Becoming a fulltime musician

[TheReceder]

Old joke....How do you get a bass player off your door step?

Pay for the Pizza!

If being a profesional bassist was easy, more people would do it. I'd guess it's 10% skill and 95% luck and 15% having good math skills.

 

[micguy]

Study carefully everything Sean Hurley says and does.

Sean Hurley already exists, and has taken over his corner of the market. He is very good at being SeanHurley. While some of the things he does may, in principle, be good to emulate (work ethic and dedication to a particular niche), being the second best Sean Hurley is not something that will get you tons of gigs - you have to, at some point, figure out what YOUR thing is, and work your butt off at being the best......that.

 

[groooooove]

Hi talkbass family.
Im graduated from ınterior architecture program of a good university in Turkey. Im living in Turkey btw.
Im curently working at my aunt's interior architecture company. I really dont have a deep connection with the job it self and the work and time put in doesnt satisfy me, I sometimes think that live wont pass this way ı need to chase something which ım more passionate about and thats music.
So im asking anyone's opinion or suggestions on making full commitment to a music career. Since the last year of my university to this day,I don't have much time to practise bass/guitar which lead to losing my hard gained skills...
İf i go the music career way;
How do i monetise my work ?
How can i make connections which will lead to new jobs ?
Any Specific suggestions for a country like Turkey ?

it's a unique path for everyone. for a lot of the best players, it may include a day job for a while or forever and that's totally fine.

it really is up to you to figure out "how can I get someone to pay me for my playing?"

I do believe that if you treat it like a job, it becomes a job. but I will say, for the most part, what players get paid has not changed in about 30 years, and it certainly is more difficult now to make a living than it was decades ago.

I have friends with full calendars of weddings, corporate gigs, national tours, recording days, and everything - and still can't afford an apartment without roommates.

I also have friends who are great players, with moderate formal training, who make amazing money and i'd even consider them "wealthy." This is totally possible, but there is a reason many many people will tell you it's not,

your playing has to be so good that its worth paying for. You have to be so professional, and so good to work with, that you are the one they pick. it's quite the grind, but it's possible.

 

[nanbanpapa]

Hi talkbass family.
Im graduated from ınterior architecture program of a good university in Turkey. Im living in Turkey btw.
Im curently working at my aunt's interior architecture company. I really dont have a deep connection with the job it self and the work and time put in doesnt satisfy me, I sometimes think that live wont pass this way ı need to chase something which ım more passionate about and thats music.
So im asking anyone's opinion or suggestions on making full commitment to a music career. Since the last year of my university to this day,I don't have much time to practise bass/guitar which lead to losing my hard gained skills...
İf i go the music career way;
How do i monetise my work ?
How can i make connections which will lead to new jobs ?
Any Specific suggestions for a country like Turkey ?

IMO, the best advice is to find a part-time job or a job that doesn't drain too much of your energy. Just to pay the bills. Then, in your free time, you dedicate yourself to music. If things start to take off eventually, you can always choose to leave your job and just do music.

There's no money in music these days. It's like a 1% or 0.1% chance of becoming a successful musician and to live out of it. Regardless of how much talent you have. Youtube is full of super talented musicians who can't make money out of a music career and had to turn to Youtube and TikTok.

 

[micguy]

If being a profesional bassist was easy, more people would do it. I'd guess it's 10% skill and 95% luck and 15% having good math skills.

I spent my career designing pro audio gear. In that line of work, while I didn't hang around big name musicians every day, I did spend enough time around enough of them to notice a strong trend about the "luck"/"who you know" comment that comes up pretty often.

We all are born knowing 2 people - our parents. Some of us have siblings as well, but past that, we aren't born knowing hundreds or thousands of people. Most of us end up with networks of people that we know - some small, some big. How many people you know, and how many people there are that have positive impressions of you are largely your doing.

When I've chatted with famous musicians (and engineers, and producers, etc), an interesting thing happens most of the time - despite my being someone that is not at all "famous", the famous person is often very interested in me - if you looked not at what I'm wearing, but instead paid attention to the body language, and listened to the questions and answers, you might get the idea that I was the famous person - the interest that the "rock star" has in who I am, what I do, how I got to where I am, etc. is a genuine thing. People that "know a lot of people" know that many because they go out of their way to find out what makes that person tick - they have a genuine interest in other people and are great at networking.

If you're trying to make a living at playing music, you never know who is the person that's going to be key in your next break (you don't get just one big break, you get a lot of little ones that add up over time), so you need to treat everyone you meet like they're important, because some of them will be. Luck is not luck - it's good people skills pursued over time, and when the opportunity arises, being able to perform your craft above expectations that gets you where you end up. I have a career of sorts as a volunteer musician in churches (long story left out for brevity). Applying what I have learned from the "pros" has made a big difference in the opportunities I have had doing that.

