Hobbyists -vs- Real Musicians?

[MultiScaleMale]

...and if I did need to feed a family of 4, any music career, not just bass, would be out of the question. I've never been more than "don't quit your day job" good. And don't ever expect to be - the chances of me out-earning my day job as a musician are very nearly 0.

Ok, I'll rephrase what I was saying earlier. If I were to advise someone how to become a commercially / financially successful musician - ability to support oneself through their music, I'd advise going to route of frontman, band leader, he who write the music and controls the band rather than the typical bass hired gun. Better odds, but still an uphill battle.

 

[bholder]

Ok, I'll rephrase what I was saying earlier. If I were to advise someone how to become a commercially / financially successful musician - ability to support oneself through their music, I'd advise going to route of frontman, band leader, he who write the music and controls the band rather than the typical bass hired gun. Better odds, but still an uphill battle.

That indeed, it's a very rough business that chews up and spits out a lot of very talented folks - for every one that makes it, literally thousands don't, and it can be a very hard landing.

 

[HolmeBass]

That’s the funny thing. I feel like “the real pros” (for those who like to use that term) are way more inclusive and frankly don’t care about this distinction. I play with a few guys who make 100% of their living playing music. They’re happy to play with other pros, or weekend warriors, it doesn’t matter. As long as they get paid and sound good

Yeah, if you live off of gigs, chances are you play gigs. You try to play the best ones, but anything good enough is worth doing over taking a night off.

 

[bholder]

Ok, I'll rephrase what I was saying earlier. If I were to advise someone how to become a commercially / financially successful musician - ability to support oneself through their music, I'd advise going to route of frontman, band leader, he who write the music and controls the band rather than the typical bass hired gun. Better odds, but still an uphill battle.

I'll agree partially - a true band of equal contributors is fine, but even as an amateur hack, I've had my fill of being treated as a "sideman" by "delusions of grandeur" types who thought they were the "star"... I'll be in a band as an equal partner, but I'll never be a hired hand in someone else's ever again. Not throwing away any work, because I'm not looking for any work.

 

[dennis james]

Well, I'm a painter. I guess a "musician" would mean that you professionally play music. As in, that's your primary source of income. As in, that's your job. That's cool, but a musician is simply someone that plays music. If you like to play music, play it. If you play music to feed your family, do it (I would highly recommend that you find other means as well, but to each his own). The term "starving artist" didn't come about for nothing. But if you're doing it, more power to you. You are a professional. But again, that really only means that playing music is your profession. It has absolutely nothing to do with skill, creativity, or anything else involved.

Very true. you'll see a guy in a big name band that can't play worth a damn, and another guy with amazing chops on youtube doing gear demo's in his basement. Which one is the real musician?

 

[jmhaslip]

I never agreed with the notion that "real musicians" only play original music and not just on weekends. If that was the case any musician playing classical music would not be "a real musician". I have always considered myself a musician whether I had a day job or not.

 

[MultiScaleMale]

Very true. you'll see a guy in a big name band that can't play worth a damn, and another guy with amazing chops on youtube doing gear demo's in his basement. Which one is the real musician?

In the new economy? The YouTube guy could be pulling down a ton more cash - especially if they can get the Patreon sponsorships going. $10 / month can add up quickly if you have hundreds of thousands of subscribers and a percentage sponsor you. Davie504 seems to be doing it right. I wonder what he makes from YouTube?

 

[Bunk McNulty]

I play weekends mostly, and play songs written by actual songwriters as opposed to Making My Own Art, so I am not a real musician, but I have convinced many people to pay me to play bass anyway. Do I feel like I'm getting away with something? Yes. It feels good.

 

[HolmeBass]

Before I ever even touched a bass, I had a long thirty-two year career as a dentist. Almost six years ago, I retired and took up playing bass. Now I run a popular weekly blues jam and play a few other additional gigs each month. I play real music along side musicians that have been doing it for a living their whole lives. Real people enjoy the music we play. Am I not a real musician?

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I am sorry, but no blues hat, no musician. Just look at the other two guys!

