Being in a band is really glamorous, right? There’s the adulation, the creative expression, the travel… and the ball-busting assistant manager looking over your shoulder at your day job to make sure you showed up on time. The truth is, making a full-time living as a musician just isn't a reality for even the vast majority of those in successful bands anymore. You might be surprised at just how many of your favorite musicians find themselves chained to a desk, retail or restaurant gig in order to pay the bills when they aren't living the dream on the road. The lucky ones find day jobs that tap into another side of their personality that they don't get to express through music. For others, it's a grind just like it is for the rest of us. We asked a bunch of bands about what they do for work, and whether or not it measures up to their night job (aka “the one that’s a lot harder to make money from”).

All four members of Richmond, Virginia’s THE RIOT BEFORE (on Paper + Plastick Records) still work in restaurants as cooks or bartenders. That line of work makes sense for musicians since the hours at a restaurant are flexible, and it's relatively easy to request off for long periods of time. “Our jobs are the only way we can afford to pay bills at home and eat while we are on tour,” says bassist CORY MANNING. “Since we all work pretty shitty jobs, the money usually isn't enough, so we’re always just scraping by. Basically, if we didn't work, we would all definitely be screwed.”

That's a common refrain for younger bands that haven't necessarily settled into a career path outside of music yet. “For dudes in touring bands, there aren't really any other options, so it just kind of made sense,” says Manning. “The work schedules are usually flexible enough that the odds of finding a restaurant job that will allow you to tour and come home to a job are fairly good. Although that hasn't always been the case. I’ve definitely come home unemployed and broke. That shit sucks. So I've been working in kitchens ever since.”

It’s a harsh reality for many bands. “I never dreamed of being a line cook,” says Manning. “I dreamed of being in a band and getting rich and famous.”

I HATE OUR FREEDOM bassist SCOTT WINEGARD, formerly of TEXAS IS THE REASON, works as a personal chef and has also spent time cooking in restaurants. The difference, however, is that he loves his restaurant gig. “Cooking is my career,” he says. “It's what I love to do. I love playing music, too, but it's mostly my hobby now. Don't tell my band this, but I would rather cook than play a show. [But] they probably know.”

His bandmate JOSEPH GRILLO also works in the food and drink world as well as manager of a boutique wine shop. “I’ve always loved wine and the job has expanded my knowledge tenfold,” he says. There are some drawbacks, though, like having a slightly more sophisticated palate than your average rock dude. “It means I’m often less than satisfied with the case of Miller Light we are given and would prefer a fine Oregon pinot noir.”

Aside from restaurant work, another job that’s conducive for touring musicians is working elsewhere in the music industry. BRANDON PHILLIPS, frontman for THE ARCHITECTS, is an indie label consultant. “My 18-year-old self would be horrified if he saw me now,” says Phillips. “He's convinced that he is no more than a couple years away from becoming Elvis Costello. Poor, dumb kid.”

But the reality is that life on the road and life at home both require income. “Sooner or later, there will be a stretch of four to six months when there is no tour, no new album and people have to find a way to stay alive until the next tour,” says Phillips. “I recommend [playing] online blackjack.”

TONY PENCE of Maryland thrash-punk unit DEEP SLEEP also keeps a day job within the music biz as owner and operator of Celebrated Summer, a record store in Baltimore. It's the ideal job for a musician, he says. “My job is to stay up on all the music I love and talk about it with kids and music fans all day. I can take off work when need be and promote my job through the band on occasion.” And moving between the two is seamless. “I'm not sure I consider what I do as a ‘regular job.’ Both things involve me making new friends and doing what I love.”

“I recommend [playing] online blackjack.”
- THE ARCHITECT'S BRANDON PHILLIPS

Other jobs aren't quite as conducive to a musician’s lifestyle. BRIAN PRZYBYLSKI of SHORES works as a closed caption editor and finds the early hours a chore. “While home it's 6 a.m. mornings,” he says. “That’s not exactly conducive to anything.”

WORN IN RED drummer BRAD PERRY is fortunate that his employers are relaxed about his frequent touring for weeks or months at a time. At home, he works regular hours for a nonprofit organization called the Virginia Sexual & Domestic Violence Action Alliance. “It's probably more flexible than most office-type jobs,” he says. “My usual work schedule is 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, but as long as I get my work done and put in my weekly hours, they're pretty flexible. I have extremely supportive bosses and co-workers who think it's awesome I play in a touring band, and they've been super cool about me taking leaves of absence to tour.”

In most jobs, though, you have to earn that sort of leeway. “I try to stay on top of my work remotely while on tour and get ahead before I leave so that I don't bum out any of my co-workers,” says Perry. “I try to make it easy for them to be stoked about the touring thing.”

He says making the switch back and forth isn't too jarring of an experience, since his band aren't a household name. “Occasionally, [other members of Worn In Red who work in the restaurant industry] get people coming up to them being, like, 'Dude, I love your band!' which is always cool. But I don't think anyone's primary motivation for playing in this band has anything to do with a need for the spotlight. We just really like making this type of music together and sharing it with folks who are interested. So there isn't really an awkward transition out of the spotlight and into obscurity when we get back from tour. The only tough thing about returning from tour is getting back on a regular sleep schedule—and getting used to getting sleep at all.”

Speaking of no sleep, HAVE NOTS drummer STEVE PATTON works nights as a sleep disorder technician at a Massachusetts hospital. “It really couldn’t be more perfect for being in touring band,” he says. “I’m able to take time off whenever I need to go on tour, and have a job waiting for me when I come home. Working nights keeps my schedule really flexible even when I’m at home.”