 

[J33]

Hi talkbass family.
Im graduated from ınterior architecture program of a good university in Turkey. Im living in Turkey btw.
Im curently working at my aunt's interior architecture company. I really dont have a deep connection with the job it self and the work and time put in doesnt satisfy me, I sometimes think that live wont pass this way ı need to chase something which ım more passionate about and thats music.
So im asking anyone's opinion or suggestions on making full commitment to a music career. Since the last year of my university to this day,I don't have much time to practise bass/guitar which lead to losing my hard gained skills...
İf i go the music career way;
How do i monetise my work ?
How can i make connections which will lead to new jobs ?
Any Specific suggestions for a country like Turkey ?

You sir have to understand one thing. To do it, you have to love it. If you love it there is then a chance that it can love you back. Have your head right and understand that the other 50 percent of what you do is the listener. You need to be nervous about putting on a good show...not be nervous about how you will be perceived. Nobody wants to watch someone asking for permission to be there. Say what you have to say from you and be prepared to hear the honest answer. If you've never gone down the professional road...you've got a lot more to learn about the fullness of the craft than you think. If you're looking for self-edification in the process..aka fulfillment and acknowledgement of the self...its fine but understand you are working something out for you and don't understand the nature of the thing your doing in it's fullness and that's o.k. Its a long road and there's no right way. There is no plan...we all just talk like that.

 

[BobKos]

I say no coming from a complete novice player. I know some talented musicians that could be pro and they don't do it because there is no money in it. They are all around talented people and make good money in careers that are totally not music related. Music is a sideline for them.

Also remember - your skills in the architectural world will fade and become obsoleted as the years pass and newer techniques, technologies, and building regulations become commonplace. At some point even your degreed trade will not be a reliable fallback.

Depends on your own personal priorities. As stated previously - live with no regrets. But remember that works both ways.

 

[neddyrow]

Do both so that you have balance in your life. The music “business” could cause you to not enjoy music. Anyway, that’s what I did until I retired from my day gig.

I do both. It is nice to have the security of a steady income while getting to spend your free time on your music.

I am lucky to be a teacher where I get the pay, health care and stability I need with summers off to gig as much as I can. Plus getting out of work at a decent time still allows me to rehearse with my band.

 

[LanEvo]

I happen to know quite a lot about the music industry in Turkey: my dad was a working pro there in the 1960s; and about a dozen of my closest friends from Istanbul have been playing in some of the biggest rock bands in the country since the 1990s (Duman, Athena, Kurban, etc). I don't see any of them making a comfortable living outside of whatever they earn from gigs.

Pretty much none of them make money from record sales as music piracy has always been rampant in Turkey. Unlike the television sector, there is virtually zero foreign market for Turkish music. That means no sales in Euros/Dollars and no international touring ... which means you'll forever be at the mercy of the Turkish Lira and its runaway inflation. I just don't see a path for success in the Turkish music industry.

 

[monsterthompson]

As a guy with a day job and a music hobby, I can say I probably made the right choice for me, and that’s going to bias my suggestion to keep at the day job.

I’ve seen some really talented musician friends rise to a decent level of success after years of hard work, and I can’t say they are necessarily free of needing non-music work to supplement life’s costs. Sometimes they play in bands they love. Sometimes they teach music which can be rewarding and frustrating. Sometimes they do mixing, engineering, or tech work behind the scenes.

Keep in mind that your choice isn’t between your current gig and being a musician. There are other avenues to consider, and your current gig can lead you there. It’s also possible you will want or need to make a career change at some point.

 

[jazzycats]

Become a sight reader, play, play, play and make connections

 

[Kubicki Fan]

Thanks. I think this is the harsh honesty i need

Reality is harsh!

Unlimited passion is required to be a pro. One indication that you have it is an insatiable desire to practise your instrument.

 

[corvette_br]

My observations show me that being able to sing at least acceptable backing vocals doesn't hurt at all. Sadly, I can't.

 

[Five or Six]

I happen to know quite a lot about the music industry in Turkey: my dad was a working pro there in the 1960s; and about a dozen of my closest friends from Istanbul have been playing in some of the biggest rock bands in the country since the 1990s (Duman, Athena, Kurban, etc). I don't see any of them making a comfortable living outside of whatever they earn from gigs.

Pretty much none of them make money from record sales as music piracy has always been rampant in Turkey. Unlike the television sector, there is virtually zero foreign market for Turkish music. That means no sales in Euros/Dollars and no international touring ... which means you'll forever be at the mercy of the Turkish Lira and its runaway inflation. I just don't see a path for success in the Turkish music industry.

