Members Carminemw Posted October 26, 2009 Members Share Posted October 26, 2009 i am planning to be full time musician. I am still studying music at college (im in england so thats below a degree), when i finish i'm travelling for a year or so playing in my function band. When i get back i will dabble in a bit of everything, but mainly teaching in the day and gigging with function bands at night. i have also been doing live sound fairly regularly over the last year and i am only 18. I strongly believe i can make myself a comfortable life in music. i can record, i can play sessions, theres hundreds of different careers in music. I think if you have the belief, the motivation and the love for music you can do anything you want. Im not at all interested in being rich or famous as long as i can pay the bills and play music what else do i need to be happy? Ive already got a steady income at 18 still at college just from funtions and live sound? if i concentrate on doing it full time i could easily live nicely. you've got a good mindset...if I were getting into the business, I'd concentrate on my time and polish. I'd be into recordings I think, excelling in all aspects...engineering, sound control...gigging isn't all it's cracked up to be now-a days...besides...i'm tired of moving equipment! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Daddy Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I'm curious if Big Daddy was right about who the "professionals" are. I didn't use the term "professionals", I said full-timers.I missed it by 1, with one other yet to speak-up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members boxofrocks Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I too didn't think much of the religion/science comment, box, but only because I know the truth of both. Not to take us off topic, just to let you know in a practical and non-defensive way... Win some lose some.. Can't all be zingers now can they Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members BeakerArk Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I get paid to play. . .have since I was 14 years old. Played all the way through highschool, undergrad and law school. Still playin' for pay today. I can say from experience, at least from this seat. . .you'd better love what you're doin', and you'd better be good at managing your money, b/c the odds are against ya. But then again, if you love what you're doin', it's never work. I got off the long road a few years back. .now just play regionally. . .got tired of crashin' on floors and eatin' in vans. If you have a dream, chase it. The only way you can really fail is if you don't even try. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moronmountain Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I really think poor people are incredibly underrepresented in politics and the vast majority of those born in poverty aren't really given a fair chance to get out. QUOTE]You're high if you think this, sorry but lmao! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the DW Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 If you have a dream, chase it. The only way you can really fail is if you don't even try. Hallelujah, brother! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theDan Posted October 27, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 You're high if you think this, sorry but lmao! Politicians time and time again ignore the people's demands in favor of the corporations who fund their campaigns. Lobbyists are represented not people. And people who are wealthy are given far more chances to succeed in education and I'm a perfect example of that. I was a dumbass through high school and ended up with the option of going to {censored}ty school A or {censored}ty school B. Yet because my parents were wealthy I'm given a shot at going to a community college getting a second shot at going to a real university. If I was born in poverty I am 100% sure I would be working some fast food place or doing crimes to get money. A substantial number of high school drop outs do so in order to work full time, and i think we should be all given a right to attempt high school with out having to give it up for some stupid trivial reason as money. You can't possibly say the rich kid who's parents pay for all his clothes and food is given the same shot at graduating high school as the dude who grew up in the ghetto working 30 hours a week throughout school. Fortune 500 CEO's: 100% grew up in the middle or upper class. yet 1/8 of the population grew up in poverty. You may say something like "oh but those in poverty just need to work harder" but then is it really a fair shot if one group of people has to toil harder to achieve the same goals? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carminemw Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 Man...what happened to your topic...if this is a political discussion now...I'm outta here... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Carminemw Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 when ya wanna talk about being a pro musician again...give me a holler... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Living Dead Drummer Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 Hmm may i ask how you got started? Like what happened in the transition of amateur to pro, like the point where you quit your day job. And did you go to music school? It was kind of a gradual thing. I never went to music school, but I took about 13 years of private lessons. (The last 11 all with the same teacher). I started teaching when I was 18 in a mom & pop music store, and eventualy it got to a point that I had so many students I had to cut my day job down. I was making less money playing and teaching, but I was happy. Then I started branching out and picking up tours and recording sessions. It took a long long time to get to the point that I am at now, and I still make next to no money, but it beats flip'n burgers or sitting in an office from 9-5. Once you get to the point of playing full time, you have to make sure you stay there. I do a lot of self promotion, and advertising just to make sure I can keep my phone ringing. I also go after every paid gig I can find. