Scope Creep

"I hired you to do 'x', but since you're right next to it, could use also do 'y'? Since you're at 'y', can you also just add 'z' to your list of duties?"

This is what as known as "scope creep" -- simply put, when your scope of work is slowly expanded by your employer or customer incrementally, but without an increase in pay. In some cases, this is a conscious and deliberate attempt to add more value to their expenditure without adding additional cost. It's an unscrupulous and unfair business practice that is increasingly becoming the norm. Stop it, ya cheap bastards --- you know who you are!

I've worked in the corporate world -- I've seen it happen a lot there. But, I see it in music productions, too. In fact, I'm living it right now. I get hired to play the guitar. But, I also sing well. And I know how to run a band, as well as play other instruments, although I don't really advertise any of that, unless I'm specifically asked. It's hard to be in a production for any period of time without that sort of thing getting out, though. If you are also a singer, though, sometimes you open your mouth long enough for something musical to come out. 

Try to avoid that at all costs. 

Unless, of course, you want scope creep to...[ahem]...creep (sorry!) into your work. Now, I'm stuck singing backing vocals on half the show (for no additional pay, natch). Then it's "Oh hey, I figured you wouldn't mind singing lead on this song..."

[Me] "Um....ok..."

"Hey, that sounds great, here's 2 more for you to sing lead on..."

[Me] "Um....ok..."

More pay? Nope. Now, of course, I could say something to the effect of, "Ya know, you're really only paying me to play the guitar, ya cheap bastard!"....There's one problem with that, though: will they remember that the next time they hire a guitarist -- are you someone that provides more value to the client??? Maybe, maybe not. Are you willing to take the risk and lose a plum gig for your principles? 

Principles, schminciples -- I gotta eat!

"Hey, since you know this material better than anyone on the gig, can you be Associate Musical Director?"...that means when anyone else in the cast has questions about the arrangements or the new key or whatever, they can come to me and ask for clarification, etc.

More pay?

Ohhhhhhhh, I think we both know the answer to that....

Tour Season

My touring cycle over the past few years has been typically the first 6 months of the year, and the rest is local/regional gigs. This time of year is when it gets hard, though. Not the gigs themselves, or the material, or the guitar parts. No, I'm talking about being away from my wife and kids. Is it fair to them to perpetually keep myself in a state of arrested development just so I can fulfill a childhood dream?

This is not the life of a normal adult. 

There is safety and comfort in the predictability and rote of a 9-to-5 existence (and its steady paycheck), if you can live with it. Some days I can. Some days I can't. I can't wait to get back out on the road, until I have to actually do it. Then I feel terrible for putting my family through that, especially my wife for having to pull double duty as both parents while I'm away "playing rock star".

The problem is that I've been headed on this course since I was a kid. I've prepared for it as best I could. Truth is, I'm pretty darned good at this. Not the guitar playing (yeah, I'm ok at that), but the readiness to eschew normalcy. It's been my expectation (as well as others expectations of me) as long as I can remember.

The dichotomy of "regular guy with a family and house" and "traveling musician" are hard to reconcile.

I do like waking up in my own bed and having breakfast with my family, cooking dinner in the evening and running around the yard with them in the afternoons. But I also like talking shop with my bandmates, soundchecks, playing shows, and the general camaraderie that goes with a touring production. Your fellow performers become your family, at least for a while.

So, currently, I'm packing my gear (and clothes) while vacillating between eagerness to get out there, and trepidation at leaving my family.

So, what to do?

Let me just pick up this here guitar and play a bit. I'm sure the answer will come soon enough.....or not.