The pay for American musicians well below the level of the stadium shows is normally a share of the cover charge, so the more effective they are in finding places to play where they have fans, the better their income. I've been accused of being a Marxist, yet while Harpo's my favourite, it's Groucho I'm always quoting. Odd, that.
here in italy, places to play are dwindling on the local level, while stadiums fill still.
only thing missing from a globalisation pov is itinerant chinese musos!
summer festas do provide some outlet, but pay is minimal, symbolic, accompanied by free food and wine.
i know very talented bands who have to show up at 6 for sound check, eat at 8, and then go on at 11 or 12 to play for 2 hours, then drive home with 50 euros a head, in time to fall asleep at dawn.
ain't living long, like this! ~"When an inner situation is not made conscious, it appears outside as fate." Karl Jung~
