I am a singer/songwriter/guitarist/producer that tours constantly. Was on a Sony/BMG label for 8 years and bought my way off in 2009 and produced 5 more albums since leaving them.

I travel solo, use a band for large gigs...but they have to be really great musicians before I put up with herding cats like that again.

For 17 years I was on the road 300 days of a year, got burnt out and took off most of last year. Moved from Texas to the Carolinas to be closer to most of the places I play in the USA. But dang....it gets lonely so I'm looking to form a dynamic duo.

I realize it's a long shot....but I'm looking for a girl with some life left in her that could keep up. She would sing and play an instrument OR maybe just work our merch table. I have prayed for red hair and green eyes but that's just a personal preference that isn't a deal-killer.

Anyone want to chat about it?

Isn't it an option to settle somewhere and do gigs in the area mostly?
Like you said, you've been burnt out already, aren't getting younger either.
Saying that cos I have a friend who's been a performer all his life, never had a job, didn't want to. He goes it solo, him and his guitar. Of late he's teamed up with a few other musicians and they work together now. His best friend, a woman, has a great voice, and also sings in this small, drummer-less band.
He found his current partner some 9 years ago, they moved in together.He has is own home, so did she, but they rent hers out, creating income.
She has a regular job, which is income. He does his gigs, which is income.
They live a real good life. Go on holiday now to Africa, Cuba, USA and so on. Go to a lot of gigs themselves. In short, they're living a great life!
Sometimes he crosses the channel to do gigs here in my country with another local band that's doing quite well. His partner usually doesn't join him as she has to work. At first she found that difficult, but he needs his freedom to do these things, and she's gotten used to him doing that a few times a year.
So he's having fun, doing what he's good at and what he wants to do, but without wearing himself out. On top of that he's got a home-life.
Maybe going about it this way would be helpful to you? But then of course you'd have to be interested in having a home-life as opposed to living out of a suitcase.

If you want to starve....




My situation and your friend have similarity, but there are a few large differences which I don't need to go into.

I have a place in Asheville where I call "home" and typically visit at least a few days every month. Some months I can come home a lot mid-week, if it's within a 10 hour drive of the weekend gig. I have recently been offered a job in Asheville singing in a soul band with full-time musicians...but it's a huge cut in pay to play in a cover band so I asked to only do Wednesdays until we can increase the income on weekends locally.

So yea, I'd love it if playing locally paid off....but it doesn't.

But more to the point of the OP, there has to be some very talented woman out there who wants to live on room service while seeing the world for the rest of her life.

At least that's my theory. lol

It indeed isn't easy. My friend has struggled for a number of years as well. It started to get better when he got his girl as then they started to get regular income apart from what he made from gigs.
Same for my ex who used to be in a band (drummer). They had good times financially, then it all went downhill. From what I've understood, that industry is very sensitive to economic changes. These days a band gets approx 500-700 Euros for a gig, a number of years ago you could easily get double.

I'm sure there'll be a woman out there who's got what you seek. Good luck!

I'm living the dream every musician wishes they had. It wasn't easy to get here, and it's still a bit of work. I find that most musicians only aspire to be performers and that is where they eventually fail. They want the quick money of being paid to play someone else's music.

At a young age, I realized it's about having one's own "brand' and that isn't possible being a cover band. The road to being a recording artist is lonely because no one understands when you're trying to create something that wasn't there before. They have no reference to compare. Getting gigs that pay is even harder because club owners know you need the gig more than the money.

But I did all that for decades and my path led to being signed to Sony/BMG label during the time when the biz completely fell apart (2002-2009). I was selling CDs when no one else was because I appeal to an older crowd. They call them "tapes" still. lol

One can make a very good living as an indie these days without being very famous. I'm a whale in a mud puddle, to those who like my little sub-genre. Outside of that genre, no one has ever heard of me and that's fine by me.

But the problem these days is that I have literally tens of thousands of people who love me...but not one I can hold at night.

I get that. I've been with a musician for 10 years, plus I'm an artist myself (author, painter) so I know the trials and tribulations that come with being an artist and creator.
There's never a need to be world famous in order to make a good living. Plenty of artists or creators make more than a good living. Not just in the area of music, other creative areas as well.
I too understand your desire to have a partner in crime. I hope you'll find her soon.
Maybe try a site/forum for musicians or artists so at least you're with the right crowd.
In any case, good luck.