Brand 0f Instrument And rate Your Performance

[leedy2]

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
2)Do you consider your self a professional ?
3)How many days a week do you play?
4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?
5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?
6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

[PsyAbi]

Originally Posted by leedy2

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?

I started percussion with LP bongos and old Gon Bop oak congas. Over the years many have come and gone & I have played many others but still prefer the ones I started with. Has more to do with nostalgia than with the sound I guess.

2)Do you consider your self a professional ?

Professional yes - professional musician, no. I gave it a good shot years ago but decided to go on a different path. It was just too hard.

3)How many days a week do you play?

Really varies. There was a time, for a few years, when I didn't play at all. When I was a punk kid I played bongos all the time. Now, I'm much more laid back but get together with friends as often as I can and try to practice at least a few times a week.

4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?

Free drinks & food. Maybe tips.

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay? N/A

6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right

It is a very important part of my life. I have a lot of training and formal structure in piano. My percussion playing is less structured and more by feel. Someday I'm going to play vibes. I should have started that years ago.

Done!

[Gretschhead]

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?

I love the sound of vintage oak Gon Bops and Valje congas, I haven't had the pleasure to play the boutique stuff from Ritmo, Skin on Skin, Volcanoe, etc. Bongos aren't my thing. The best timbales I've played were some Slingerland era Leedy brass drums that I used to own. Leedy2 assures me the earlier stuff sounds even better, and I hope to be able to play a set one day.


2)Do you consider your self a professional ?

I play for fun and rarely gig.

3)How many days a week do you play?.

I usually play everyday

4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?

I don't gig often and have a day job, so I would be happy playing for free or for drinks and tips. If I played music for a living it would be a different story.

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?

They both have their benefits I would think, depends on the amount of playing and whatnot.

6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

I do enjoy what I do, though I would love to get out and gig more. I like to to think I know what I'm doing, but learning is my favorite part about drumming.

[conguera]

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?

I haven't played many, but I own Pearl congas and I think they're great.

2)Do you consider your self a professional ?

No, I've only been playing since last January, but I have definitely improved a lot in a year.

3)How many days a week do you play?

Usually every day.

4)What do you consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?

I've never gigged so these questions don't apply to me.

6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

I definitely do enjoy it music is my passion. I play Piano, Congas, Drums, Bass and I'm just starting to learn the Cajon. Congas are definitely in the top two when it comes to enjoyment and I think I've been improving quicker with them than I have with any of the other instruments I've learned. I like to think I'm doing it right though I'm not exactly sure what you mean by that question.

Thanks for the cool post leedy2.

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
[i]I have played most congas with a few exceptions (Volcano and Ritmo). I love Jr's congas for gigs i am using LP's
2)Do you consider your self a professional ? meaing do i make $$$ playing percussion? then yes. am i full time no...
3)How many days a week do you play? depends on many things at a min 2times a week
4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night? isnt this based on ones individual situation and the type of work? I would not play a wedding gig for less than 300 bucks...
5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay? if i was set up on active tour schedule weekly but these days i hope the check clears.....
6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ? I enjoy it . am i doing it right i get work so i must be are there things i would do different sure.....

[willie55]

)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
Timbas, quinto conga tumba, lp 70s, Vintage Singerland, all have nice dry old school sound.

2)Do you consider your self a professional ?
if getting paid make you a pro then yes, but more i consider myself and entertainer

3)How many days a week do you play?
use to play 2 times a week, restaurant gig, during march to october festival season, 1 day 2 day or 3 day festival.

