The few guys I know who work as hired gun musicians aren't going hit the road for anything other than a guaranteed income, I'm sure they would take a cut on top of their salary if it was offered but it isn't offered. They can stay in the comfort of their own home doing studio and commercial work without the pain of the road and pay their bills. The guy I know best will take less pay if it involves going somewhere interesting like Europe.

None of these guys is going to sleep in the van unless it because they need to drive to the next show overnight. None of them is going to share a bedroom with eight people.

I've heard of Pomplamoose but I have any idea how big they are. The people I know who go on the road as hired guns generally work with well established artist who might be making better money than an indi band. They don't always care for the music they have to play. They don't work with top notch artist and they aren't top notch studio players (it's Portland, there are very few top notch anything here). Most of them get picked up because they are competent multi instrumentalist who learn fast.