• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Music as a career

T

TxBassics

Feb 13, 2012
13
0
Flow-da
#1
I want nothing more than to play music and to make a living off of it. Unfortunately, I live in a small area and there aren't any musicians here. The only musician I know is a drummer; but he's moving in a couple of months.
When I'm at work or school, I lose focus sometimes, because I'm thinking about playing. It's a little discouraging and I don't know what to do. It drives me insane.
I just want to play.
Does anyone else feel this way?
 
#4
A job isn't necessarily a career...it's just a job. If you're serious about chasing the music dream and the music scene in your area is non existent then consider going somewhere else that has one. Maybe not LA but at least to a bigger town or city in your region.
 
#6
If you are as dedicated as you say you are, you will work and save your arse off, extra jobs, whatever, to raise the money to move to a bigger place. I would suggest Austin rather than LA, it's the hip place to be. Once there you will quickly realise that there are a bazillion other folks trying to do the same thing as you, so you will quickly realise that there's only two ways you're going to make it....... one, by being better than all the others, ie: groove like crazy, read like Zappa, know all the songs inside out and backwards, being able to network like there's no tomorrow...
two: by offering something no other bass player has, something that makes you unique. If you think the first option is hard trust me, the second one is harder!
To give you an idea of the level you need to aspire to, check out a guitar player on Youtube. His name is Joey Delgado and his band is the Delgado Brothers. Joey has made a living out of performing music. He has a style that is his, and he needs it, there's a million guitar slingers banging on the door.
Good luck and follow your dream.
 
#7
Playing music is a very difficult way to make a decent living.

And keep in mind that the hot metropolitan areas attract the hot players - so you've got heavily increased competition for the paying jobs.

You need to be a Very talented player and tireless self promoter with a lot of perseverance to be even half way successful.

Just moving to LA and forming a band "ain't gonna do it". It's a little like moving to LA to be a star.
 
#8
I know quite a lot of professional musicians. The ones in my locale who are earning a decent middle class living, are all playing in groups, plus doing whatever freelance / studio work that they can get, and teaching -- particularly classical music to small children.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back