I started out with the classic $100 gig. Like many young musicians hoping to play professionally in New York City, I accepted almost every offer when I first arrived. I was eager, curious, and trying to figure things out. Back then, it seemed normal. You played, met people, learned how to fit in, and gained experience.
The problem isn’t that those gigs used to exist. It’s that they’re still around at the same pay in the country’s most expensive city.
If you adjust for inflation, that $100 gig from the late 1990s would be about $300 today. Rent, food, and transportation have all gone up. Everything costs more now, except what many live music gigs pay. That’s worth thinking about.
Even so, I don’t think every low-paying gig is a mistake. Early in my career, I saw some of those jobs as a way to get paid to practice. I gained experience, learned to work with different people, read the room, follow leaders, and deal with situations you never see in a practice room. That’s valuable when you’re just starting out.
The important part is that it’s only true at a certain stage.
If you’re new to New York, eager to work, and trying to join the scene, you should probably play lots of different gigs. Wedding bands, jam sessions, club dates, readings—anything that gets you out of your apartment and into rooms with other musicians. That’s how you learn the city, start relationships, and figure out where you belong.
But this is when your perspective really matters.
In my book Broadway Bound and Beyond, I share something I call the “Rule of Three.” This simple approach has helped me avoid burnout, bad gigs, and extra stress.
Whenever I get a gig offer, I consider three things:
The Money
Does the pay make sense for the time, energy, and costs involved?
The People
Are the people respectful, professional, and easy to work with?
The Music
Is the music fulfilling, challenging, or does it fit with where I want to go?
If at least two of these aren’t solid, I usually say no.
When you’re starting out, it’s tempting to say yes to everything, especially if you want to get established or meet people. Sometimes that’s the right move. But not every opportunity is truly helpful. Some gigs seem good at first but end up draining your time, energy, and momentum.
Early on, the $100 gig often checks the people and music boxes. You’re learning. You’re meeting people. That can be enough for a while. The problem comes when years go by, and nothing changes. Same pay. Same expectations. Same math that no longer works.
If the pay is low, the environment is toxic, and the music doesn’t help you grow, that’s not a stepping stone. It’s a dead end.
At some point, you need to ask if a gig is still helping you or just keeping you stuck. Growing doesn’t mean forgetting your roots. It means knowing when a gig’s role in your life should change.
I’m not complaining. This is just how the business works. There are always more people looking for meaningful music work than there are good-paying gigs, so rates stay low. Passion alone can’t fix that, but being aware of it helps.
So here’s the real question, and I don’t mean this in a negative way: When will the $100 gig finally catch up to reality and become the $300 gig it should be today? And when does a low-paying opportunity stop being a stepping stone and start becoming a sign that it’s time to rethink your direction?
Until then, how do you figure out which opportunities are really moving you forward and which ones are just keeping you busy?
I am experiencing this issue now. First of all, in LA, in general gigs pay less than in NY. I recently recorded a song for a well known actress with a big band that paid $50.00 cash. It was for an independent movie and an 18 piece band is expensive - but I am still kind of starting out out here so I need to make connections. It's hard to decide which gigs to take. I get calls for big bands and that means every time I show up I may be meeting 20 new players. So that's another issue to consider. If you're a strong rhythm section player these horn players will notice. Also, think about when you get called - is it for a band that you are a part of? Will the gig lead to a formation of something stronger than a one off for the dough? Is it a band that you may really dig that is looking for a regular member? And who are you subbing for? If it's someone very busy - take the gig - if you are sure that you're going to kill it - of course, if you're 70 years old - just take it - the idea of waiting till you're 75 and a better reader......just go for it.....