More Gigs Do Not Mean More Value
“Steve Vai and Joe Satriani get called for more gigs because they’re more proficient.”
Good comment. Let’s take a closer look.
Most people confuse gigs with value.
Two different games
Session player game
Session players trade time for money.
- tours
- clinics
- sessions
- hired work
High proficiency can absolutely get you hired.
But the payment is tied to showing up.
Artist leverage game
Artists build leverage.
- catalog
- royalties
- brand equity
- long-term demand
An artist gets paid because the catalog exists—whether they show up or not.
Different games. Different scoreboards.
“More gigs” can mean lower value per unit
If you need more gigs to make money, it often means your value per unit is lower.
That’s not an insult. It’s math.
A session player gets paid when they show up.
An artist gets paid because demand and catalog exist.
The real question
Don’t ask: “How many gigs?”
Ask:
- What’s the value per unit?
- Is there long-term leverage?
- Can income exist without constant presence?
Conclusion
More gigs can be a sign of being hired—not of higher value.
Know which game you’re playing, and stop mixing scoreboards.
FAQ
So gigs don’t matter?
They matter a lot—especially for building audience and skills. But “volume” is not the same as leverage.
Is session work a dead-end?
No. It’s a respectable path. Just be honest: it’s time-for-money unless you build leverage on top.
How do I build leverage?
Catalog, brand, audience, repeatable offers, and assets that keep paying.
Transcript
“Vai and Satriani get called for more gigs because they’re more proficient.”
Good comment. Let’s take a closer look.
Most people confuse gigs with value.
Session players trade time for money.
Artists build leverage.
So yes—high proficiency can get you hired work: tours, clinics, sessions.
But “more gigs” doesn’t automatically mean “higher value.”
Frusciante doesn’t need volume.
His value lives in the catalog: songs, royalties, band equity, long-term leverage.
A session player gets paid when they show up.
An artist gets paid because the catalog exists.
Different games. Different scoreboards.
If you need more gigs to make money, your value per unit is lower.
Take Your Guitar Playing To The Next Level!
Wouter Baustein
Music Producer, Music & Mindset Coach
If you like clear, practical guitar and music coaching instead of random YouTube tips, you need structure. My guitar books and coaching programs give you that structure, so you can finally make real progress and level up your playing.
