Full time musicians WITHOUT a day job?

[flying_v]

Yo guys, anybody know what a guitarist can do to earn good money in the music biz besides only teaching? I’ve been working hard on my playing and been thinking lately about how cool it would be to do music as a career and not have to rot in some s^*t 9-5 job.

 

I’ve thought about the possibility of teaching but I wanted to ask if anybody can offer some other ways on how to make money. Yeah, I know, music is not about selling out, but we’ve all got to eat right? Do any of you here make all of your living entirely from music? How do you do it?

[germs]

I don't anymore. But I used to. I was a touring musician for 3 years or so. And while my technical abilities didn't allow me to give lessons, I made enough to survive. Not live comfortably, mind you. Survive. But I do have friends that still only do music as a living, and they play 5 nights a week and give lessons during the day. But it took them years to get to where they are.

 

Times have changed; and while the business side of the music pool is shrinking, the "talent" pool is only growing larger. So I guess that means you're going to have to start giving lessons to survive.

 

Unless you are extremely versatile and can play jazz in a resturaunt on Monday, blues covers at a pub on Tuesday, country on College Nite Wednesday, jazz again on Thursday, and country/rock/blues/originals on Friday/Saturday...you'll be looking for a day job to supplement your income.

 

Now, I'm not saying that it can't be done. And you also would only have to work part-time (15-20 hours) if you can secure at least 4-5 lessons a day. But if you want to start doing this full-time, you have to start taking things into consideration like taxes and such. Otherwise, you'll go to jail for tax evasion...and that's not good.

 

Oh, and there's always busking.

[guitartheman101]

Hey, have you seen this? http://www.tomhess.net/musiccareer.aspx

 

I’m not in this, but I saw the link on another forum in a similar thread. I can’t think of any ideas off the top of my head, but thought you might find this link useful. I’m not a music pro ..right now I’m trying to survive my last year of college

[BlueStrat]

I'm like germs. I did it for several years, but the market has changed drastically since those days, when a guy could work 6 nights a week in one club and earn as much as a plumber or electrician.

 

It can be done these days, but you have to really hustle full time. You will have to be flexible and be able to do solo, duo, trio and band work, do fill-in gigs with other bands, do session work, teach, and so on. You will have to play a lot of covers and do clubs, weddings, private parties, and be versed in a few different genres and know a lot of songs or have a huge fake book.

 

With your "free time", you'll have to devote most of it to promoting, booking, getting contracts out, getting stuff off in the mail, finding students, preparing lessons, running down money you're owed, etc. And even at that you won't likely be able to earn enough to support a family, pay a mortgage, maintain a couple of cars, keep up your insurance, and everything else that goes with living in America unless you do it very frugally-no satellite, no high speed internet, used cars you buy with cash, etc. And God help you if you get sick! Some guys do better than others, but I'm talking the average here.

 

Some guys really like the challenge. I didn't, though. After I got married and started a family, I found the non-stop hustling to be way more work than it was worth for what it paid. I finally broke down and took a day job that paid a decent wage and was able to do music on my terms and never looked back. And while it's true that I can't just go blow off down the road if an opportunity presented itself because of my job, the reality is I wouldn't be able to if I had a bunch of students, a studio, and bookings three months out either.

[richardmac]

Wow - Nice post, BlueStrat. That's a really good summary.

[Special J]

I've never done it, but several friends have and still do. First, get really good if you're not already. Teach as much as possible. Learn as many songs as you can. Get together with as many wedding/cover bands as possible. Look for studio work. Try out for pit bands. It's possible, but there's a ton of competition out there. Good luck!