(Of course I am totally kidding, sorry couldn’t resist, I am glad you have a cool steady gig!)

 

[JeezyMcNuggles]

Very true. you'll see a guy in a big name band that can't play worth a damn, and another guy with amazing chops on youtube doing gear demo's in his basement. Which one is the real musician?

Ha, the point I was making is actually that, the "real musician" is the one playing music. Regardless of absolutely anything. That's what a musician is. Someone who plays music. It doesn't matter skill level, or anything else at all really. Musicians play music. "Professionals," pay their bill's with it. You dont need to know 3 chords, to sell a song with 3 notes. If it pays, and you don't have some other primary source of income, you are officially a professional. Music is officially your profession.

 

[rumourzbass]

A frequent side topic on many threads covers "real musicians" - you have to gig five nights a week to consider yourself a real musician. And then the - if you don't play originals, you're just playing someone else's music, might as well be a juke box -vs- play covers - it's what the crowd wants to hear. Then the classic - if you have expensive basses, you're a bedroom hack, it's all in the fingers.

Why do we care so much about what everyone else is doing? We're all bassists and just the fact that we chose bass means that we're largely taking a backseat to the rest of the band. Copyrights are determined by lyrics, chord progressions and melodies. Screw the bass line. If we really wanted to be successful musicians, we'd work on vocal skills and play an acoustic fronting a band. So, maybe it's pent up frustration about nobody really caring about what the bass does until we screw up - then people notice.

If you just enjoy playing at home - that's great! You're still playing bass! If you play originals - awesome! If you're into covers or a tribute - rock it strong! Play a Squier - kudos! Play a MTD - great! Only a very few are actually going to make a living at this. Getting home at 2:30AM for $75-100 gets old quickly for some.

If you are playing bass and find enjoyment in what you do, you're doing it right.

 

[rumourzbass]

The last sentence says it all very nicely....I wish I could find a better way to put it...but I don't think there is such a way. Bravo

 

[vindibona1]

As a former (real) professional photographer for 30 years, having fed my family, sent my kids to college, yada yada exclusively on my photography, I came to a different definition of "professional". I didn't consider myself a professional because I earned a living at it. I considered myself a professional because I WAS ABLE TO DO A GOOD JOB ON MY WORST DAY (based on a reasonable expectation of quality with few if any complaints by my clients).

 

[48thStreetCustom]

So when Eric Clapton retires, does that mean he's not a "real musician" because he doesn't "gig five nights a week?"

 

[edro]

Still blame Travolta for messing up the club biz for musicians....

 

[alaskaleftybass]

You know, I've noticed that people "like" to a point of masses, the first page of any discussion. Then they get bored and stop "liking" comments beyond the first page. At least most, at least. I try to read through the comments and if I find one I really like, I "like" it. Sometimes I even like my own comments but I can't realy "like" them because I wrote them. But that's ok. I know I like them.

Back to your regular broadcasting. Sorry for the derail.

 

[MVE]

I confess, I haven’t read all nine pages. But has anyone clarified the difference between “pro” and “pro-level?”
I think there are many “pro-level” players that don’t make their living off of playing.

 

[Bassbeater]

You know, I've noticed that people "like" to a point of masses, the first page of any discussion. Then they get bored and stop "liking" comments beyond the first page. At least most, at least. I try to read through the comments and if I find one I really like, I "like" it. Sometimes I even like my own comments but I can't realy "like" them because I wrote them. But that's ok. I know I like them.

Back to your regular broadcasting. Sorry for the derail.

I didn't read your comment, I pressed like bc of the couch dog.

 

[alaskaleftybass]

I didn't read your comment, I pressed like bc of the couch dog.

Thanks @Bassbeater . That was Shadow, dear and constant companion to us for 13 years. We just lost him in June. He lives forever in our hearts. He was kind, gentle, had beautiful eyes, and was truly our best friend. RIP Shadow.

 

[RustyAxe]

i think that if you are a real musician = you know it and others probably know it, too.

i think that if you're not a real musician = you know it and others probably know it, too.

Best post in the thread!