Have you ever found yourself driving home from a gig, thinking to yourself:
"Why did I agree to this gig?"
We've all been there.
I have a rule I'd like to share with you that I use when determining whether or not to take a gig.
This idea was introduced to me by my good friend Bill, who is also the person who turned me on to financial independence. My wife and I, as well as plenty of our musician friends, agree this simple rule is the easiest way to decide whether or not to accept a performance gig.
The Rule
You should only say ‘yes’ to a gig if at least two of the following are true:
It pays well
You enjoy the music
You like the people you’re working with
I’ve found this an accurate and consistent way to know if any potential gig will be worth my time. Think back to gigs you’ve enjoyed in the past. I’m willing to bet that it fell into one of these scenarios:
It pays well and you enjoy the music, but you don’t really know or like the musicians you’re playing with. Still, you enjoy the gig because you’re getting paid a good amount to play music that you love.
It pays well and you’re with your friends, but you hate the music. You still have fun because you’re getting paid while commiserating with your friends about the awful music you have to perform.
The pay stinks, but you’re playing music you love with your friends. You don’t mind a small paycheck because the gig is fun.
It pays well, you love the music, and you’re performing with friends. You’ve hit the jackpot and found the perfect gig!
Hooray for the perfect gig!
Now let’s look at the other side of the coin. Scenarios where at most only one of the statements is true:
It pays well, but you don’t like the music and you don’t like the people. That check is nice but getting through those rehearsals is going to be rough.
You enjoy the music, but it doesn’t pay well, and you don’t like the other musicians. This scenario can often result in tainted memories and ruin the music you once loved.
You like the people you’re playing with, but the music stinks and so does the pay. In this scenario, you and all of your friends are collectively asking, “Why did we agree to do this?”
The pay is bad, you hate the music, and you don’t get along with the other musicians. Congratulations, you’ve found your living hell.
Me, during one of these gigs.
Next time someone offers you a gig, think about these three elements. If at least two of them are true, you’ll know you’ll have a good time. If not, the gig is probably not worth your time or energy. Be empowered to say “no thanks”. Give yourself the gift of time and use it to do something awesome.
Does this rule hold true for you in your experiences? Share your thoughts below!
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