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moronmountain Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 Politicians time and time again ignore the people's demands in favor of the corporations who fund their campaigns. Lobbyists are represented not people. And people who are wealthy are given far more chances to succeed in education and I'm a perfect example of that. I was a dumbass through high school and ended up with the option of going to {censored}ty school A or {censored}ty school B. Yet because my parents were wealthy I'm given a shot at going to a community college getting a second shot at going to a real university. If I was born in poverty I am 100% sure I would be working some fast food place or doing crimes to get money. A substantial number of high school drop outs do so in order to work full time, and i think we should be all given a right to attempt high school with out having to give it up for some stupid trivial reason as money. You can't possibly say the rich kid who's parents pay for all his clothes and food is given the same shot at graduating high school as the dude who grew up in the ghetto working 30 hours a week throughout school. Fortune 500 CEO's: 100% grew up in the middle or upper class. yet 1/8 of the population grew up in poverty. You may say something like "oh but those in poverty just need to work harder" but then is it really a fair shot if one group of people has to toil harder to achieve the same goals? You made a blanket statement and sounded like an ignorant kid. You still do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eyehearya Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 If you have a dream, chase it. The only way you can really fail is if you don't even try. Holla!...and I would add to make sure you keep your eyes open along the way. I took an entry level job with a record company about 20 years ago because I thought it would put me in the ideal place to Make It Big as a musician. As it turned out, I suck and wasn't good enough to be a pro drummer, even if I had positioned myself better....oh, and practiced more. BUT, I found a career in the music business and haven't been unemployed for a single hour in 20 years, was able to buy a house, support my family, am putting the kids through school etc doing something I love (at least I love it most of the time). I still play and make 300-500 bones a month doing bar gigs but that certainly doesn't pay the bills. I was chasing one career and stumbled into another. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lossforgain Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 I didn't use the term "professionals", I said full-timers.I missed it by 1, with one other yet to speak-up. Alright, sorry to put a word in your mouth bro! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Big Daddy Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 Alright, sorry to put a word in your mouth bro!No apologies needed my friend ! Though my main source of income is my insurance agency, I do consider myself a professional musician as well. I also think that professional is a state of mind as well as an attitude that one should carry with them. Mind you that I do not mean a cocky "I'm better than everyone else" attitude.The attitude should be one that says you are there to do the job to the best of your ability and that you are also willing to help others and share your experiences with them if it will afford them an opportunity to learn.Also, never pass up an opportunity to speak to a young child when they ask a question about your instrument. Sorry for rambling, but I feel very strongly that as a professional you must strive to set a good example. There are more than enough negative stories out there regarding what we do.Don't see a need to fan the flames. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members melvinspeed Posted October 27, 2009 Members Share Posted October 27, 2009 ^^^ +1 BD I've met plenty of drummers who get paid, but are as amateurish as possible in their attitude, approach, dealings with band members, clubs, etc. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theDan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 You made a blanket statement and sounded like an ignorant kid. You still do. You have yet to make any statement at all and you sounded like a disrespectful bastard. And you still do. If you're gonna disagree with me then {censored}ing say something about it don't just be an asshole and insult me you don't even {censored}in know me at all. And if you aren't gonna back your {censored} up then don't say anything in the first place. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Longfuse Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 If you do decide to study music, make sure that is what you study and not just drums/percussion. The more skills you learn, the more irons in fires you'll have. Learning a second/third instrument means more work. Learning how to arrange opens up new doors. Aural training can lead to opportunities in publishing, if you can transcribe quickly. I dare say publishing houses need proofreaders, too. In which case an intimate knowledge of music notation is required. The list goes on, but hopefully I've made my point. Most professional musicians I know don't just have one job. They have lots of smaller, varied ones and are always on the lookout for new opportunities. Better to be one of them than just 'Drummer seeks work'. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members theDan Posted October 28, 2009 Author Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 If you do decide to study music, make sure that is what you study and not just drums/percussion. The more skills you learn, the more irons in fires you'll have. Learning a second/third instrument means more work. Learning how to arrange opens up new doors. Aural training can lead to opportunities in publishing, if you can transcribe quickly. I dare say publishing houses need proofreaders, too. In which case an intimate knowledge of music notation is required. The list goes on, but hopefully I've made my point.Most professional musicians I know don't just have one job. They have lots of smaller, varied ones and are always on the lookout for new opportunities. Better to be one of them than just 'Drummer seeks work'. Yeah I knew that that was gonna be an obstacle so I took ap music theory in high school to brace myself for it. It was prettttty hard not gonna lie hahah but I did manage to pass the class and the test after a TON of hard work. I'm well prepared to do that again in music school (maybe not prepared but expected) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Thundergod Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 Weekend warrior here! Gotta have that day job to survive, being in hock up to my ears. Playing money is MY MAD MONEY!!!!!!!