- Apr 1, 2000
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- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
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Being a musician is a fiscal disaster
- Thread starter DaDrew2112
- Start date
Calm down. You sound just like me 25 years ago. I was trying to make everything happen all at once, and all I did was manufacture anxiety for myself. Your world is not gonna end because you cannot afford to do all the things you want to. I got news: Unless you end up a hedge fund manager, you're never going to get to do all the things you want to. And who wants to be one of those ******** anyway?
Practice your instrument. Play with the best people who'll have you, no matter what style of music. Put your ego in your pocket and do what's in front of you. It's gonna be all right, really.
Nope!
+1
+1
+1
Dude you're young -- soak in all the advice, apply as much as you can, and enjoy the journey!
P.S. Seize the day (make every moment count) and when the day seizes you, learn to flex!
Yes, a good read. Educated thinking feels fresh these days.
I heard an interview of a french singer yesterday. The guy made a few hits 10 years ago, nowadays he's got a few followers and works independantly.
He was asked about the economy. His answer was that he could pay the rent and feed his family, which really was all that an artist should ask for when living out of his passion.
He added that too much money and possessions like he had at a point went in the way of creation, that artists should be light travellers.
I heard an interview of a french singer yesterday. The guy made a few hits 10 years ago, nowadays he's got a few followers and works independantly.
He was asked about the economy. His answer was that he could pay the rent and feed his family, which really was all that an artist should ask for when living out of his passion.
He added that too much money and possessions like he had at a point went in the way of creation, that artists should be light travellers.
Add to that the stories of having to deal with flakes and/or disrespect for your instrument (from being inaudible because you're buried in the mix to being told to hammer roots etc pp) and one begins to wonder if bass was the right instrument to pick up. At least it severly limits your choice about who to play with if you don't want to put up with any BS Wochenende often hear in the BM sub. I can totally understand why some remain lone wolfes as they call themselves.
Then again it's too much fun to quit...
Then again it's too much fun to quit...
- Sep 4, 2010
- 3,304
- 2,730
- Disclosures
- Endorsing: Martin Keith Guitars
+1. Quote of the day. Thank you for being to the point.
Another soul killer: making a iiving in music doing music you have no connection with. These days I make my $$ elsewhere. It beats teaching Enter Sandman 20 times a week so I could call myself a professional musician. Since the day job, I have grown tremendously as a musician. Also, according to my wife, I am much nicer to be around.
A lot of cynics on this site, but you can make a living playing music. You do need to be versatile, but there's nothing wrong with that - in fact it's a good thing. Keep in contact with every musician, club owner, promoter, bar manager, or studio producer you ever meet. The music world is actually very insular, so never burn your bridges with anyone if you can help it.
I'm wondering if you're trying to rationalize a whole bunch of things such as attending shows and buying music. If you're a broke college student, I think that you're not obligated to support the music scene beyond your means. And the supply of music that you can get for free (even without engaging in piracy) is limitless. Attend shows for fun, but don't try to justify it.
The cheapest way to improve yourself as a musician is to hit the woodshed.
One's choice of genre matters. If you're at a reasonable sized university, then you can walk across the quad and attend a free performance, any day of the week, almost around the clock. But it's mostly going to be classical or jazz. There are also music seminars, master classes, college ensembles, etc.
Just sayin'.
If you're planning on making a career of it, then it's another matter entirely. I know quite a few people who are making a decent middle class living as musicians. All of them combine performing with teaching classical music to children.
The cheapest way to improve yourself as a musician is to hit the woodshed.
One's choice of genre matters. If you're at a reasonable sized university, then you can walk across the quad and attend a free performance, any day of the week, almost around the clock. But it's mostly going to be classical or jazz. There are also music seminars, master classes, college ensembles, etc.
Just sayin'.
If you're planning on making a career of it, then it's another matter entirely. I know quite a few people who are making a decent middle class living as musicians. All of them combine performing with teaching classical music to children.
Of course, just about anything can be done. A lot of it boils down to the logistics. Can a given area support musicians? Is the cost of living reasonable? Etc.
At a young age, I can recall my guitar teacher told me that a lot of it was working in a guitar shop or teaching all week, then playing in a cover band all weekend. He then told me about guys quitting the band at inopportune times, bars trying to stiff the band, and plenty of other stories.
I'd play music as a day job if it could compete with my day job in reliability and benefits in a heartbeat. Odds of that are pretty slim. Fortunately, the day job allows me to play music I enjoy, which is why I wouldn't trade it at this point. Winning the lottery is another story....
I didn't mean to imply it's easy, just that it is possible. I wouldn't like to see young musicians give up before they even start.
Wise choice, when you don't know what else to do, practice! It's worked for me so far.
I like this phrase, I think I'll hold on to it if you don't mind!
music is a family thing for me so it's been a part of my life for as long as I've been alive.
Until my brother asked me to play out the thought never crossed my mind, I was content to play with my dad and sibs.