[flying_v]

 

I'm like germs. I did it for several years, but the market has changed drastically since those days, when a guy could work 6 nights a week in one club and earn as much as a plumber or electrician. It can be done these days, but you have to really hustle full time. You will have to be flexible and be able to do solo, duo, trio and band work, do fill-in gigs with other bands, do session work, teach, and so on. You will have to play a lot of covers and do clubs, weddings, private parties, and be versed in a few different genres and know a lot of songs or have a huge fake book. With your "free time", you'll have to devote most of it to promoting, booking, getting contracts out, getting stuff off in the mail, finding students, preparing lessons, running down money you're owed, etc. And even at that you won't likely be able to earn enough to support a family, pay a mortgage, maintain a couple of cars, keep up your insurance, and everything else that goes with living in America unless you do it very frugally-no satellite, no high speed internet, used cars you buy with cash, etc. And God help you if you get sick! Some guys do better than others, but I'm talking the average here. Some guys really like the challenge. I didn't, though. After I got married and started a family, I found the non-stop hustling to be way more work than it was worth for what it paid. I finally broke down and took a day job that paid a decent wage and was able to do music on my terms and never looked back. And while it's true that I can't just go blow off down the road if an opportunity presented itself because of my job, the reality is I wouldn't be able to if I had a bunch of students, a studio, and bookings three months out either.

 

 

This sounds kind of bleak, but I think I am up for the hard work....

[fetishfrog]

 

Thanks, that was interesting never heard of a music business program before. Do you still have a link to the thread you found it in? Maybe there are some ideas in there. And any other advice on how to build a career, anyone? This sounds kind of bleak, but I think I am up for the hard work....

 

 

Don't think of it as bleak...it's just an honest assessment of what to expect. When I was in college, I was given the same assessment from a pro who, like Blue Strat, had given up the road life for a more stable existence. His advice and observations were spot on, these tidbits helped me have a few years of solid music making as a career and it was great. Don't get discouraged by it, just realize it can and will be tough and be prepared.

[andycamden]

Hey man! I make a living from music by teaching guitar in the Seattle area and by helping bands promote and get their name out.

 

Its very hard to be in an original band that has just started up and make enough money to live. Over time, as your fanbase grows, you can start making some good cash. But only when you become in demand.

 

I would recommend:

1) Put an ad on Craigslist for teaching guitar

2) If you are good enough, maybe you could do some studio work

3) Get in a COVER BAND! People like to hear songs that they already know and you can make decent money doing it. It may not be what you truly want to do, but hey, its better than a 9 to 5!

 

This is my first post as I just joined this forum today. Can't wait to join in on the conversations and maybe learn a bit, as well as give some valuable advice away.

[Ides of March]

I would recommed everything Blue Strat said.... plus don't get married, have kids or get a girlfried. There.

[guitartheman101]

don’t’ remember the thread. It was somewhere on Ultimate guitar that people were talking about it. There were some who were in that program and loved it, said they developed their careers at a fast pace so I thought it was worth checking out. It actually was a similar topic about hwo to make money in music and if it is possible to do so without a real job. It's cool that this site actually has a music biz forum section!

 

So apparently some people around us doing it! I guess that means you can do the same.

[ChordGirl]

Don't know about NY, but St. Louis you can work guitar solos/duos at art galleries, casinos, wineries, and your occasional restaurant (strictly instrumentals, anyway--with a vocalist, obviously more places to play), give lessons, get into recording other musicians, work in music stores/ instrument stores, do fill-in work, studio work, etc. In some places (with permission from the powers that be ), you can set out a tip jar and play on the street and pull down $100 in 3 or 4 hours. If you're sneaky, I'm sure you could do it without approval.

 

 

Most of the musicians I personally know that make their living full time are simply versatile bad-asses that can play just about anything. They are willing to pick up gigs at the last second's notice in addition to their set 5 gigs a week plus another couple that rotate. These are spread across a city of 300,000. They play with as many as 10 different acts when needed, and are not set members of any band (except on a given night)--unless they are the front man/woman. They all know a basic ~50 blues, jazz, and R&B standards. Many are good enough to just pull songs out of their asses when necessary. (i.e. someone requests a song that the lead singer has heard before and they fake their way through it somewhat convincingly because someone dropped a $20 in the tip jar.) All of them I know except one guy I can think of right now do strictly covers. I have heard most of them play with many different front people. They do a lot of the same tunes between bands. And a lot of them have been on the scene here for 20+ years.

 

There are two full-time solo guitarist/vocalists I know that rarely play with anyone else who do manage to eek out a living from strictly playing shows. Sometimes I wonder if one of them is selling crack on the side, though.