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members moronmountain Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 Yeah exactly! I want to ensure that I enjoy my job but I also don't want to have to worry about being homeless and stuff. ahhh the dilemma of adulthood!You have yet to make any statement at all and you sounded like a disrespectful bastard. And you still do. If you're gonna disagree with me then {censored}ing say something about it don't just be an asshole and insult me you don't even {censored}in know me at all. And if you aren't gonna back your {censored} up then don't say anything in the first place. Who's disrespectful? Is our government corrupt? Yes, they are. Are they self serving? Why yes they are, just like every other government on the planet. Are the "poor" any less represented than any other class of people? Why no they are not. I don't consider everyone that is not in the top 1% of the population "poor" either. What I can't believe is that you're actually complaining that your parents made it too easy for you to go to college. You should be grateful. You come across as one of "those people" who just want something to whine and complain about. I was poor when I was a kid, and I'm middle class now. This economy has put me bass akwards in my house. I see more and more of my paycheck being taken away from me each year, blah, blah, blah....etc. I get tired of people complaining about things that they don't seem to know anything about, and it's obvious they have very little life experience. Our government more than likely wants a welfare society. That's why we appear to be heading to a socialist mentality. Not enough people in this country take responsibility for their actions anymore. No one thinks there should be consequences for anything anymore. THAT is why our economy is in the toilet. The "poor" people, the middle class, and big business share the blame equally. The banks made bad loans, but you know what? Who was asking them for the loans on homes they couldn't afford? Hey but it's ok, the government will bail us all out, and our kids can pay for it all! YAY! I could easily argue politics to death with you and rebut every point you bring up, but this is a friggin music forum. The only reason I said anything to begin with is because you opened that can of worms and it rubbed me the wrong way. Anyway, thanks for the insults tough guy. I guess you won't be getting any consequences for your actions either since you're on the other side of a computer screen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members the DW Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 I have to agree with those who are saying that you need to play more than one instrument to make a living playing music. Locally, a vast majority of the acts playing around town are the solo or duo acts. A lot of the venues here don't pay a whole lot, so keeping the act small helps to make it viable to do it full time. That's the hardest part about being a full time drummer. It's not a solo instrument, and most any gig you're gonna get is gonna be a larger band situation, so your pay is going to be much less at any given venue. If you can play acoustic guitar and sing fairly well, you will have a lot more opportunity to work. Just another point of view. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members lossforgain Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 Good point DW. I guess I'm fortunate to play guitar and keys and be able to sing. I certainly couldn't do my job as well without knowing those instruments. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Longfuse Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 That's the hardest part about being a full time drummer. It's not a solo instrument, and most any gig you're gonna get is gonna be a larger band situation, so your pay is going to be much less at any given venue. If you can play acoustic guitar and sing fairly well, you will have a lot more opportunity to work.Just another point of view. Totally agree, but one thing I will say is that the professional percussionists that I've known - and I mean people who know hand-percussion inside out, not just drummers who pick up a tambourine and rattle it in time - always seem to be in work. Mainly orchestral/pit work, but even small-ensemble setups: a lot of people seem to like congas/bongo/cajon going on in the background at acoustic gigs. Might just be the situation over here, though... There was a 'regional' (London, so might as well be national) news item on TV a few weeks ago featuring the UK's top session tambourine player. He's at the top of the list when producers want someone to play tambourine on their track. Although he can do the whole caboodle, most of the time all he does is slap the thing on 2 & 4 and that's it! Even he thought he was a lucky b*stard... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Eyehearya Posted October 28, 2009 Members Share Posted October 28, 2009 Totally agree, but one thing I will say is that the professional percussionists that I've known - and I mean people who know hand-percussion inside out, not just drummers who pick up a tambourine and rattle it in time - always seem to be in work. Mainly orchestral/pit work, but even small-ensemble setups: a lot of people seem to like congas/bongo/cajon going on in the background at acoustic gigs. Might just be the situation over here, though...There was a 'regional' (London, so might as well be national) news item on TV a few weeks ago featuring the UK's top session tambourine player. He's at the top of the list when producers want someone to play tambourine on their track. Although he can do the whole caboodle, most of the time all he does is slap the thing on 2 & 4 and that's it! Even he thought he was a lucky b*stard... Ask Jack Ashford about that! I got the chance to meet the guy once & watch a 3 minute solo. The guy is a true master. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members rossbenny Posted October 29, 2009 Members Share Posted October 29, 2009 Great to find this thread right now, I'm 23 and I've been playing music since I was 8. I play a few instruments but I only really have the drum kit up to an acceptable professional standard. I'm working a job that is not going anywhere, and today I've been thinking I really have to sort my life out and get to work doing the thing I really love. So I started looking for CRUISE SHIP work, anyone any advice or musical tales from the high C's? (sorry I couldn't help it ) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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