A friend found out I played and asked if I got paid to do it. I told him yes I got paid to play and at the rate I was going it was only going to take 700 years or so to pay off my equipment.
Music is what my family does when we get together and if that was all it ever amounted to for me that would be enough. Playing out has always been more of a social thing than a money thing for me, but I ain't too proud to take the cash when it's offered.
Until my brother asked me to play out the thought never crossed my mind, I was content to play with my dad and sibs.
A friend found out I played and asked if I got paid to do it. I told him yes I got paid to play and at the rate I was going it was only going to take 700 years or so to pay off my equipment.
Music is what my family does when we get together and if that was all it ever amounted to for me that would be enough. Playing out has always been more of a social thing than a money thing for me, but I ain't too proud to take the cash when it's offered.
I've been playing for 39+ years and music has always been a serious hobby. I knew a long tome ago that I would never "recoup" money for my gear. I have bought gear I could afford and then sold it to get something of better quality (IMHO) for all of my life. In the 80's & 90's I made more money each night playing out than today (economy, I guess).
I played with the same band, with all original members, for 14 years and count my blessings. The money I made DID supplement my income and helped me buy better gear. My day job (and career) is being a Middle School Band Director so, music is a big part of my life. Additionally, I'm lucky to have a wife who is also a singer/musician and she has performed with me for the past 28 years. Now my sons (19 & 20) play bass because, according to them, they want to be like me and experience what it's like to play for fun. BTW, they have bought their own basses and amps!
I have about $5000 invested in my current gear (used Alembic Persuader, New Custom Pushic Bass and Genz Benz 212 cab w/600 watt head) and am now contemplating a new musical endeavor....inviting all my musician friends over each week, with their families, to have a meal and "jam session". I have rehearsal space, PA, drums, amps....and a pool and basketball court for the kids.
Music is INDEED a journey...and I'm enjoying the ride...where ever it takes me!
I played with the same band, with all original members, for 14 years and count my blessings. The money I made DID supplement my income and helped me buy better gear. My day job (and career) is being a Middle School Band Director so, music is a big part of my life. Additionally, I'm lucky to have a wife who is also a singer/musician and she has performed with me for the past 28 years. Now my sons (19 & 20) play bass because, according to them, they want to be like me and experience what it's like to play for fun. BTW, they have bought their own basses and amps!
I have about $5000 invested in my current gear (used Alembic Persuader, New Custom Pushic Bass and Genz Benz 212 cab w/600 watt head) and am now contemplating a new musical endeavor....inviting all my musician friends over each week, with their families, to have a meal and "jam session". I have rehearsal space, PA, drums, amps....and a pool and basketball court for the kids.
Music is INDEED a journey...and I'm enjoying the ride...where ever it takes me!
After being away from playing for 15 years I am rebuilding a "hobby" music career. I'll never be a star, and I love my day job, so all I want is a few weekends a month. What I've picked up so far:
No one remembers me. My band was fairly big locally, most people forget you as soon as you stop gigging.
Be nice to everyone. Drunks, jammers, sit ins, that guy that wants you to play "Freebird". Of course, clubowners & staff too.
Learn to "fit in". This is a hard one for younger musicians, but playing in a way that makes everyone else sound good without drawing attention to yourself will always be a marketable skill.
Learn who you are, and pursue projects that fit who you are and what you like.
Learn to sing. I am working up a set of tunes to sing at local jam sessions. Singing bass player? Very hire-able.
Good luck. BTW, have a backup plan in case the job of professional musiciandoesn't work out.
No one remembers me. My band was fairly big locally, most people forget you as soon as you stop gigging.
Be nice to everyone. Drunks, jammers, sit ins, that guy that wants you to play "Freebird". Of course, clubowners & staff too.
Learn to "fit in". This is a hard one for younger musicians, but playing in a way that makes everyone else sound good without drawing attention to yourself will always be a marketable skill.
Learn who you are, and pursue projects that fit who you are and what you like.
Learn to sing. I am working up a set of tunes to sing at local jam sessions. Singing bass player? Very hire-able.
Good luck. BTW, have a backup plan in case the job of professional musiciandoesn't work out.
Don't forget to be especially nice to the bar staff, waitresses, shift managers, sound guys, etc. In my experience, many of them will end up being managers in a few years, and they tend to be very loyal to those musicians who treated them with respect when they were just ordinary staff members. "Loyalty" is an extremely valuable commodity in the music industry.
- Oct 18, 2012
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- Endorsing Artist: Fender, Spector, Ampeg, Curt Mangan, Nordstrand Pickups, Korg , Conquest Sound
If you are in a band to make money, you are going to be disappointed. When you add the cost of gear, travel to and from rehearsal, travel to and from venues, the time you put in practicing on your own as well as with the band, and other costs you will almost always lose money. When compared to the number of people who try to learn an instrument, very few actually make money in bands. Look at it as a hobby but run it as a business.
I have a great time playing music and I get paid, which pays for me to carry on my own musical journey as well as helping with the bills. It beats golfing.
