Is this true?
Many tell me it is.
How come that it is so?
Galway's tourism depends so much in Irish Music?
The Famous Pubs are skin-flints with musos?
I can't believe it!
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I believe its Euro60 per musician, thats the same in punts as it was 10 years ago.
The sessions are mechanical as the 3 musicians do their 2 hours before moving on to the next pub on the conveyer belt while losing the will to live. And if you join in youre just getting into the tunes when 'THEY' up and p*ss off to their next 'gig'.
Come to Belfast for a real session where you might even get to hear ahe odd trad song and a wee dance.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
In my early teenage years I spent most holidays on the Dingle Peninsula. We would stay around Castle Gregory & many a good session we had at Mrs. Ashes at Camp. About 8 years ago my horse-mad daughters thought a gypsy caravan would be fun (????) so we chose a route that would take us to the places I knew & actually stay at Ashes. Because of the space restrictions I only took a flute (normally playing T. Banjo). So when we arrived I was delighted to see ‘Live Music Tonight’. I was horrified to see 2 musicians sectioned off from the rest of the pub (literally, a tape across the cubby they were playing in) & when I asked if I could join in I was told in no uncertain terms I was not welcome. I spoke to (a by now elderly) Mrs. Ashe & asked where all the musicians had gone. “We have these in for the American coach tour” she told me. I reminded her of who I was (we were pretty much regulars, though I had aged 25 years & added a pound for every year) & her eyes just glazed over………”Ah, the golden years” she said.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
you should specify Galway city. I know one regular galway session professional who is disgusted at the way city publicans take the musicians for granted, I did a session with him once in a small village on the Galway/Mayo border and we got paid twice what he normally gets in the city!
How is it that publicans in small villages can afford to pay such decent money when city publicans who obviously make a lot more money are skinflints about the whole thing.
Of course some people will say we should be grateful that we can get paid at all for playing this music, but when there is a professional market for it as there is in Galway City the musicians should be treated fairly.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I'm a bit uncertain whether the question posted is really about 'whether' Galway sessioners receive the lowest pay. The balance of the question includes the aspect of Galway's need for tourism, and that suggests, to me, that the question is at least equally concerned with the issue of paying to seed sessions.
Is it only money changing hands that has the powerful effect of transforming a session into a gig? In March i played (what I thought were) sessions in Galway city. I met some very nice regulars and a few other visitors, but mostly we shared some tunes. I didn't pay for my pints - was that 'payment?' If so - we should all be 'paid' every time we play, in my book. I find it a wonderful thing to share tunes at a pub in which the publican wants the musicians in the place, and expresses that desire by behaving in ways that make that perfectly clear. I never asked, nor was I told, whether any of the players at the numerous other sessions I played in Ireland and Northern Ireland were seeded with musicians who were paid cash. And I don't care either way. As a visitor I don't consider it my business. If I wasn't enjoying myself, or the music was poor, or there was anything that caused me to want to be elsewhere....that door I came through also leads back outside.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"by the way......a paid session isn't a session......it's a gig !!!"
I disagree, the session scene here in SF is thriving at the local pub and one reason is that the publican, who loves trad, keeps the fire stoked by paying for a core of strong musicians to host them.
I go to almost all the sessions regardless of whether I'm hosting it or not. When I'm hosting it there's a huge difference between what I consider to be "gigs" and what the session is. At the session we're relaxing and playing whatever we want and celebrating the music with whoever comes out to join in. At gigs we're presenting the music as entertainment for a designated purpose other than our own enjoyment.
When people are paid to host the session it's not that much money compared to what you get for "gigs" and all it does is guarantee they will show up. If this system wasn't in place the session might fizzle out after a while on account of no strong players showing up regularly. The only time volunteer sessions work is if it's in a small village or the like where the players come out because there are no other alternatives for going out. But those days might be history now. In a city like SF there are plenty of other things to do. The session becomes one of them, but something has to happen to guarantee that if people go to the trouble of showing up, there will be something there that made the effort worthwhile.
I have seen dozens of volunteer sessions die out over the years. The paid session has been going since 1988. Before that it was a volunteer session since 1975, but the pub was Joe Cooley and Kevin Keegan’s local. After they both passed away it was volunteer and had considerable momentum for a good stretch, but it eventually fizzled out for the reasons I already mentioned. In 1988 the publican began paying hosts and it has continued ever since uninterrupted.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I seem to have started a whole series of reactions here.
Sean Mc your story is very touching - the gypsy caravan and all - reminds me of Johnny Doran - he got paid for playing, didn't he?
It does seem to be the fault of the publican in your story - she wouldn't let you join in? And she said that the music was for the American tourist coaches?
Mrs Ashe had cordoned off the scene of the crime?
She was like a spider waiting to pounce on the american tourists once she had them in her parlour?
Wow that gives some insight ok!
Maybe this is the mentality in Galway too?
But how come they say its the WORST in all of Ireland?
I keep hearing it all the time
'Galway publicans are the worst at paying musicians'
but when I'm actually there they seem ok to me.
But others tell me that Galway (yes GW CITY) is the pits for how they treat the great musicians they have there.
I really want to find out about this!
I may not move there after all.
Was thinking about buying a holiday home there.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
How about the effects of supply&demand?
Aren't there scads of trad musicians in Galway city? It's probably hard to get more for a gig when there's a dozen other musicians right there in town that'll gladly do it for the going rate.
Of course, we'd like to think that if a publican offered to pay more, he'd have his pick of the best musicians in town... But then again, musicians tend to go away and farm off their gigs to their friends; so that technique might just backfire on the pub owner, leaving them paying more $$ for the same musicians as are playing down the street... Granted, if there was a real push to get the BEST musicians playing at YOUR bar, that would be the way to do it... But I bet the best musicians in Galway aren't all booked up so completely as to make that a worthwhile investment.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Looking at the Galway sessions poster a friend sent to me, I can't understand how they get guys like Brain Mc grath and Paul Bradley to play there? Is that just for the Festival or do they play there all year round?
