What does it take to rely wholely on an income from a career as a musician?

1. 61

   roastedpinebarkposted 15 years ago

   What does it take to rely wholely on an income from a career as a musician?

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2. 52

   JerseyMicposted 14 years ago

   Moneywise? It depends how well you want to live. If you're making over 30,000 dollars a year, I would say that it's enough to live. You won't be a rockstar, but you'll also be saving yourself from the health-hassles of stress-induced illness. It's up to you.
   
   Source:
   I run http://JerseyMic.com, a website about open mics. I see lots of people trying to make it into a living.

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3. 0

   loriamooreposted 14 years ago

   Talent and courage.  My brother has been a professional musician as a primary career for 30 years.  He doesn't have another job where music is his sideline or weekend job; being a musician is his job.  While you can't count on a specific number of gigs each week as regular income, there are always peak seasons such as Holiday parties and in our city, Kentucky Derby parties, where you'll get more work some weeks than during other times of the year.  It's tough being a musician, though, when you go to try to take out a loan or get health insurance.  Look for an article by me about that soon.  In the interim, see my article about the lack of respect full-time musicians receive at http://hubpages.com/hub/Give-musicians- … ct-please.

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4. 75

   NaomiRposted 14 years ago

   You need to learn about the business end of the music business and not just the performance angle, and work on marketing yourself (or your band) as a brand. You also have to be willing to take what kind of gigs are available, even if it's playing at a party or in a small club. I've found that giving private lessons is another good way to supplement your income as a musician.

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5. 58

   Skin Cabbageposted 14 years ago

   well the number one thing the public demands of musician is that he be dead.

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6. 60

   Richard Sirotaposted 13 years ago

   I wish I knew. At 57 I am still looking for musical success.  I have learned that publishing, not recording is the real way to make money in this business. A record deal nets you pennies on the dollar [after you have reimbursed the record company for virtually everything from studio time to promotional costs] whereas a publisher's job is to take your song and market it to as many different people for as many different uses and as much money each time as he can.  The traditional industry cut between author/publisher is 50/50.  Naievely, I used to think publishing was strictly about sheet music.  If you insist on the performance end of things a good manager/agent is essential.  He/She does all the "legwork" freeing you to persue the muse.

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7. 79

   Second Actposted 13 years ago

   Well, first of all, it helps to be flexible.  You will need to get used to making sacrifices for the sake of your art.  And unless you are very, very lucky (not to mention very talented), you will need to think creatively to find various ways of using your talents, musical and otherwise, to help pay the bills.  The more diverse you can be, the more opportunities you will have.

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