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… what’s the grind like? Is it worth it? What’s your breakdown concerning lessons and playing shows and studio work? How do you get over dealing with opposing personalities?
To the guys whose entire careers are based on music …
- Thread starter HomespunEffects
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When I ask this question face to face, i can’t tell if they’ve just never thought about it, my question makes no sense to them or they’re having frightening flashbacks.
kaysersoze
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It depends honestly. Each week can be its own thing. I'll preface by saying I'm not a virtuoso by any stretch. I'm fairly competent at what I do. In my experience, you make music a career by being flexible, available, and a good person. Playing multiple instruments helps, and the more theory you have, the better.
What's it like? Well I start every Monday AM with a look at my scheduled lessons. Lessons make up about 50%-65% of my income, so I make sure I have those locked in for the week. Get my calendar updated making sure commute time is logged. Then I look at the services (church's pay well), and other gigs I have booked for the week. I add those into the calendar. Then I look for networking opportunities. Seriously. Who can I have lunch/coffee with this week. Networking is critical. I make sure I'm invested in the local music community. Once all that is done I start compiling resources; music/lessons/videos for my students, lessons tutorials for myself, etc.... Then I head downstairs, unpack all my gear from last week. Clean, change strings, replace cables, etc... just basic maintenance.
If that sounds boring and tedious... well it is. But 99% of my week is boring and tedious. I've learned to lean into it and catch the little things that happen. As cheesy as it sounds, I find joy in the accomplishments of my students, or in an unexpected deep lunch convo with another musician. Sharing struggles, opportunities, etc.... Yeah, I play. I get stage time. But after doing this for a while I've realized the time in the lights passes quickly. Especially compared to the planning, practice, and prep. I love the green room time too. The mistakes and surprises that happen that we have to react to. Ableton deciding we're doing this in C# instead of G, the singer skipping an entire verse, a drummer who can't hear the click, etc....
There's also studio work. This isn't my favorite and admittedly I don't do as much as I could. Maybe a few stems a month. And these are typically for friends. Don't be mistake, they do pay. Another thing I've learned - you can be the best of friends, but we honor each other by paying for talent.
Regarding opposing personalities? In my experience those things work themselves out... literally. I think of it this way, you need 2 of these 3 things: 1) punctuality - arrive early with all your gear working, setup quietly, be ready to play at downbeat, 2) insane talent - like... better than anyone else in the area by orders of magnitude, 3) be a good hang. You don't need all three, but if you have 2/3 you'll do just fine. As for the opposing personalities? Well I have't run into many musicians in my circles that are orders of magnitude better. So the assholes tend to eliminate themselves.
What's it like? Well I start every Monday AM with a look at my scheduled lessons. Lessons make up about 50%-65% of my income, so I make sure I have those locked in for the week. Get my calendar updated making sure commute time is logged. Then I look at the services (church's pay well), and other gigs I have booked for the week. I add those into the calendar. Then I look for networking opportunities. Seriously. Who can I have lunch/coffee with this week. Networking is critical. I make sure I'm invested in the local music community. Once all that is done I start compiling resources; music/lessons/videos for my students, lessons tutorials for myself, etc.... Then I head downstairs, unpack all my gear from last week. Clean, change strings, replace cables, etc... just basic maintenance.
If that sounds boring and tedious... well it is. But 99% of my week is boring and tedious. I've learned to lean into it and catch the little things that happen. As cheesy as it sounds, I find joy in the accomplishments of my students, or in an unexpected deep lunch convo with another musician. Sharing struggles, opportunities, etc.... Yeah, I play. I get stage time. But after doing this for a while I've realized the time in the lights passes quickly. Especially compared to the planning, practice, and prep. I love the green room time too. The mistakes and surprises that happen that we have to react to. Ableton deciding we're doing this in C# instead of G, the singer skipping an entire verse, a drummer who can't hear the click, etc....
There's also studio work. This isn't my favorite and admittedly I don't do as much as I could. Maybe a few stems a month. And these are typically for friends. Don't be mistake, they do pay. Another thing I've learned - you can be the best of friends, but we honor each other by paying for talent.
Regarding opposing personalities? In my experience those things work themselves out... literally. I think of it this way, you need 2 of these 3 things: 1) punctuality - arrive early with all your gear working, setup quietly, be ready to play at downbeat, 2) insane talent - like... better than anyone else in the area by orders of magnitude, 3) be a good hang. You don't need all three, but if you have 2/3 you'll do just fine. As for the opposing personalities? Well I have't run into many musicians in my circles that are orders of magnitude better. So the assholes tend to eliminate themselves.
