they were playing at a local burger joint… for FREE. And, playing covers that most people probably never had heard of, along with a few moldy oldies. The bubble would burst a couple months later when it became clear that 1) they were playing for free, 2) they were spending more time hauling gear and setting up than the actual time playing the gigs and 3) they weren’t actually enjoying what they were doing.
Playing for free is fine and I would do it simply to bring the joy of music to someone else. But when you start to act like a “rock god”, in my book you lose all credibility. In fact, if the best paid musicians did that act, they wouldn’t be where they are today. They got to where they are by doing the hard work, practicing, learning the business of music and realizing that to reach that top level you have to first understand that music is a business and there’s no room for wanna-bees.