4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?
restaurant $50 and meal, house party, kids party $150, school event $150/250 these are 3 hour events.
1 day festival $500 2 day festival $750 3 day festival $1000, mileage, hotel extra. these are 6 hour time frame.
Under BongoWillie Drum Tent interactive drumming with patrons and festival goers in the KIDS ZONE. Just me and 30 hand and stick drums

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?
not enough work in Little Rock so i get what i can on nightly bases.
6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?
as an entertainer and percussionist in KIDS ZONE, Restaurants, Parties I truly enjoy what I do, and if I don't do it right there will be no BongoWillie Entertainment

[frquent flyer]

I have a LP galaxcy conga and tumba and an older toca quinto and a djembe,african made.I have only been playing for nearly two months. I don't intend to play out except at drum circles and jams. I had years of playing with a band as a mandolin player.I intend to increase my drum family by at least one more conga,a requinto or possibly another conga. I dig the variety of tones ,more than just the rhythm aspects of percussion. If I had the room for seven drums I'd go for it but I don't have the space. I play at least two hours each day and go through a bandage or two each day to protect my fingers. I am aware of improvement,a little at a time. I am learning a lot in reading the comments from other players.I like Sam torres and recently learned of Ray Baretto. I ordered a cd of his today. I am primarily an audio learner that is I learn by listening and imitating what I hear. I intend to take some lessons when the opportunity presents itself.I am interested in others opinions of LP galaxy series congas.I find them to be very good but I am sure there are better congas out there.They certainly look great.

[luv4congas]

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
Lp...Most bang for the buck, everyone including beginners recognizes Lp so if you have to sell it's no problem.

2)Do you consider your self a professional ?
No but I have played side by side with pros.

3)How many days a week do you play?
Everyday.

4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?
A a hundred bucks?

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?

I'm no pro but if I was I would prefer a weekly salary do to every ten years we seem to have recessions, most have been smaller than the one were in now and not knowing if your gonna get paid can be a little stressful.

6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?
With all the info I get from Drum Chat I think I am.

[DOCTORUMBA]

Originally Posted by leedy2

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
2)Do you consider your self a professional ?
3)How many days a week do you play?
4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?
5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?
6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

1. Congas: Junior Tirado, Skin on Skin, Matthew Smith.
Bongos: Vergara, JCR, Skin on Skin, Junior Tiraddo
Timbales: Leedy's Humberto Morales, JCR, LP.
2. Eventhough I' m an Accountant by profession, I have had the pleasure of playing with many local groups, salsa, latin jazz, world. Have played with Mongo, Celia Cruz, Nestor Torres, Andy Harlow to mention some heavy names.
3. Paying gigs average to one a month in Miami.
4. $130 per night. That's what I get payed when I play.
5. I don't do it full time.
6. I wish I could live off music. Is not possible in So. Florida. To be able to play next to Mongo you better be doing it right. He was the "clave enforcer".

[bongobill]

1. Valje congas, LP Aspire bongos, custommade djembe. I have had the Valje's since the early seventies--traded in my Gon Bops. Love the feel and tonal range. LP bongo ok-don't really like them don't play them much.
2. Yes. In the past I was a professional percussionist in Vancouver. Currently am a Vocational volunteer--Worship director for a local church in Kelowna; congregation too small to afford salary.
3. Practice daily, perform 1-2 times per week
4 & 5. Didn't do one night gigs. When I worked in Vancouver I was paid a salary--Vancouver Lab Theather; when I did recording work--Provincial Education Media Centre & CBC, paid by the minute of recorded music.
5. I enjoy what I do and am good at it.

[leedy2]

Originally Posted by leedy2

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?
2)Do you consider your self a professional ?
3)How many days a week do you play?
4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?
5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?
6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

1)My preferred brand on congas is Latin Percussion's fiberglass congas,yet I own a set of Pearl Elite, reason it a real work horse all others specially wood are good but have to be very careful with them if fall you know what happens.
Bongos: I have a few Pan Con Queso, Valje,Colombian Percussion,Caribbean Rhythm with changed hardware,3A Percussion. all these bongos hold up to rough ware all solid shell's.
Timbales:I have had every brand in market to me the best are Leedy,Rogers,Latin Percussion green and gold labels new one are a piece of crap and currently using a set of Pearl Mark Quiniones. All other sound very canny do not have sound of true timbales I prefer brass over steel has a warmer sound to them.