I'm sure those guys aren't doing it for nothing.
The other session players I don't recognise most of them.
Could they be getting more than the others?
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Don't tempt me. I'll sleep under a bar stool. Won't be much of a change for where I normally sleep now.
KML, kudos to San Fran. Such are the blessings of a big city.
Meanwhile, in suburbia, the local will happily pay you pennies to sing "The Wild Rover" 48 times over several hours.
"Ya aren't going to playing those jigs and reels, are ya?"
"You're damn right I will be, why do you think I didn't ask for $? I don't want people making me sing 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' all freaking night. This is a session, pally."
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
A paid session is not a gig. One of the places I play is called a session, and we ar paid, but it is not a "pure" session. We are performing at that one, and trying to please some of the crowd, some of the time.
But the majority of really good sessions in Belfast would have paid performers, but they are sessions, not gigs.
The idea of paying is a smart move for the publican, as it ensures that at least the paid people will be there every week. So if a tourist arrives in town and asks if their is music anywhere, people can safely say, "Yes in........."
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Tribesman brianc?
I suppose they wouldn't have heard of Galway in the Jungle!
But yes brianc, Galway does depend to a very large extent on trad for tourism.
If there were absolutely no Irish Music in pubs in Galway, what would there be to attract people there and keep them there?
Its the reason why I go there. I can't think of any other reason to go there - its hardly Paris!
If many thousands go to doolin every year to hear trad, you're trying to tell me they don't go to Galway for Trad?
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
The Galway sessions festival is actually a matter of big contention amongst Galway musicians. Paul Bradley and Brian McGrath both live in Galway and play sessions week in and week out and they don't get paid more than other musicians. There are a whole rake of top quality musicians who play every week in Galway and they all get roughly the same amount of pay €40-€60 per session. The Galway sessions festival is nothing more than the usual sessions with a few gigs thrown in. The regular session players are just doing their regular sessions during this festival and get this, they don't get paid any extra for that week. So the publicans get a huge boost in their coffers but the regular session players get nowt extra. I think this is maybe what you were hearing about
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Chauncey -
I didn't say, nor did I even hint that people don't go to Galway for trad.
I responded to this comment:
"Galway's tourism depends so much in Irish Music?"
My response was focused on the "so much" aspect...
Yes, of course there are lots of pubs in Galway that feature the music, and lots and lots of people are there for it.
However, it is my opinion that if people didn't go to Galway specifically for the music, that Galway would somehow survive. Tourist season in Ireland is relatively short. There's a festival or 2 or 3 that feature the music and they're held - surprise - in the summer.
Don't know why you're comparing Doolin to Galway - it's an irrelevant comparison. I mean, what else is there in that wide spot in the road also known as Doolin? Still, I'd bet that on a per capita basis, Doolin as a trad music site leaves Galway in the dust, and the same with Ennis, and maybe even Lisdoonvarna.
Galway, as a much larger city, has a lot more going than just music to make it the city that it is. From my experience, the music in Galway is better when the tourists have left for the season. (Though the same could be said for any town that tries to attract folks for the music).
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
And more on the "paid" aspect.
At Kyteler's in Kilkenny City... couple of years ago. Sign out front: "Live Irish Music Tonight".
I go to the bar (it's around 6PM) get a pint, and ask the barman about the music for the evening. Specifically, I ask if it's an open session, a concert, or what have you.
He says that anyone can join in, no problem, what do you play? "Oh, sure, pipes, that's great, bring them by, the lads'll start up around 9 or half 9." Great.
I return about 8:30... about 45 minutes later, the bar crowd is growing;and I'm noticing a very large contingent from Chicago - complete with Bears and Cubs regalia.
Then, from the back room comes a fellow carrying a sound board... the size of which makes me think that The Stones are going to be playing... one of those huge, 64-input channel boards. BIG.
Up over a beam goes a mic cord, which hangs down... then another (apparently they spent all their money on the board, with none left over for mic stands). Then, 2 huge speakers, and 2 guitars, and the "act" starts in.
So, it's clearly not an 'open session', and if these two lads aren't being paid, then, well... who cares? I finish my pint and make my way 'round the town to find some real music.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
One other point: all this talk about being paid to play at a session.... it sort of puts a very wet blanket on the ever-popular (but hardly practiced?) "I do this for the love of the music". If the money weren't there, would the session be there? It makes me wonder.
Getting a few pints or perhaps even a plate of food is, technically, payment, though that's known as "payment in kind", and it costs the pub owner a lot less to provide pints and/or some food than it does when it's time to part with a portion of the night's profit (or loss).
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Is a paid session a performance?????????
Just to let ye know for ever euro thats paid out of the till ,three times that has to go back in to the till to cover it ....so sixty a musician for two musicians needs 360 euros of drink back in the till just to cover the two musicians and the way tourists drink this is not an easy task.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
as for the tired debate around "I do this for the love of the music" most trad musicians, professional or not do it for the love of the music, most professional trad musicians would still play even if they didn't get paid gigs. The fact is most musicians would much prefer to make a living out of doing what is basically their hobby than working in an office, in a bar or cleaning toilets.
Fact is ITM has become a bit of a money spinner, so if there's people making money out of the music then it's only fair a good bit of it goes to the musicians playing it rather than the businessmen and women exploiting it.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Fris,
The side of that coin (no pun intended) is that things seem to have evolved where the only time a pub owner can get any decent musicians in is if he pays them to be there.