Sascha Franck
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I don't exactly regret anything, but had I known how things would turn out, I'd chosen something else for a variety of reasons. And regarding how things turned out to be today, that's less of a personal thing but more of a general observation. The "biz" these days is pretty horrible, compared to 2-3 decades ago. And it doesn't seem to get any better.
If one of my sons had the idea to make his living solely in the music biz, I'd try everything to talk them out of it.
If one of my sons had the idea to make his living solely in the music biz, I'd try everything to talk them out of it.
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Thank you. I’ve always wondered if I missed the boat, ya know. I was offered positions in two regional acts. The first one I really regret not taking and I just found their CD on eBay and it brought back memories.
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Thank you.
Yeah, I was thinking the current music biz is a little off-kilter.
These days I’d be happy to just play a few songs with some friends even if it’s in the garage and no one hears it.
kaysersoze
Groupie
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Of course, happy to share! You've never missed the boat. I know what you mean, but trust me, it's never too late. I think there's a misconception out there that career musicians are all touring musicians. Sure, some do tour. I have. Most of my friends have. But VERY few make their entire career out of playing in a musical act. We all pick up whatever work we can for the most part.
I'll also just encourage to enjoy the nostalgia of that disc, but push the regret out of your mind. Every opportunity has cost (basic economics right? opportunity costs). You don't know what it would have cost you to say yes to that act. And you never will. Instead of regret, try and evaluate the new opportunities that you have today.
Sascha Franck
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Fwiw, if I were to start out again, I'd possibly look for a regular non-fulltime job still paying all the really relevant bills and try to find enough time to make music at least with a sort of professional approach.
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This is where I’m at now. Trying to get back into writing music but running a seasonal business. I do have most of the winter off and if I don’t write any songs during this upcoming winter, I want you all to flog me. Thanks for your compliance.
itchyfingers
Roadie
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This part of your post resonated with me as it is very similar to my approach to being a band mate.
1. Be on time - for practice, for setting up the PA and the drum kit, for the shows, and while you are playing tunes
2. Be ready - have your parts dialed, have your rig bulletproofed for gigs
3. Enjoy - it's really all about the hang
Props to you for making music full time, kayser.
paisleywookiee
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I know several people that do, and I'd never want that. It's just not appealing. I do the IT thing full time, and the shop web/photography PT, and that's sufficient. I like music staying fun, and I don't think it would be for me, if it were a full time thing.
JiveTurkey
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Supplement your main income with music income 
Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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Supplement your main income with music income
That's my plan for the next life.
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Last year I was heavily debating whether I should quit my job and move back up to New England where I’d make music my money earner. A couple buddies who have been at it up there for decades were really selling me on the idea but the more I dug into it, the more I realized it wasn’t realistic for me. Unless I got into a wedding/corporate band situation where the pay is considerably better, I’d be looking at lots of $50 nights and a TON of traveling between Maine, NH and Massachusetts.
Not being motivated by money pretty much removes any “hustler” traits I could possibly have, if I didn’t have gigs being offered to me nonstop I’d be broke before the month was over and where I’ve already spent the first half of my life mostly living hand-to-mouth I didn’t want the 2nd half of it to be more of the same or worse.
Not being motivated by money pretty much removes any “hustler” traits I could possibly have, if I didn’t have gigs being offered to me nonstop I’d be broke before the month was over and where I’ve already spent the first half of my life mostly living hand-to-mouth I didn’t want the 2nd half of it to be more of the same or worse.
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I know what you guys are saying. The #1 reason I didn’t take the gig that i regret not taking was because after the audition the singer said “dude, you’re in but you have to quit your job because this is your job now.” I didn’t even know what they were offering but I just couldn’t rely on a sometimes paycheck.
I still think i should have gone for it for a couple months to see.
The #2 reason was that I had no confidence.
Add those two together and the drive home with the drummer (Bill Haller of Bello Drums), he didn’t even try to convince me because he knew it wasn’t going to work for me.
I still think i should have gone for it for a couple months to see.
The #2 reason was that I had no confidence.
Add those two together and the drive home with the drummer (Bill Haller of Bello Drums), he didn’t even try to convince me because he knew it wasn’t going to work for me.
Sascha Franck
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Tbh, it's not that bad being a successfull YTer. Nothing I would want to do, but still, not a bad "gig".
Fwiw, when all the YT frenzy was still in its infancies, a former student of mine told me that I should possibly start a YT channel. He was a professor at the local media university and would've offered rooms, equipment and help in filming things and what not. I declined. In hindsight, that's possibly been a bad decision. But back then I was stuffed with pretty great jobs and simply didn't think of YT being any kind of viable alternative (or even just an additional source of income), so there's been that.
paisleywookiee
Rock Star
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Great, now we've got Henning instead. Thanks dude.
Sascha Franck
Rock Star
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My pleasure!
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