Hello and happy holidays! My name is Charlie Crowe. For 12 years, I toured the nation as a guitar player for country-rock super duo Brooks & Dunn. I can also claim the title of hit songwriter, gear-head, and most important, family man. For the last two years, I’ve stayed home to reflect a bit, catch up with the people I love, raise my kids, and dust off about 15 years of road dirt.

I’ve been asked by my new friend Jeff at GuitarPlayerZen to share some of my background and offer a little music business insight. I’ve never written anything like this and don’t claim to be an expert at guitar or the business. But everybody’s got a story and their own take on things. So, here goes …

“Hey man, how’d you hook up with the big time?”

I cut my teeth in the rock bars of central Kentucky and happened to be friends with country singer John Michael Montgomery. John hired me to be his bandleader and guitarist when he hit the road in support of his Atlantic Records debut, “Life’s A Dance.” That opportunity put me and few other local musicians in the game. We had a radio single climbing the charts, a national tour, and a tour bus.

Within three months, John had a hit record. Almost instantly, we went from seedy strip-mall cowboy clubs to major sports arenas. JMM was added to the Reba tour featuring Brooks & Dunn. Most of 1993 was spent bussing, flying, sleeping, eating, drinking, smoking, rehearsing, sound checking, and waiting. All of that to perform a 30-minute set before B&D and Reba.

At the end of ’93, my career got a turbo shot when I was asked to join Brooks & Dunn. I said thanks and goodbye to JMM (no hard feelings—we’re still friends) and embarked on a 12-year journey with one of the biggest acts in the business. I got to visit and perform in all 50 states and every Canadian province many times over. We showed up everywhere: on awards shows, music videos, Letterman, Leno, Winter Olympics, Summer Olympics, and two presidential inaugurations.

Another question I get is: “What kind of money can I make backing up major label acts?”

Depending on the artist and the level they’re at, pay can be anywhere from $250 to $1,000 a night. Many new and mid-level acts play 150 to 200 dates a year and pay per show. Most of the headliners usually keep it around 75 to 100 dates a year and pay a salary. Given that there’s usually no benefits package included, the average road gig for a musician yields a salary that often falls below the median annual household income.

If you’re single (or newly married with a very cool spouse and no kids), in your mid-20s to early 30s, and you get the opportunity to play with a touring act—get on that bus and grab a bunk! It’s special and feels every bit the achievement that it is. You’re finally rewarded for all those hours of practice. You feel validated for investing all that time and money for all things music. Your parents get off your ass about wasting your life. You’re traveling to many cool places and performing in front of thousands of people who are sincerely glad you showed up. Not many jobs have that kind of payoff.

You won’t get rich, but who gives a shit! You’re basically getting paid to travel and play your part. Watch and learn. A touring gig is often a springboard to other areas of the business—ones you may want to inhabit when you’re too old, tired, and ugly to be on stage.

If you’re married with children and in your mid-30s to late 40s, I highly recommend holding out for the least-touring, highest-paying act you can find. Bring your “A” game to the audition because you might see me there, too! Seriously, those gigs are pretty locked down because all the band members in headlining acts have their musician friends on speed dial who are just waiting for someone to leave, get fired, have an unfortunate accident, develop a hideous infection, or die. The chances of a newbie getting in are pretty slim.

To best position yourself for a shot at getting a gig with a touring act, you have to move to Nashville (or LA-NYC) and start the process of getting aligned with the music community. You live where the industry lives. You get to know people. This business was built and continues to run on referrals.

So, if you’re a regional bad ass trying to make it to the next level, it’s your move. If you’re a weekend warrior content with playing music in small clubs and churches, God bless you and thanks for staying out of the way …

Please stop by and be my friend at myspace.com/charliecrowe
You can download Christmas tunes and other instrumentals. They’re free!

-Charlie

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