Sure, who wouldn't like making a full time living out of playing music they love? Of course, if there were a living to be made, we'd all be doing it, and that, of course, presents a whole new dynamic to it...
And if 'most professional trad musicians would still play even if they didn't get paid gigs' is so set in stone, why then have publicans found the need to pay sessioneers? Sure, they'd still play - but do you realize how relatively few "professional" trad musicians there are - in the grand scheme of things?
I can think of some of the top musicians in their respective instruments, and guess what - they have 'real' jobs, and for good reason. Being a trad musician doesn't pay enough to make ends meet. It's a very small pond.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Frisbee music in a pub isn't a tax write off paying cash can be a disater for a publician .............and theres very few musicians give an invoice ..........................maybe the government should try to promote irish music in pubs by giving publicians grants to have Irish music for the tourist industry
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
brianc is very ardent and sanctimonious about the session having to be virtuos and unpaid.
Ha ha! Unpaid virtuosi!! i like it!
Sorry - coudn't help that one.
I'm told that the pub sessions were a joint creation of the CCE and The Vintners Association of Ireland back in the sixties?
Pub sessions were not traditionally a part of Irish life until then were they?
So maybe absolute purists should do the traditional thing and play at only house sessions instead, then they wouldn't have to be so adamant about discussions like this.
How do saint and brianc know so much about the inside of the bar business?
Are we dealing with the Very Vintners themselves here - or are they musicians - the sort of musicians who would undercut their fellow musicians and take the royal shilling of friendship by siding with the exploiteers?
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Saint says "music in a pub isn't a tax write off paying cash can be a disater for a publician"
I've played in pubs where I was paid cash but before I was paid I had to sign for it. This happens in many pubs and it is a tax write off then, I've a friend who plays five nights a week in Dublin and he signs every time and then has to declare it to the tax. You can be bloody sure that any publican with a bit of cop on writes off money paid to musicians. This is a valid expense to claim back. Some publicans evidently don't realise this though.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I went to a "new" session last week, the new landlord was into folk and wanted to start something going.
There were some of the "very old school" there, who were singing songs they got from their grandparents, there were some of the farming and hunting community, and we played a bit of ITM.
There were some famous folk-names there as well, who were there simply to join in with the local community and, as collectors, to listen to some of the songs from 2 centuries ago.
That is why some people go to sessions.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I also went by the Temple Bar, where some eejits were "shouting" Wild Rover so loud, you could hear them in the street. I went by an hour later, same song.
That is why some people don't go to sessions.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
apologies to brianc
It was phantom button who said "a paid session is not a session it is a gig"
Thus contradicting himseklf!
So lets call it a paid session bud?!
Its good that there is this professionality in irish music as there was in the days when Coleman played in certain pubs in NYC- ity may have been a gig, it may have been a session, all I know is that I'd like to have been there.
Anywher in Ireland I've been there ahve been paid sessions and never was anyone unwelcoming when I took out my flute to play. I am very well off and don't need the money but I can appreciate that a lot of these guys do. Yet I appreciate that they (many of them have made a choice to follow music as a way of life and a career or part time career. This is to be admired and is something that many people (esp some on this page) would not have the courage to do.
From my futing forays around ireland I can see that the living is there for the good players - and the not so great hut it is evident that in some places the burgeoning tourist trade is milking the Traditional musicians of Ireland dry.
But is GALWAY the WORST place for this - the stories that I have been hearing have put me off completing a deal on a house there as a place for music holidays.
I would not play in pubs that support this system. Yes I am a principled person. I make my money honestly and not off the backs of other peoples talents.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I certainly wouldn't like to be trying to make a living from ITM. Example: Two good musicians try and get a paid gig in a pub. You negotiate a fee only to be told 'Sure I can get six fellows for that money' or ' There's a crowd of lads come in here regularly and play for nothing'. The fact that those others are probably rubbish is neither here nor there, it's ‘diddley aiy’ music and it sounds all the same to the average punter enjoying a pint. Back to the 'Wild Rover' and 'The Fields of Athenry' I'm afraid.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
chaunceykehoe, don't let the city pubs put you off coming to Galway, there's a nice vibe about Galway at the moment. There's plenty of good sessions in villages and towns surrounding Galway City that are worth being here for and they are often much better sessions than the ones in Galway City. For example in Spiddal you can get regular sessions with some very well known musicians and often you'll find other great musicians will come out to Spiddal to play with them.
Also despite the attitude of the publicans there are some great sessions in the city, though I have to say that often in the better known pubs you can have top quality musicians playing but the pub is too noisy to enjoy playing and/or listening.
Unfortunately I bellieve it's pretty much the same in any main town/city in Ireland, the golden rule is if you want to find a really good session go out of the city.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Free Reed has made a good part of his living from music over the years and I'd say knows what he's talking about.
There is a Coach company owned by a Galway Trad pub owner which ferries tourists to The Cliffs of Moher, DOOLIN and back to Galway.
There are ten trad venues in Galway at least, three of which have Trad every day of pub-opening in the year, one of which has TWO sessions per day. Doolin has two pubs.
This would seem to make nonsense of your argument brianc.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Oh regarding Doolin, I'm afraid Doolin is one of the last places I'd go for music these days, I'm sure it was great years ago but I spent a month there last year and didn't play in one session because every 'session' was a miked up gig for the tourists.
There are some great musicians in Doolin and I suspect they have some good house sessions but the pub session scene there is pretty dire for people who want to join in.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"Sure, who wouldn't like making a full time living out of playing music they love? Of course, if there were a living to be made, we'd all be doing it", this says Brianc
err....There is a living to be made, I and most of my friends make a living out of music we love. None of us are millionaires but we're much happier doing this than anything else.
