Opinions wanted on a career decision

pklima · #1 01-03-2007, 03:20 AM

I've been trying to get into some form of regularly gigging band since October or November 2005 and got nothing to show for it except weekly gigs with a children's choir which doesn't pay much and a measly three gigs with three different bands.

On the other hand I've made decent money (enough to make a couple of house loan payments) from my own metal projects which don't gig, just record stuff for release on labels in Western countries. Is it time to just give up trying to become a real musician and go where the money is? I've pretty much got the "black metal covers of country songs and Polish drinking songs" niche all to myself.

But I'm not sure how good an idea it is to focus like that. I mean what are the odds that I'll be able to keep this niche profitable for another 30-40 years? And I'll never get much better as a musician if I only play what I like and understand. Even though I mostly practice classical and jazz, practicing at home by oneself has its limits.

Some background: I'm 31 and play DB and BG. I have a full-time job, a house to finish renovating and furnishing, and a long-neglected yard that will take about 2-3 more years of major work, but no family yet.

What would you do? Keep trying to play anything that comes my way until I find some regular gigs which don't require much travel? Or quit the children's choir and Spanish/Latin band I'm playing in now (in itself a niche product since it's fronted by a real Spaniard), quit looking for new bands and focus on the metal?

guy n. cognito · #2 01-03-2007, 05:41 AM

What are your formal studies in music? What is your full time day job? Have you been to university?

When I was faced with that choice, I chose to get a college education and NOT rely on music for the rest of my life. Now, I have a good job, health insurance, retirement accounts AND a band. I don't rely on the band for my financial future.

Being a musician is a tough road to hoe. If that is your choice, then you should strive to be the best musician possible. You should be able to play numerous styles on command. You should be able to sight read music. You should be prepared to do live work, studio work, or anything else to keep the paychecks rolling in. To be blunt, only a fool would stake his future on one band or one style of music.

brianrost · #3 01-03-2007, 06:09 AM

I'd milk the metal for now.

Most pros here in the USA do a number of things...play in multiple bands, do studio work, teach, etc. in order to make ends meet. The players who work in only one band with no "side projects" are a small minority.

There's nothing keeping you from continuing to look for other musical outlets while you churn out more death metal. I'm sure eventually that market will dry up but if it's bringing in cash today I'd continue to devote some time to it.

**Freddels** · #4 01-03-2007, 06:11 AM

Depending on what your day job is, I'd say keep doing what you're doing. If the metal stuff is bringing in good money then milk it. But I don't know if it would last for 40 yrs (but you never know).

Keep playing and looking for a group of musicians that you enjoy playing with. Keep practicing and learning.

I tried to check out your website but it was only loading the right half of the page.

pklima · #5 01-03-2007, 06:35 AM

Thanks, y'all. I have a college degree in architecture and a good day job in IT. Music amounted to about 25% of my income last year. But 98% of that came from the two bands that you'd think play by far the least commercial music. Which is a pretty confusing situation to find oneself in.

I do enjoy the non-metal bands I'm playing in but they take time and don't bring in much money. I can't get into the bands that make the real money right now because I lived most of my life in Texas so I haven't even heard most of the big Polish or European hits of the previous 20 years. I would need to do a TON of remedial listening...

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freddels

I tried to check out your website but it was only loading the right half of the page.

You should be able to read the text if you select all... I need to change the way the background is set so it works in Firefox. It worked fine until that browser got popular, hehe.

Philbiker · #6 01-03-2007, 06:41 AM

I'm of the understanding that a good way to make money in music is to teach (do you have enough knowledge to do this?) or play in wedding bands. Wedding band playing gets slogged, but in my experience the players are extremely professional and the work is good. I've considered going in that direction myself, but I don't think I'm willing to give up the time. Who doesn't like playing where you're pretty much guaranteed a room full of people dancing and having a great time every performance?

bongomania · #7 01-03-2007, 11:47 AM

Right, but he'd need to do the "remedial listening" to a couple decades of Polish music in order to play weddings there.

I'll +1 those who said milk the metal while you can, because there's nothing in that to keep you from studying and practicing other genres as much as you like.

Snarf · #8 01-03-2007, 01:52 PM

Absolutely milk those metal projects. If you have the time, keep playing with the bands you've got, and if a better playing opportunity comes along, take it. You never know if your metal stuff could lead to other oppurtinities to do original music, or if someone in the audience at one of your bands' gigs is putting together something that needs a bass player.

I'd say keep doing what you're doing, and keep your eyes and ears open to new playing opportunities. It really helps if you can enroll in a couple classes at a music school, make some connections that way. If not, then just go to as many shows as you can and talk to the players afterwards, you never know what might happen.

pklima · #9 01-04-2007, 02:29 AM

Thanks again for the advice, and please keep it coming.

I don't have enough time to do everything I'd like to and that's why I need to prioritize things. OK, giving up "normal" music entirely would probably be an overreaction, but maybe I should be putting 60% instead of 20% of my time and efforts into the two metal bands.

And actually the metal bands do involve studing other genres a lot... we play no original material and no covers of metal or rock, it's all massacred covers/parodies of country, folk, jazz standards, simple classical pieces, cabaret, pop etc.