Yeah, I've played cover gigs at venues for a bit of money... But if music is just a bonus and people are more interested in the food, drink, view, chatting, it can be a real chore where you land up wondering why you aren't back home playing to yourself... I don't need the money THAT bad, and that kind of thing is better suited to specialist cover artists who bring in backing tracks and the like...

So, yeah, long story short - I only have time for the odd gig, so I try to make it a nice worthwhile one where the sound is good, and music is the focus... We're lucky to have a few of those places left, where we can slowly improve and hone our craft...

It reminds me of the meme about one of the best concert violinists in the world going busking in a busy subway and making minimal tips because he was in the wrong place and the average person doesn't actually have time and mental capacity to focus on and judge music...