If you really wanted to be a professional musician and had the ability and the drive there's nothing to stop you except yourself.
I think a lot of people who knock the concept of being a professional musician are simply not good enough to be professionals. It takes a lot of work, risk and dedication to make a living out of music, but believe me it's worth it.
Still we are within our rights to question the payment policies of certain city publicans when their colleagues in the countryside treat us much better!
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Ballydehob co cork ,has a session every friday,no one gets paid,the session was originally started by Cathy Cook..
when we were running the session at that time it was at[ Rose oSullivans bar],Cathy and myself were not paid ,but never had to buy a drink,that way two competent musicians were always there to be ,the back bone of the session,and it worked.
now the session rotates between four bars,and is much more variable sometimes very good sometimes mediocre,depending on who turns up.
Liam Kenneally runs the session,but if he has a gig, he doesnt
turn up[which is fair enough]
But no one else seems to be prepared to lead in his absence.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"There are ten trad venues in Galway at least, three of which have Trad every day of pub-opening in the year, one of which has TWO sessions per day. Doolin has two pubs.
This would seem to make nonsense of your argument brianc"
- chauncy
.................
Which is precisely why I used PER CAPITA.
Comparing Galway to Doolin is foolish - thus the use of 'per capita'. The point of my comment is that there's a lot more to do in Galway (outside of trad music) than there is in Doolin; if Trad music were non-existent effective today in Galway, the city would still get by. If the same happened in Doolin, they'd be having a rough go of it - e.g., their lcocal economy is far more dependent on music bringing tourists in than
Galway is, that's what I was trying to say there, and no, my point isn't nonsense, it's common sense.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Yes brianc - we know you're very proud of your home(?) town but the point of the debate is not 'tidy town of the year' and local attractions! It is a beautiful place indeed.
Of course there are other attractions in Galway but we aren't focussing on that.
We're actually talking about session-going numbers of tourists and how it affects the pay of musicians.
We are talking about how in the face of that, and the thriving music industry that Galway seems to be particularly tight fisted in paying their many great musos.Maybe you didn't notice the title of the dicussion?
'per capita' is an absurd addition which I obviously chose to ignore.
We're talking numbers of people who fill ten pubs in Galway from one end of the year to the other solely for the trad music thats playing there. The size of the local poulation is irrelevant.
Its those ten pubs that the trad audience come to (no matter about the other nine wonders of Galway) the same as the two pubs in Doolin - so obviously it suggests that about five times more come to Galway, or at least the triple of the visitors to Doolin - in any case probably many are the same visitors.
Therefore the market environment exists to support a trad music industry.
This is the point of the discussion from the outset but you seem to have got lost in something a bit different.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
They may come to see the big wheel in salt hill but the fact is they fill pubs and that is what is relevant here, so enough of your prurience brianc and get clued in to whats going on here.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I hope not. I'm away to get a life. Thanks to all who helped me with the questions I posted. I don't know how to type "The Last Post" but I'll not be interrupting your conversations again.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Christ, here in Canada, I just want cheap beer. I've been to a few sessions in the States where musicians get free beer. Over here the publicans pay one person to anchor the session, and if they are feeling generous others get cheap pints but that's it.
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Well - I've started up a session with a different slant/take on the
whole gig/session, "two get paid"/"they get free beer" comments.
The Hotel in Galway City pays us a good amount. There is no free drink for anyone. And the money gets split evenly between all musicians.
This system has been running now for 4 years. The advantage is, even new musicians who walk in, get recognized financially. The disadvantage is sometimes you get very mediocre musicians playing & getting paid. But on avarage the session is very good. People come for different reasons. Very few come _just_ for the money, simply because in advance they don't know how much they will get. For a year or two we averaged about 6 musicians, these days we have about 9 most weeks. And trust me, the musicians are not just going through the motions, there is great variety because of different faces showing up. And everyone appreciates the 20 or 30 or 40 euro they get [normally pays for more than drinks....]. In case anyone is interested, its in the Western Hotel, Thurs. nights.....
Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Is this true?
Many tell me it is.
How come that it is so?
Galway's tourism depends so much in Irish Music?
The Famous Pubs are skin-flints with musos?
I can't believe it!
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
How come you got to submit 2 discussions in the one day? Jeremy?
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Rudall the time
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I believe its Euro60 per musician, thats the same in punts as it was 10 years ago.
The sessions are mechanical as the 3 musicians do their 2 hours before moving on to the next pub on the conveyer belt while losing the will to live. And if you join in youre just getting into the tunes when 'THEY' up and p*ss off to their next 'gig'.
Come to Belfast for a real session where you might even get to hear ahe odd trad song and a wee dance.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by iwerzon
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"Galway's tourism depends so much in Irish Music?"
............
That would come as news to many a Tribesman.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Tightwad publicans???!!!! REALLY?!!! Who would've thought it!!
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Hanley
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
yeah they don't pay great apprantly dublin isn't too good either.
I have heard kerry, clare and cork pay well...
only what I have heard though...
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by musical soul
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
In my early teenage years I spent most holidays on the Dingle Peninsula. We would stay around Castle Gregory & many a good session we had at Mrs. Ashes at Camp. About 8 years ago my horse-mad daughters thought a gypsy caravan would be fun (????) so we chose a route that would take us to the places I knew & actually stay at Ashes. Because of the space restrictions I only took a flute (normally playing T. Banjo). So when we arrived I was delighted to see ‘Live Music Tonight’. I was horrified to see 2 musicians sectioned off from the rest of the pub (literally, a tape across the cubby they were playing in) & when I asked if I could join in I was told in no uncertain terms I was not welcome. I spoke to (a by now elderly) Mrs. Ashe & asked where all the musicians had gone. “We have these in for the American coach tour” she told me. I reminded her of who I was (we were pretty much regulars, though I had aged 25 years & added a pound for every year) & her eyes just glazed over………”Ah, the golden years” she said.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by gone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
you should specify Galway city. I know one regular galway session professional who is disgusted at the way city publicans take the musicians for granted, I did a session with him once in a small village on the Galway/Mayo border and we got paid twice what he normally gets in the city!
