Comments on: The real cost of driving to gigs for the freelance musician http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html double bass news, stories, downloads, podcasts, and more! Fri, 23 Dec 2011 05:11:16 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3 By: Jeff http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-23456 Jeff Thu, 30 Jun 2011 17:00:26 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-23456 Jason, I know this article was from a long time ago now, but I thought of a factor that should be considered. I don't know how these costs were figured, but I would imagine they were based on a new car purchase price, and an estimated total number of miles you will drive while owning it (in addition to MPGs). I wouldn't be surprised if the article considered a new car and a total mileage of 80k. Most freelancers drive older used cars or cars handed down from their parents, so wouldn't the cost per mile depend on each players situation? If you aren't making payments and you keep your car maintained, isn't your cost per mile much closer to how much your paying at the pump (many of my colleagues have gone past 300k miles!)? Let say you put 200k additional miles on car that you bought used for $10k...that's only 5 cents per mile on top of gas and maintenance. If I'm getting paid $130 for a service (including mileage compensation), it costs me $50 in gas, and I own my car outright...I still figure I basically made $80 that day (minus a cheap meal, and the original cost of car plus all maintenance divided by miles driven since purchase)...ok, so maybe $50 or $60. I'm not getting rich, but it's not nearly the grim picture that this article paints. It's better than taking out a mountain of more debt for a DMA...and I'd bet a musician would learn more too! Jason, I know this article was from a long time ago now, but I thought of a factor that should be considered. I don’t know how these costs were figured, but I would imagine they were based on a new car purchase price, and an estimated total number of miles you will drive while owning it (in addition to MPGs). I wouldn’t be surprised if the article considered a new car and a total mileage of 80k. Most freelancers drive older used cars or cars handed down from their parents, so wouldn’t the cost per mile depend on each players situation? If you aren’t making payments and you keep your car maintained, isn’t your cost per mile much closer to how much your paying at the pump (many of my colleagues have gone past 300k miles!)? Let say you put 200k additional miles on car that you bought used for $10k…that’s only 5 cents per mile on top of gas and maintenance. If I’m getting paid $130 for a service (including mileage compensation), it costs me $50 in gas, and I own my car outright…I still figure I basically made $80 that day (minus a cheap meal, and the original cost of car plus all maintenance divided by miles driven since purchase)…ok, so maybe $50 or $60. I’m not getting rich, but it’s not nearly the grim picture that this article paints. It’s better than taking out a mountain of more debt for a DMA…and I’d bet a musician would learn more too!

]]> By: Road Warrior without an Expense Account — Part I: Adjunct University Teaching : Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-13984 Road Warrior without an Expense Account — Part I: Adjunct University Teaching : Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog Sun, 16 Aug 2009 19:47:34 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-13984 [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...] [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...]

]]> By: Marcos Machado http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-13739 Marcos Machado Tue, 28 Jul 2009 22:37:10 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-13739 Hi, How can I find Mr. Schultz contact information? Thank you, Marcos Hi,
How can I find Mr. Schultz contact information?
Thank you,
Marcos

]]> By: Akili http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-11908 Akili Tue, 07 Apr 2009 20:13:04 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-11908 I am a fellow bassist. I have felt this since I began a free-lancer as well. The life of the ronin is not for everyone, having good friends and carpooling can help so many things. I wish us all the best of luck on getting to and from gigs safely. As for the financial part of it. We all need more than just luck... Akili I am a fellow bassist. I have felt this since I began a free-lancer as well. The life of the ronin is not for everyone, having good friends and carpooling can help so many things. I wish us all the best of luck on getting to and from gigs safely. As for the financial part of it. We all need more than just luck…

Akili

]]> By: Road Warrior Without an Expense Account Part X—Refocusing (Musical Entrepreneurship) http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-10882 Road Warrior Without an Expense Account Part X—Refocusing (Musical Entrepreneurship) Wed, 11 Mar 2009 01:48:31 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-10882 [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...] [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...]

]]> By: Dan Linsenmann http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-6613 Dan Linsenmann Tue, 23 Sep 2008 17:15:53 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-6613 Who's up for convincing the state of illinois to extend the chicago el trains to all the suburbs? :-) Who’s up for convincing the state of illinois to extend the chicago el trains to all the suburbs? :-)

]]> By: Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » My article featured in Overture, plus Road Warrior just around the corner http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-4819 Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » My article featured in Overture, plus Road Warrior just around the corner Tue, 13 May 2008 11:00:35 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-4819 [...] article/post/whatever you call it The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician is featured inthe May 2008 edition of Overture, the paper for Local 47 (Los Angeles) of the [...] [...] article/post/whatever you call it The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician is featured inthe May 2008 edition of Overture, the paper for Local 47 (Los Angeles) of the [...]

]]> By: Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » Road Warrior without an Expense Account Part VI – The Vicious Cycle http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-4728 Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » Road Warrior without an Expense Account Part VI – The Vicious Cycle Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:49:23 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-4728 [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...] [...] I: The Real Cost of Driving to Gigs for the Freelance Musician Addendum II: Tainting the Academic Waters with Pay-Per-Student [...]

]]> By: Drew McManus http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-4722 Drew McManus Mon, 21 Apr 2008 19:05:39 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-4722 In addition to the silver lining John Schultz pointed out, I would add that ensembles which rely on a substantial number of commuter musicians (regular and/or substitute) to perform with the ensemble are going to find themselves in an environment of increased competition for quality musicians. Offering additional compensation for high caliber musicians in the form of tiered flat-rate travel pay or mileage is something ensembles are going to have to adopt as a necessity as opposed to excess budget fat or employee perks. I think most players who perform in small to mid size budget groups have a tale to tell when it comes to having gas mileage or travel pay reduced/cut so I hope this starts to reverse the trend. In addition to the silver lining John Schultz pointed out, I would add that ensembles which rely on a substantial number of commuter musicians (regular and/or substitute) to perform with the ensemble are going to find themselves in an environment of increased competition for quality musicians. Offering additional compensation for high caliber musicians in the form of tiered flat-rate travel pay or mileage is something ensembles are going to have to adopt as a necessity as opposed to excess budget fat or employee perks.

I think most players who perform in small to mid size budget groups have a tale to tell when it comes to having gas mileage or travel pay reduced/cut so I hope this starts to reverse the trend.

]]> By: Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » Gig commuting cost calculator http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html/comment-page-1#comment-4721 Jason Heath’s Double Bass Blog » Gig commuting cost calculator Mon, 21 Apr 2008 11:01:29 +0000 http://doublebassblog.org/2008/04/the-real-cost-of-driving-to-gigs-for-the-freelance-musician.html#comment-4721 [...] upon last week’s post about how driving expenses eat into one’s gig income, Drew McManus from Adaptistration put together an extremely cool online utility for Inside The [...] [...] upon last week’s post about how driving expenses eat into one’s gig income, Drew McManus from Adaptistration put together an extremely cool online utility for Inside The [...]

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