2)Yes very professional Like things done well ,like one teacher told me once if you are not going to do it right THEN don't do it at all.


3) Today I am retired from club seen, but do commercials for company's like Coke,Goya,Pepsi and a few other Spanish company's that are in spanish TV.

4 A good pay on a night club gig all depend's on what kind of musician you are if going in to sight read do a job 200.00 a regular in band 150.00.

5) I do prefer weekly salary you pay taxes more benefit's depend band you get medical, social security payments, unemployments benefits a lot perks . As to daily pay when called for one night only yes at end of job (Give me my money )

6) When I was playing all over yes I love it really enjoy the work today bored to death nothing to do.But when I think what goes on today I don't miss it

Think all you need to get ready for a gig and you have not gotten payed yet
cleanners 15.00
transpotation 40.00 if you have no car
gas 60.00 gas todays prices
beer 7.00 if you drink
Hard drink 12.00
girl in club 22.00 found a girl at club buy her a drink she will ask for most expensive drink at place, and you are not aware she is partners with club owner.
Hotel 75.00

6 mount later she sees you gives you bad news she is pregnant or sick
thousand's in child support or yet millions for the cure.

But that nothing the worst part of all how you tell your wife with a striate face when she is holding a knife in hand and ready to cook dinner? Or after dinner and ready to go to bed knowing there is a gun in the house and she the only one with keys to safe were gun is kept. With that sad and done it just make you think should I go to play tonight with all the gorgeous Lady's in todays night club's scene

[BongoBoyLA]

Originally Posted by leedy2

1)What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?

Started out with LP but have moved over to Gon Bops in recent years -- Better bang for the buck plus I love that warmth.

Originally Posted by leedy2

2)Do you consider your self a professional ?

I consider myself a part-time professional. I was a full-time, touring pro in the 90's but took different a different career path for my day job (read: more money, paid more consistently )

Originally Posted by leedy2

3)How many days a week do you play?

I play most days, but only gig a few times a month.

Originally Posted by leedy2

4)What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?

Good pay?: $300/night
Usual pay?: <$150/night

Originally Posted by leedy2

5)Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?

In-town gig: daily/nightly
Out-of-town or tour: weekly

Originally Posted by leedy2

6)Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

I'd like to gig more, but the fact that I no longer have to depend on the gigs for my income means that I get to pick and choose the gigs that I enjoy the most. Plus, most of my gig income can now be diverted into more musical goodies. I think that's a pretty good deal.

[bongobro]

Originally Posted by leedy2

1) What Brand of conga ,bongos and timbales do you prefer and why?

Congas: I play CPs (pre-Kaman, pre-Fender) and Remo. Bongos: LP Professional Series II (ditto) and Meinl. Timbales: still learning! The LPs and CPs have served me well for over 20 years!

2) Do you consider yourself a professional?

In the sense that I have received many compliments from other musicians about my playing, yes. The only thing I don't get is professional pay...

3) How many days a week do you play?

Presently, two; I am percussionist for my church's guitar ensemble. Would like to play more, but my work schedule doesn't always cooperate!

4) What do consider a good pay for the performance of a musician one night?

The most I have ever received (or should have) was $80 for a three-hour gig (but I had a bad experience with the band leader because he signed my AFM union green card on behalf of his son, who was supposed to have played on kit that night!) I have had no use for the AFM ever since. I paid $400 for four years' dues and have nothin' to show for it!

5) Do you prefer a weekly salary as a musician or nightly pay?

See above.

6) Do you enjoy what you do as a musician and are you doing it right ?

You have to enjoy what you do or you're just wasting your time! I love playin' hand drums, and I consider myself as much as a musician behind my congas at church as anyone playin' a regular paying gig.

Some purists may take exception to my technique (my tumbao is more a side-of-my-hand riff than a heel-and-toe riff), and I'm not as fast as some of my brother tumbaderos,, but I'm still learning and I want to learn as long as I can slap the skins!