How is it that publicans in small villages can afford to pay such decent money when city publicans who obviously make a lot more money are skinflints about the whole thing.
Of course some people will say we should be grateful that we can get paid at all for playing this music, but when there is a professional market for it as there is in Galway City the musicians should be treated fairly.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
by the way......a paid session isn't a session......it's a gig !!!
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by gone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
it's a gig to those who are paid, it's a session to those who come and play along without getting paid
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
So as the instigator, I wonder how much Jeremy is paid for this Session.....
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by gone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Fascinating. When we get a paid gig in the US they don't expect a session, they expect Danny Boy and fake brogues.
Needless to say, I play lots of sessions but very few gigs.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I'm a bit uncertain whether the question posted is really about 'whether' Galway sessioners receive the lowest pay. The balance of the question includes the aspect of Galway's need for tourism, and that suggests, to me, that the question is at least equally concerned with the issue of paying to seed sessions.
Is it only money changing hands that has the powerful effect of transforming a session into a gig? In March i played (what I thought were) sessions in Galway city. I met some very nice regulars and a few other visitors, but mostly we shared some tunes. I didn't pay for my pints - was that 'payment?' If so - we should all be 'paid' every time we play, in my book. I find it a wonderful thing to share tunes at a pub in which the publican wants the musicians in the place, and expresses that desire by behaving in ways that make that perfectly clear. I never asked, nor was I told, whether any of the players at the numerous other sessions I played in Ireland and Northern Ireland were seeded with musicians who were paid cash. And I don't care either way. As a visitor I don't consider it my business. If I wasn't enjoying myself, or the music was poor, or there was anything that caused me to want to be elsewhere....that door I came through also leads back outside.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Stevie C
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"by the way......a paid session isn't a session......it's a gig !!!"
I disagree, the session scene here in SF is thriving at the local pub and one reason is that the publican, who loves trad, keeps the fire stoked by paying for a core of strong musicians to host them.
I go to almost all the sessions regardless of whether I'm hosting it or not. When I'm hosting it there's a huge difference between what I consider to be "gigs" and what the session is. At the session we're relaxing and playing whatever we want and celebrating the music with whoever comes out to join in. At gigs we're presenting the music as entertainment for a designated purpose other than our own enjoyment.
When people are paid to host the session it's not that much money compared to what you get for "gigs" and all it does is guarantee they will show up. If this system wasn't in place the session might fizzle out after a while on account of no strong players showing up regularly. The only time volunteer sessions work is if it's in a small village or the like where the players come out because there are no other alternatives for going out. But those days might be history now. In a city like SF there are plenty of other things to do. The session becomes one of them, but something has to happen to guarantee that if people go to the trouble of showing up, there will be something there that made the effort worthwhile.
I have seen dozens of volunteer sessions die out over the years. The paid session has been going since 1988. Before that it was a volunteer session since 1975, but the pub was Joe Cooley and Kevin Keegan’s local. After they both passed away it was volunteer and had considerable momentum for a good stretch, but it eventually fizzled out for the reasons I already mentioned. In 1988 the publican began paying hosts and it has continued ever since uninterrupted.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Phantom Button
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I seem to have started a whole series of reactions here.
Sean Mc your story is very touching - the gypsy caravan and all - reminds me of Johnny Doran - he got paid for playing, didn't he?
It does seem to be the fault of the publican in your story - she wouldn't let you join in? And she said that the music was for the American tourist coaches?
Mrs Ashe had cordoned off the scene of the crime?
She was like a spider waiting to pounce on the american tourists once she had them in her parlour?
Wow that gives some insight ok!
Maybe this is the mentality in Galway too?
But how come they say its the WORST in all of Ireland?
I keep hearing it all the time
'Galway publicans are the worst at paying musicians'
but when I'm actually there they seem ok to me.
But others tell me that Galway (yes GW CITY) is the pits for how they treat the great musicians they have there.
I really want to find out about this!
I may not move there after all.
Was thinking about buying a holiday home there.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
How about the effects of supply&demand?
Aren't there scads of trad musicians in Galway city? It's probably hard to get more for a gig when there's a dozen other musicians right there in town that'll gladly do it for the going rate.
Of course, we'd like to think that if a publican offered to pay more, he'd have his pick of the best musicians in town... But then again, musicians tend to go away and farm off their gigs to their friends; so that technique might just backfire on the pub owner, leaving them paying more $$ for the same musicians as are playing down the street... Granted, if there was a real push to get the BEST musicians playing at YOUR bar, that would be the way to do it... But I bet the best musicians in Galway aren't all booked up so completely as to make that a worthwhile investment.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Georgi
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
SWFLFiddler: "Fascinating. When we get a paid gig in the US they don't expect a session, they expect Danny Boy and fake brogues."
That's one of the reasons people moved to places like Galway.
And for the record, I really enjoy going to other people's gig/sessions, whatever the heck you feel like calling them.
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by Georgi
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Looking at the Galway sessions poster a friend sent to me, I can't understand how they get guys like Brain Mc grath and Paul Bradley to play there? Is that just for the Festival or do they play there all year round?
I'm sure those guys aren't doing it for nothing.
The other session players I don't recognise most of them.
Could they be getting more than the others?
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Don't tempt me. I'll sleep under a bar stool. Won't be much of a change for where I normally sleep now.
KML, kudos to San Fran. Such are the blessings of a big city.
