making a living off of playing bass

[Midgar]

people have been telling me that playing an instrument doesnt provide much moneu. ive always wanted to be in a proffesional orchestra, but i heard that it doesnt make a good living

[Ed Fuqua]

Seen this or that yet?

Ultimately the reason that you are playing music is not to make money. You want to make money, be a doctor.

[MR PC]

That's what the accused Craigslist killer must have had in mind......

[Ed Fuqua]

Either that or he knew he was gonna end up in my HMO....

[CellarDweller]

Playing in many of the top orchestras now brings in a six figure or close to six figure salary. To do it requires talent and incredible self control to make it through a music performance degree, and often a masters program. Those salaries, by the way, are of fairly recent vintage. A lot of great players never got a chance to earn that kind of wage.

[Ed Fuqua]

The "many" can be counted on the fingers of one human's hands, of the positions listed (in one month's AF of M paper) only ONE position (for principal trumpet) came even close to your asserted "six figures". Over and above undergraduate and masters degrees, take the total output of all universities and conservatories on your instrument and divide by the 20 or so "top" orchestras. That's how many people are asking themselves the same question you are....

[pedro]

I'm sure these guys know better but I think the top orchestra's do pay fairly well. But getting into the CSO for example is no simple task.

[bassist1962]

$1000.00 = six figures

[Alex Jenkins]

I'm pretty sure a figure is = $20,000. So six figures would be $120,000.

[drurb]

Originally Posted by Alex Jenkins

I'm pretty sure a figure is = $20,000. So six figures would be $120,000.

"Figures," in financial terms, refer to the number of digits to the left of the decimal point (excluding leading zeros, of course). The lowest six-figure salary is $100,000.00

[pedro]

I had assumed that bassist1962 was joking.

[ampeg_turtle]

lol.... glad we're bassists rather than accountants

[pedro]

Originally Posted by ampeg_turtle

lol.... glad we're bassists rather than accountants

I am an accountant.

[fdeck]

The numbers to the right of the decimal point are called "figurines."

[JohnnyPustular]

I thought a 'figure' was a short series of notes, like a short phrase??

[drurb]

Originally Posted by pedro

I had assumed that bassist1962 was joking.

So did I.

[bass_snake]

Wow, we learn new things eveyday.

[400$Bass]

I have been advised that home recording studio's using computers and special software is changing the scene for musicians who normally would work in a recording studio. What was once made in studio, can in some cases be done in a guys home (without musicians).

[bass-me-up]

WOW - i did not know that *LOL*

[chancletarock]

i'm sure you could easily manage $1,000/year - that's a living in some countries.


.........or you could wait tables and be just as fulfilled!

.....