music business in Torrevieja - can anyone help me out?

[Irishorangutan]

Hi guys,

Here in the UK I am a full time musician, I write music for various acts, films etc.

I also DJ in top clubs here, and perform as a musician at big venues.

Does anyone have any ideas of how I could manage a summer of gigging in or around Torrevieja, either making money as a DJ, or performer?

I have toured with many top UK chart acts, and have written with some of europe's top writers, but really fancy spending a couple of months in Torrevieja working, as i've been over every year since childhood.

It could be any time, next summer is fine, as i'd assume i'm too late for any decent work this summer!

any help or advice is greatfully received!
Thank you
Michael

[Irishorangutan]

...

just to add, i'll be in torrevieja from the 21st - 28th june, so if anyone has any ideas then i'll be able to put any cv's, CD's etc around then.

[dennyman]

Hiya,
There doesn't seem to be much of a market for good quality pro music. If you want to do your own thing you might risk doing it on your own.
If you're a musical mercenary, or if you can wear a few different musical hats, you can probably find work but it doesn't pay much by UK standards. It's pretty much all self-contained stuff and it's lowest common denominator stuff as well. That said, if you can do 4/5 nights at 100 Euros per night you can live well in Spain, provided that you don't have to keep a home in UK running as well. As far as I know, the best paid "bar-style" entertainers cannot get more than 150 Euros per night - petty cash by UK standards!
And you'll have to compete with most venues wanting to be all things to all customers - a pub, a sports bar with big television sets, a social centre where everyone gets together for a (loud!) chat - and maybe if your lucky, a music venue - or if you're not so lucky, a karaoke bar.
I'm a pro singer / instrumentalist / comic in the UK and I do pretty well.
I've got years of experience and I think I can assess the possibilities for work pretty fast. I work clubs, cabaret, functions, radio and television.
I bought my place in Torrevieja a couple of years ago and it was only natural for me to get a feel of the local entertainment scene. It wasn't great - it still isn't great.
Sorry for a couple of things:-
(1) "irishorangutan" - please accept my comments about the UK situation as relevent to Ireland, if that's where you are.
(2) I don't mean to sound so negative - some music / entertainer folks are doing pretty well.
Do like I did. Come over and have a look and make up your own mind. Torrevieja is a wonderful place if you don't have to do "musical prostitute" gigs.
All the best and every success to you.
Dennyman

[Irishorangutan]

thanks!

many thanks for getting back to me - i'm actually in Scotland, and i'm not actually Irish at all - long story behind the name...

I actually did think it was something along the lines of what you are saying in terms of the scene. In terms of wearing a few hats, i do it enough here and that isn't a problem, but yeah i suppose it's a case of coming over and checking it out.

I'm over for a week in less than two weeks (21st - 28th june), have you any suggestions of the best way to check it out? Just ask around?

Many thanks again

[dennyman]

Hiya,
Have a look at http://www.costablancalive.info/what...anca_south.htm
and check out a fellow Scot called Dougie Munroe, if you can. He was at the Calypso Bar in Cabo Roig last time I was over. That's a better than average example of the pub/club/cabaret circuit.
You might try to search for local English-speaking radio stations, but as I'm sure you will know, they don't hold much sway or influence.
Just ask around, prepare yourself for rejection - they don't give a monkey's about how good you are - they want to know how little they can pay you.
Check out the legalities as well re being in business in Spain.
Look at the "other" site where private messaging is (I think) still available and PM me if you wish.
All the best,
Dennyman

[Irishorangutan]

thanks

many thanks for that, i'll check it out. what did you mean by "other" site?

thanks again
michael

[Roger H]

There is quite a healthy scene for jazz and a bit of what one might call "old fashioned" music. After all there are many residents over 60! I play in a Big Band, and many of the guys find themselves playing gigs in bars and restaurants quite separately from the band, having formed smaller groups from the Big Band. The money isn't good, they pay what they can get away with, or else the guys wouldn't work at all. However, for the sort of thing I believe that you could do, try contacting Kevin Tyler who sings every Friday night at the Indian restaurant near the market in Torrevieja. He knows the local scene for music other than jazz, and last year I believe was looking for talent to fill a number of gigs that came up over the summer. Quite a lot of us "de-camp" for July and August as it is just too hot to play. Hope that helps.