Meanwhile, in suburbia, the local will happily pay you pennies to sing "The Wild Rover" 48 times over several hours.
"Ya aren't going to playing those jigs and reels, are ya?"
"You're damn right I will be, why do you think I didn't ask for $? I don't want people making me sing 'When Irish Eyes Are Smiling' all freaking night. This is a session, pally."
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
A paid session is not a gig. One of the places I play is called a session, and we ar paid, but it is not a "pure" session. We are performing at that one, and trying to please some of the crowd, some of the time.
But the majority of really good sessions in Belfast would have paid performers, but they are sessions, not gigs.
The idea of paying is a smart move for the publican, as it ensures that at least the paid people will be there every week. So if a tourist arrives in town and asks if their is music anywhere, people can safely say, "Yes in........."
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Tribesman brianc?
I suppose they wouldn't have heard of Galway in the Jungle!
But yes brianc, Galway does depend to a very large extent on trad for tourism.
If there were absolutely no Irish Music in pubs in Galway, what would there be to attract people there and keep them there?
Its the reason why I go there. I can't think of any other reason to go there - its hardly Paris!
If many thousands go to doolin every year to hear trad, you're trying to tell me they don't go to Galway for Trad?
# Posted on September 6th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
The Galway sessions festival is actually a matter of big contention amongst Galway musicians. Paul Bradley and Brian McGrath both live in Galway and play sessions week in and week out and they don't get paid more than other musicians. There are a whole rake of top quality musicians who play every week in Galway and they all get roughly the same amount of pay €40-€60 per session. The Galway sessions festival is nothing more than the usual sessions with a few gigs thrown in. The regular session players are just doing their regular sessions during this festival and get this, they don't get paid any extra for that week. So the publicans get a huge boost in their coffers but the regular session players get nowt extra. I think this is maybe what you were hearing about
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Chauncey -
I didn't say, nor did I even hint that people don't go to Galway for trad.
I responded to this comment:
"Galway's tourism depends so much in Irish Music?"
My response was focused on the "so much" aspect...
Yes, of course there are lots of pubs in Galway that feature the music, and lots and lots of people are there for it.
However, it is my opinion that if people didn't go to Galway specifically for the music, that Galway would somehow survive. Tourist season in Ireland is relatively short. There's a festival or 2 or 3 that feature the music and they're held - surprise - in the summer.
Don't know why you're comparing Doolin to Galway - it's an irrelevant comparison. I mean, what else is there in that wide spot in the road also known as Doolin? Still, I'd bet that on a per capita basis, Doolin as a trad music site leaves Galway in the dust, and the same with Ennis, and maybe even Lisdoonvarna.
Galway, as a much larger city, has a lot more going than just music to make it the city that it is. From my experience, the music in Galway is better when the tourists have left for the season. (Though the same could be said for any town that tries to attract folks for the music).
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
And more on the "paid" aspect.
At Kyteler's in Kilkenny City... couple of years ago. Sign out front: "Live Irish Music Tonight".
I go to the bar (it's around 6PM) get a pint, and ask the barman about the music for the evening. Specifically, I ask if it's an open session, a concert, or what have you.
He says that anyone can join in, no problem, what do you play? "Oh, sure, pipes, that's great, bring them by, the lads'll start up around 9 or half 9." Great.
I return about 8:30... about 45 minutes later, the bar crowd is growing;and I'm noticing a very large contingent from Chicago - complete with Bears and Cubs regalia.
Then, from the back room comes a fellow carrying a sound board... the size of which makes me think that The Stones are going to be playing... one of those huge, 64-input channel boards. BIG.
Up over a beam goes a mic cord, which hangs down... then another (apparently they spent all their money on the board, with none left over for mic stands). Then, 2 huge speakers, and 2 guitars, and the "act" starts in.
So, it's clearly not an 'open session', and if these two lads aren't being paid, then, well... who cares? I finish my pint and make my way 'round the town to find some real music.
Ah well.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
One other point: all this talk about being paid to play at a session.... it sort of puts a very wet blanket on the ever-popular (but hardly practiced?) "I do this for the love of the music". If the money weren't there, would the session be there? It makes me wonder.
Getting a few pints or perhaps even a plate of food is, technically, payment, though that's known as "payment in kind", and it costs the pub owner a lot less to provide pints and/or some food than it does when it's time to part with a portion of the night's profit (or loss).
My $0.02.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Is a paid session a performance?????????
Just to let ye know for ever euro thats paid out of the till ,three times that has to go back in to the till to cover it ....so sixty a musician for two musicians needs 360 euros of drink back in the till just to cover the two musicians and the way tourists drink this is not an easy task.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Saint
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Good point, saint.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
ah Saint but you forget to mention that the money paid to musicians is a tax write off for the publican!
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
as for the tired debate around "I do this for the love of the music" most trad musicians, professional or not do it for the love of the music, most professional trad musicians would still play even if they didn't get paid gigs. The fact is most musicians would much prefer to make a living out of doing what is basically their hobby than working in an office, in a bar or cleaning toilets.
Fact is ITM has become a bit of a money spinner, so if there's people making money out of the music then it's only fair a good bit of it goes to the musicians playing it rather than the businessmen and women exploiting it.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Fris,
The side of that coin (no pun intended) is that things seem to have evolved where the only time a pub owner can get any decent musicians in is if he pays them to be there.
Sure, who wouldn't like making a full time living out of playing music they love? Of course, if there were a living to be made, we'd all be doing it, and that, of course, presents a whole new dynamic to it...
And if 'most professional trad musicians would still play even if they didn't get paid gigs' is so set in stone, why then have publicans found the need to pay sessioneers? Sure, they'd still play - but do you realize how relatively few "professional" trad musicians there are - in the grand scheme of things?
