and direct lyrics has an appeal to the masses,
and the orchestra is now placed somewhere near the
top of the best performers here at home.
Particularly the last years success could give the
impression that Tøsedrengene in their spare
time are standing with a large shovel and
shovelling in the money.
There are many that think we have become
stinking rich, says Klaus Kjellerup, but actually
it is only now that we are starting to earn from
performing. And it is from the records we are
earning, because with the concerts there are such
large expenses, that we are happy just to break
even.
The thing with the money from the concerts and
records can be a bit difficult to relate to
sensibly, they think. The most tempting is just to
use it freely, but, says Michael Bruun, "it is
dangerous to become famous and suddenly earn money,
because immediately one is inclined to set ones
private consumption up, and that has caused many to
go down with the flag. We get the whole sum paid
out without tax being deducted as we are
B-taxpayers. The bill comes later, and if there is
no money, then the bells ring".
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That is why we need to be economical and
sensible, says Anne Dorte. We all really need to
think about, whether we can afford that pair of
jeans now, which we would like to have, or do we
have to wait until next month. Many probably think
that we don't need to worry about such things. But
we all owe the tax department money, continuously.
I don't have anything against paying tax, but I
feel that the system could be better.
This is how much they earn
Jan Sivertsen says, that the only way one can
administer it, is to simply put half of every
honorarium in the bank straight away, and just
forget everything about the money. But however it
is only now, within the latest year and a half,
that he has gained a little something economically
from performing with the orchestra. And he thinks
that more needs to happen, before he can live up to
what many thinkhe is - a wealthy rock star.
Last year the members earned from 80,000 to
120,000 DKr. all depending on how much they had
contributed with lyrics and tunes. This year
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they expect to reach a minimum of 150,000 DKr.,
and in comparison says Michael Bruun, who during
the day is a record producer with "Werner Studie",
he can earn nearly as much by producing a record as
he has as a yearly income, being a musician with
Tøsedrengene.
Of course it is a good supplement to our normal
income, but it shouldn't become more than that,
says Anne Dorte. We enjoy performing together, but
we try consciously to hold on to the idea that our
lives are much more than Tøsedrengene. It
should not be interpreted as if we are not happy
with our success, or do not value it, because we do
that decidedly. But in a few years when we are no
longer famous, we have to have other things to
occupy us. I think, one is very quickly forgotten
when one stops in this occupation. That is why we
all work at other things as well. It is dangerous,
if we only see ourselves as members of
Tøsedrengene. Then it is easy to go and
loose ones identity.
Still, Tøsedrengene haven't really worked
out how they should handle this strange phenomenon
that is called fame.
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