 

I can name 4 that have purchased houses soley on their income, but 1 is in a neighborhood that is gang infested. A couple of months ago he came to work upset because his neighbor got shot. Sadly, he's the guy that has had some real success, including being on one of SRV's albums.

 

These are just some personal observations about the local pro scene. I'm guessing NY also will support the cream of the crop in this manner. St. Louis is pretty cheap to live in, though. You can easily live on $500/week here if you don't have a family to support.

[jrlaudio]

Hi,

 

I ended up being a live sound engineer which is my full time day job, sort of speaking. I earned an engineering degree in college and used it. So all I do is gig. Either mixing or playing. I gig as an engineer, then play when I can in a Pink Floyd tribute band, and record my own music. As an added perk, most of the musicians I play with are players I met as an engineer, either touring or locally.

 

I know many musicians who work in studios, rehearsal spaces, and sound/production companies. The work is related and these types of employers are going to be more tolerant of you pursuing your playing gigs, and may even grant you time off for tours or long recording sessions if that ever comes up.

 

[flying_v]

 

don’t’ remember the thread. It was somewhere on Ultimate guitar that people were talking about it. There were some who were in that program and loved it, said they developed their careers at a fast pace so I thought it was worth checking out. It actually was a similar topic about hwo to make money in music and if it is possible to do so without a real job. It's cool that this site actually has a music biz forum section! So apparently some people around us doing it! I guess that means you can do the same.

 

 

Holy crap!! I looked at the feedback page, there are a lot of cool stories from people who were in that program… http://www.tomhess.net/MusicCareersMentoringProgramStudentFeedback.aspx

Some of these names and faces look familiar. Some of these guys look like real pros. Thanks for the lead, I'll probably contact some of these guys and see what they have to say.

Maybe I should chceck out that guys' program. I wouldn't mind paying some money to learn how to build a music career from a real pro.

 

Thanks for the great advice Andy, chord girl and jrl. I actually feel like it can be done now! I have done live sound before, taught guitar and played covers too. I could use to work on my versatility though.I'm truly excited about the possibilities for me now - I'm smiling right now. Thank you guys so much!

[guitartheman101]

Holy crap!! I looked at the feedback page, there are a lot of cool stories from people who were in that program… http://www.tomhess.net/MusicCareersMentoringProgramStudentFeedback.aspx Some of these names and faces look familiar. Some of these guys look like real pros. Thanks for the lead, I'll probably contact some of these guys and see what they have to say. Maybe I should chceck out that guys' program. I wouldn't mind paying some money to learn how to build a music career from a real pro. Thanks for the great advice Andy, chord girl and jrl. I actually feel like it can be done now! I have done live sound before, taught guitar and played covers too. I could use to work on my versatility though.I'm truly excited about the possibilities for me now - I'm smiling right now. Thank you guys so much!

 

Yeah, that is pretty damn impressive. If you go for it, let us know how you like it. If things go well for you, I might join too

[CLOCK13]

I've never done it, but several friends have and still do. First, get really good if you're not already. Teach as much as possible. Learn as many songs as you can. Get together with as many wedding/cover bands as possible. Look for studio work. Try out for pit bands. It's possible, but there's a ton of competition out there. Good luck!

 

I like this post. It is true you need to be really good!

[bluehannah]

I've spent the whole day recording in front of my pc and just my wife manage the business. So it doesn't matter unless you can't take care of your family's finances.

[flying_v]

 

don’t’ remember the thread. It was somewhere on Ultimate guitar that people were talking about it. There were some who were in that program and loved it, said they developed their careers at a fast pace so I thought it was worth checking out. It actually was a similar topic about hwo to make money in music and if it is possible to do so without a real job. It's cool that this site actually has a music biz forum section! So apparently some people around us doing it! I guess that means you can do the same.

 

 

Hey, I actually went to ultimate-guitar to search for mentions of this careers class and I found this:

http://ultimate-guitar.com/forum/showthread.php?t=701550&page=1&pp=20

 

Was thta the thread?