I can think of some of the top musicians in their respective instruments, and guess what - they have 'real' jobs, and for good reason. Being a trad musician doesn't pay enough to make ends meet. It's a very small pond.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Sorry, my previous post should read, "The OTHER side of that coin..."
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Frisbee music in a pub isn't a tax write off paying cash can be a disater for a publician .............and theres very few musicians give an invoice ..........................maybe the government should try to promote irish music in pubs by giving publicians grants to have Irish music for the tourist industry
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Saint
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
brianc is very ardent and sanctimonious about the session having to be virtuos and unpaid.
Ha ha! Unpaid virtuosi!! i like it!
Sorry - coudn't help that one.
I'm told that the pub sessions were a joint creation of the CCE and The Vintners Association of Ireland back in the sixties?
Pub sessions were not traditionally a part of Irish life until then were they?
So maybe absolute purists should do the traditional thing and play at only house sessions instead, then they wouldn't have to be so adamant about discussions like this.
How do saint and brianc know so much about the inside of the bar business?
Are we dealing with the Very Vintners themselves here - or are they musicians - the sort of musicians who would undercut their fellow musicians and take the royal shilling of friendship by siding with the exploiteers?
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Geez, speaking of sanctimony.... why the vitriol? Why put so many words into the posts of others that simply aren't there.
Never once have I said that sessioneers should go unpaid. Nor did I speak to their being 'virtuoso'. Is everything in your world so black and white?
Good grief, calm down. It's a music discussion forum, not The Great Inquisition.
And I cannot speak for saint, but I do speak from experience about the bar business.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Saint says "music in a pub isn't a tax write off paying cash can be a disater for a publician"
I've played in pubs where I was paid cash but before I was paid I had to sign for it. This happens in many pubs and it is a tax write off then, I've a friend who plays five nights a week in Dublin and he signs every time and then has to declare it to the tax. You can be bloody sure that any publican with a bit of cop on writes off money paid to musicians. This is a valid expense to claim back. Some publicans evidently don't realise this though.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I went to a "new" session last week, the new landlord was into folk and wanted to start something going.
There were some of the "very old school" there, who were singing songs they got from their grandparents, there were some of the farming and hunting community, and we played a bit of ITM.
There were some famous folk-names there as well, who were there simply to join in with the local community and, as collectors, to listen to some of the songs from 2 centuries ago.
That is why some people go to sessions.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I also went by the Temple Bar, where some eejits were "shouting" Wild Rover so loud, you could hear them in the street. I went by an hour later, same song.
That is why some people don't go to sessions.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by geoffwright
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
apologies to brianc
It was phantom button who said "a paid session is not a session it is a gig"
Thus contradicting himseklf!
So lets call it a paid session bud?!
Its good that there is this professionality in irish music as there was in the days when Coleman played in certain pubs in NYC- ity may have been a gig, it may have been a session, all I know is that I'd like to have been there.
Anywher in Ireland I've been there ahve been paid sessions and never was anyone unwelcoming when I took out my flute to play. I am very well off and don't need the money but I can appreciate that a lot of these guys do. Yet I appreciate that they (many of them have made a choice to follow music as a way of life and a career or part time career. This is to be admired and is something that many people (esp some on this page) would not have the courage to do.
From my futing forays around ireland I can see that the living is there for the good players - and the not so great hut it is evident that in some places the burgeoning tourist trade is milking the Traditional musicians of Ireland dry.
But is GALWAY the WORST place for this - the stories that I have been hearing have put me off completing a deal on a house there as a place for music holidays.
I would not play in pubs that support this system. Yes I am a principled person. I make my money honestly and not off the backs of other peoples talents.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I certainly wouldn't like to be trying to make a living from ITM. Example: Two good musicians try and get a paid gig in a pub. You negotiate a fee only to be told 'Sure I can get six fellows for that money' or ' There's a crowd of lads come in here regularly and play for nothing'. The fact that those others are probably rubbish is neither here nor there, it's ‘diddley aiy’ music and it sounds all the same to the average punter enjoying a pint. Back to the 'Wild Rover' and 'The Fields of Athenry' I'm afraid.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Free Reed
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
OK lads, move up that tip jar, there you go, right up in front so they can see it. "...and it's no, nay, never..."
Nope, sorry. I couldn't do it again. Been there, done that, no thanks. I'll hide in my house and fiddle my brains out first.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
chaunceykehoe, don't let the city pubs put you off coming to Galway, there's a nice vibe about Galway at the moment. There's plenty of good sessions in villages and towns surrounding Galway City that are worth being here for and they are often much better sessions than the ones in Galway City. For example in Spiddal you can get regular sessions with some very well known musicians and often you'll find other great musicians will come out to Spiddal to play with them.
Also despite the attitude of the publicans there are some great sessions in the city, though I have to say that often in the better known pubs you can have top quality musicians playing but the pub is too noisy to enjoy playing and/or listening.
Unfortunately I bellieve it's pretty much the same in any main town/city in Ireland, the golden rule is if you want to find a really good session go out of the city.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"I'll hide in my house and fiddle my brains out"
Now there's a sentence that could be easily misinterpreted
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Free Reed has made a good part of his living from music over the years and I'd say knows what he's talking about.
There is a Coach company owned by a Galway Trad pub owner which ferries tourists to The Cliffs of Moher, DOOLIN and back to Galway.
There are ten trad venues in Galway at least, three of which have Trad every day of pub-opening in the year, one of which has TWO sessions per day. Doolin has two pubs.
This would seem to make nonsense of your argument brianc.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Oh regarding Doolin, I'm afraid Doolin is one of the last places I'd go for music these days, I'm sure it was great years ago but I spent a month there last year and didn't play in one session because every 'session' was a miked up gig for the tourists.
