i did it full time, from the middle of 1980, to september of 1986.
almost 6 years.
i lived on the road, and played mostly 6 nights a week, 5 hours a night, from town to town.

in the beginning, someone else booked the band..
and we starved, maybe we made $125 a piece a week.
i didn't have a car, i rode in the equipment truck.
and after about 2 years, it got to a point where i felt like i could handle managing the band better, and the fellow who had been doing
it was just burnt out on it.
 
very easy thing to happen, it's tough.
agents are pieces of huge sh!t, sorry you agents.
 
so i started booking the band, increased our revenue, we upped our game, more lights, more P.A., and unfortunately, constant
travel.
 
we would typically travel about 350-500 miles between gigs, but going from the florida keys for a 3 week stint, to jacksonville north
carolina was not out of the question..

we would travel on sundays.
setup monday, play monday thru saturday, pack up, and do it again.
and during that time, i never missed a single gig. not one.
("pride goeth before swine") LOL
 
during this time, i figure i played this many gigs:
one thousand, two hundred and seventy two nights (gigs)
based on 5.5 years, 80% of that actually working (probably more, actually), 53 months, 4 weeks a month gives 212 weeks, 6 nights
a week gives 1,272

LOL

no sh!t.

range: all of florida, georgia, half of alabama and mississippi, a few towns in lousiana and arkansas, all of south carolina, north
carolina, virginia, west virginia, some of kentucky, couple of towns in missouri, DC area, Detroit, Chicago, Pittsburg
 
by the way...
i have continually gigged since i quit the road.. one nighters, one offs, etc..
i did the weekend warrior thing for several years, and the odd gig here and there, that count above does not include any gigs
between '86 and now...

Yup, 79 to 94. Western U.S., mostly California,Ariz,Colo,Nev,NM. One 2 week tour of Japan in 86. Then a few years in NY after I relocated here. Booked the gigs, drove the truck,paid the band and techs. We played everything from bar gigs, one night showcases, opening act for some big names from the day, and the occasional private show.
 
I haven't played out in over 10 years now, other than a one off at a private party last summer. I relented to pressure from some friends who had heard my stuff online, but hadn't seen me play live. I played with a guy I'd never met til the party. He was decent, but not used to playing with others. It went pretty much like this. Him: " Oh....I know one we can do.." and he'd start playing on his acoustic facing away from me. It left me guessing what the song was if I didn't recognize it immediately or trying to figure out what key he was playing it in. After about 5 songs of that, he took a break and my wife said "screw that clown, go up and play what you want to play". I did about 45 minutes of covers and originals, and he didn't even try and come back up. It was fun after that. He didn't want to play anymore after I stopped and we left about an hour later.
 
I still get calls now and then to play one offs with old bandmates, or come jam with others. I always decline the offers. I'm just not interested in "slopping" around musically. I was fortunate to play with some seriously talented guys over the years and I got spoiled by it. I have great friends and memories from my gigging years. No sense trying to re-create it now.
 
Randy

Music is (dang near) full time in my head.
 
Does that count?

bapu
Music is (dang near) full time in my head.
 
Does that count?

those are voices, not music. 

Beagle

bapu
Music is (dang near) full time in my head.
 
Does that count?

those are voices, not music. 

DOH!!!!

I was full time as a guitarist in the USAF band till 94'. Then to North Texas University 95-99'. then to Branson and Lake of the Ozarks till Oct 03 when I was informed I had stage 4 cancer. On that day my life in music ended. I didn't touch a guitar for 6 1/2 years and due the radiation/chemo/hardcore drugs etc. I'm in the process of rebuilding my playing abilities. I moved to South Louisiana to be near my sisters but here on the north shore music as I once knew it does not exist. So now I live in a van down by the river 

bayoubill
I live in a van down by the river 

That sounds like the good start for a song there Bill!  Congrats on beating the big "C" too.  My Mom's on her 16th year (at 84).

I only wish I had a river to live by.
 
I have a van, and a P.A.
 
Am I in the band?
 

heheh, some good stories in those posts, you're right craig, lots of good song fodder!

bapu
I only wish I had a river to live by.
 
I have a van, and a P.A.
 
Am I in the band?
 

What are you doing in PA?  I thought you lived in Cali???