Now there is some un-sugar coated truth. Being a professional musician takes dedication and time, and yes, money! I spent 3 years on the road and loved most of it. But, It isn't for everyone, I don't care where you live. If you are thin skinned, stay home. You better love the people you play with and most of all, stay out of the politics! Do a ton of research before you quit your day job!

 

[songwriter21]

Very few people anywhere, outside of teachers, are paying rent and feeding themselves solely from music. It gets worse every year.

Lots of people are working regular jobs and playing music to supplement their income, in the hopes of catching their big break. Lots of people have been doing this for decades.

You have a job consistent with your education. You don't seem to have the training to be a music teacher.

Work your day job. As soon as you get home, start playing. Look for opportunities to play with others. Get out anywhere there are other musicians playing for money and make contacts. You say you don't have time to practice - make the time.

Sorry to be a wet blanket, but if it were easy, you wouldn't be asking.

THIS.

Especially since 2020, no way would I rely on show business. Find a day job that is another passion of yours, if possible. I lucked out, and have a friend of my dad's that got me into the beer/wine/spirits industry, so I'm content.

 

[Wasnex]

Hi talkbass family.
Im graduated from ınterior architecture program of a good university in Turkey. Im living in Turkey btw.
Im curently working at my aunt's interior architecture company. I really dont have a deep connection with the job it self and the work and time put in doesnt satisfy me, I sometimes think that live wont pass this way ı need to chase something which ım more passionate about and thats music.
So im asking anyone's opinion or suggestions on making full commitment to a music career. Since the last year of my university to this day,I don't have much time to practise bass/guitar which lead to losing my hard gained skills...
İf i go the music career way;
How do i monetise my work ?
How can i make connections which will lead to new jobs ?
Any Specific suggestions for a country like Turkey ?

For most people, it's best to play music for the joy it brings you. Do something more lucrative and reliable for a living. I think the key to longevity and satisfaction is taking pride in the work and doing it to the best of your ability. This goes for architecture and music alike.

IMHO it's very challenging to make a living as a musician. IMHO, the biggest problem is new musicians love making music, so there is a constant inflow of talent that is willing to work free or for very little pay. It doesn't take a very high skill level to perform most popular music for little to no pay.

Maybe you will get lucky and become a pop star. Odds are against this.

A very large number of trained musicians become disillusioned and stop playing. In most cases, performing music is more about providing a service than generating art. In other words, to be successful you usually have to play what other people want you to play rather than simply doing what you want. So it may not take long before playing music starts to feel like hard work that is not very satisfying.

My personal experience is that playing music remained a joy as long as I was growing as a musician. At some point my skill overcame the level required to do the job well. Eventually I lost the drive to become a better player because it felt pointless. Once you reach that point, it's probably time to do something else. I become an audio tech and experience a few more years of joy.

My path: I was driven to play music but never really dreamed I would do it professionally. I studied music in college, but had to drop out before I got a degree. I joined the military as an electronics technician. I liked the job and was good at it, but really missed music. I kept studying and practicing and eventually won an audition that allowed me to cross train into the military band program. So I had regular pay and benefits, and also got a pension when I retired.

I was well suited to a career as a military musician. Many of my peers were not and left the service. Many of them completely stopped playing music and went into other professions. Many of them had significant debt to pay off as they had earned advanced music degrees at prestigious universities.

I think most successful professional musicians must do a mix of tasks. They may be a teacher or professor at a local school/university, they may also give private lessons, and they may even gig or run a band. I don't think most can make a good living with gigging alone.

 

[Heiwa]

It won't be easy in any country. Don't fool yourself. Since you graduated in architecture, it means you're good at it. Try to do both.

 

[Wasnex]

"Do what you love and you'll never work a day in your life,"

IMHO, the trick is actually to learn to turn it around:

"Love what you do, and you'll never work a day in your life."

It will probably still feel like work.

If you study motivation theory, joy is an internal motivator and pay is an external motivator. Getting paid tends to change how we are motivated. In essence, the fastest way to hate playing music is to do it for a living. Since the odds of being a well-compensated musician are low, why risk loosing the joy of playing music?

 

[JC Nelson]

My dad made his living as a country singer from 1968 until he passed in 2011.
I made a living as a musician for over a decade. Several of my friends are currently touring musicians.

Success leaves clues. Look up your favorite musicians, read the story on how they got started.
They are all just normal people who made the decision to make music.

If that is the career path you wish to be on, then go forth and make great music.

 

[Geepers]

Sean Hurley already exists, and has taken over his corner of the market. He is very good at being SeanHurley. While some of the things he does may, in principle, be good to emulate (work ethic and dedication to a particular niche), being the second best Sean Hurley is not something that will get you tons of gigs - you have to, at some point, figure out what YOUR thing is, and work your butt off at being the best......that.

Yep, that’s pretty much what Sean would say … with lots of good tips on how to “work your butt off” effectively.