There are some great musicians in Doolin and I suspect they have some good house sessions but the pub session scene there is pretty dire for people who want to join in.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"Sure, who wouldn't like making a full time living out of playing music they love? Of course, if there were a living to be made, we'd all be doing it", this says Brianc
err....There is a living to be made, I and most of my friends make a living out of music we love. None of us are millionaires but we're much happier doing this than anything else.
If you really wanted to be a professional musician and had the ability and the drive there's nothing to stop you except yourself.
I think a lot of people who knock the concept of being a professional musician are simply not good enough to be professionals. It takes a lot of work, risk and dedication to make a living out of music, but believe me it's worth it.
Still we are within our rights to question the payment policies of certain city publicans when their colleagues in the countryside treat us much better!
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by The Tune Composer
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Hey frisbee, that's the way I like that phrase. See, that way, whether I'm alone or with a lassie, the phrase still works...
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by SWFL Fiddler
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"by the way......a paid session isn't a session......it's a gig !!!"
In that case, there's only one regular session that I know of in the whole of London.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by CreadurMawnOrganig
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
There are no paid sessions in Manchester, everyone plays for fun. Maybe that's why we have a good scene.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Fiddlebabe
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Ballydehob co cork ,has a session every friday,no one gets paid,the session was originally started by Cathy Cook..
when we were running the session at that time it was at[ Rose oSullivans bar],Cathy and myself were not paid ,but never had to buy a drink,that way two competent musicians were always there to be ,the back bone of the session,and it worked.
now the session rotates between four bars,and is much more variable sometimes very good sometimes mediocre,depending on who turns up.
Liam Kenneally runs the session,but if he has a gig, he doesnt
turn up[which is fair enough]
But no one else seems to be prepared to lead in his absence.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by Dick Miles
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
"There are ten trad venues in Galway at least, three of which have Trad every day of pub-opening in the year, one of which has TWO sessions per day. Doolin has two pubs.
This would seem to make nonsense of your argument brianc"
- chauncy
.................
Which is precisely why I used PER CAPITA.
Comparing Galway to Doolin is foolish - thus the use of 'per capita'. The point of my comment is that there's a lot more to do in Galway (outside of trad music) than there is in Doolin; if Trad music were non-existent effective today in Galway, the city would still get by. If the same happened in Doolin, they'd be having a rough go of it - e.g., their lcocal economy is far more dependent on music bringing tourists in than
Galway is, that's what I was trying to say there, and no, my point isn't nonsense, it's common sense.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Yes brianc - we know you're very proud of your home(?) town but the point of the debate is not 'tidy town of the year' and local attractions! It is a beautiful place indeed.
Of course there are other attractions in Galway but we aren't focussing on that.
We're actually talking about session-going numbers of tourists and how it affects the pay of musicians.
We are talking about how in the face of that, and the thriving music industry that Galway seems to be particularly tight fisted in paying their many great musos.Maybe you didn't notice the title of the dicussion?
'per capita' is an absurd addition which I obviously chose to ignore.
We're talking numbers of people who fill ten pubs in Galway from one end of the year to the other solely for the trad music thats playing there. The size of the local poulation is irrelevant.
Its those ten pubs that the trad audience come to (no matter about the other nine wonders of Galway) the same as the two pubs in Doolin - so obviously it suggests that about five times more come to Galway, or at least the triple of the visitors to Doolin - in any case probably many are the same visitors.
Therefore the market environment exists to support a trad music industry.
This is the point of the discussion from the outset but you seem to have got lost in something a bit different.
Just look at the title of the discussion!
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
They may come to see the big wheel in salt hill but the fact is they fill pubs and that is what is relevant here, so enough of your prurience brianc and get clued in to whats going on here.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
I hope not. I'm away to get a life. Thanks to all who helped me with the questions I posted. I don't know how to type "The Last Post" but I'll not be interrupting your conversations again.
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by michael c
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
*click*
# Posted on September 7th 2007 by brianc
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Thanks for your contributions brianc.
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by doggone
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Just a point, but there are three pubs in Doolin.
# Posted on September 8th 2007 by MacCruiskeen
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Fiddlebabe, there used to be hundreds of paid sessions in Manchester, back in the 1970's, but in those days sessions were everywhere.
And the name "Fiddlebabe" intrigues me. You're not called Emma by any chance?
# Posted on September 9th 2007 by bodhran bliss
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Christ, here in Canada, I just want cheap beer. I've been to a few sessions in the States where musicians get free beer. Over here the publicans pay one person to anchor the session, and if they are feeling generous others get cheap pints but that's it.
# Posted on April 10th 2008 by chris stolz
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Well - I've started up a session with a different slant/take on the
whole gig/session, "two get paid"/"they get free beer" comments.
The Hotel in Galway City pays us a good amount. There is no free drink for anyone. And the money gets split evenly between all musicians.
This system has been running now for 4 years. The advantage is, even new musicians who walk in, get recognized financially. The disadvantage is sometimes you get very mediocre musicians playing & getting paid. But on avarage the session is very good. People come for different reasons. Very few come _just_ for the money, simply because in advance they don't know how much they will get. For a year or two we averaged about 6 musicians, these days we have about 9 most weeks. And trust me, the musicians are not just going through the motions, there is great variety because of different faces showing up. And everyone appreciates the 20 or 30 or 40 euro they get [normally pays for more than drinks....]. In case anyone is interested, its in the Western Hotel, Thurs. nights.....
# Posted on September 9th 2008 by gettrick
Re: Galway the worst paid pub sessions in Ireland?
Maybe musicians could take this a bit further:
http://www.galwaysessions.com/index.html
# Posted on September 9th 2008 by Skull Duggeraigh Dubh