Discussion, Music as Career or Hobby?

Jeroen · Post by **Jeroen** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 4:55 pm

You could consider something which is a better compromise. I did a degree in geophysics/seismology, which was interesting by itself and i ended up getting a good job. It is easy to get a good job these days with an old fashioned tech study.

Because of the degree i learned the inside out of filters, digital signal processing, convolution, fundamental frequencies, harmonics, resonance, aliasing, Frequency modulation etc etc. so, actually I worked in an audio lab for a very short while but realized that i did not like it as a job. Now I am trying to master Live and use the knowledge i learned earlier as well.

Somehow people always tend to do "programming" to make a living these days, and I know there is creativity in that, but in terms of the job market you are very safe with an old -fashioned tech degree. just make sure you do not end up making missile defense systems with the fresh knowledge on signal correlations ...

The Phat Conductor · Post by **The Phat Conductor** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:09 pm

i've been full time for 3 years now and never looked back.

getting a real job is like an admission of defeat at this point. i live a VERY minimal lifestyle and i am happy as a pig in shit.

there isn't even close to enough time for music when i do it full time, i can't imagine that my goals would be met if i had a job in the way.

Machinate · Post by **Machinate** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 5:48 pm

I missed a lot of work as a musician because of my "insecurity" in the security of working with music for a living.

full-time now, feels fantastic...

twolf · Post by **twolf** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 6:13 pm

Interesting post here! I'm lucky enough to work for myself, from home, as a graphic designer / web developer. When I originally took the plunge I thought I'd have some spare time to experiment with more music but been busy since day one (about 3 years now) I do love my job, even though its very stressful at times.

Recently I've been thinking more and more about music as a career, but not a complete swap, I was thinking how music, combined with my other skills would compliment each other, for example one thing I do is produce DVDs for Land Rover and Jaguar, always a need for music there, they usually request royalty free stuff, or provide me with music that they have the rights use. Just not confident enough yet to add 'music' to my list of services.

Also there's so many different areas of music as a career, recording/gigging with your band, DJing/remixing, producing, sound engineer, soundtracks, music for games, the list goes on and on!

Mesmer · Post by **Mesmer** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 7:28 pm

Hi,
just to chime in this support group and say it out loud:
I quit my "secure" developer job and have been doing "projects" at my home studio. I'll tell you this: it is an intense psychological effort to stay on top of your own things. Here's some base data:

1. The "secure" well paid job financed my well-equipped home studio.
2. Development per se, was really intriguing/exciting/challenging. But dealing with management (improper deadlines, daft marketspeach brainwashing mumbojumb...) was really really disappointing.
3. Being self employed has a lot of nuisances too: tax mind, self promotion, dealing with dickmen everywhere.
4. So far I have been able to pay my bills like this: 50% from Savings account. 30% independent software developer contractor. 20% teaching (Web Programming) gig.

So yea, my savings account is plummeting. I have bare support from my loved ones. It has been difficult for them too, because they expect me to be a straight "Engineer" and have the 2.4 kids, etc.

The Profit: during 4 months I have been able to record almost half of a new album. I have launched my own website like I always wanted. I have lost 10 pounds and excersise regularly

This is crunch time for me, do or die.
It's really hard on one's own mind, it's like psy ops. it's my best description. To anyone out there in their own crunch time: here's to you - let's go spar with our Klingon swords and make war shrieking savage noises now!!!

ok got carried away. Guess this thread hits close to home. Best of luck. h

moddog · Post by **moddog** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 10:12 pm

cool topic--growing up i was deeply involved in music, but never thought i could make a living from it. studied advertising in college. but ya never know what happens!! i have since been a 100% professional musician, making a living for over 20 years. my gig can be a grind, and am on the road all the time--but i love it. i think the music business is rapidly changing, and will be harder and harder to find work--but the tech-savvy and talented will continue to thrive. don't assume (as i did) that it can't happen!!!

diego vega · Post by **diego vega** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:27 pm

Out of curiosity, to those of you who say that have been living for years doing music stuff, what kind of stuff exactly have you been doing?

I'm also in the same road as some of you, I'm 23, I did a Marketing major (thinking I should of done Publicity, or Graphic Design, or maybe IT). Now I've had a 'normal' business job for like a year and some months, which pays well, but I don't really enjoy it. It's like you say, I miss a lot of the more creative stuff I like to do. Unfortunately the options to make money from music seem pretty small... I don't know where the money is to be made from?

OvertoneZero · Post by **OvertoneZero** » Tue Apr 08, 2008 11:58 pm

My feeling is that unless you are:

Extremely talented and dedicated

Extremely dedicated and a highly self-motivated and creative self-promoter

..it will probably be a very difficult road financially to try to make it strictly as a music creator.

That said, I'm doing the same type of thing as Mesmer right now. So obviously I hope that I'm wrong about the above!

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:12 am

I think it's safe to say that everyone's goal would be to just have the freedom to sit and write the music they want and get paid for it well enough to live on. But honestly those dreams are so few and far between, you're lucky if it happens, but even skill, luck and lots of hard work might never pay off.

I did some work writing music for commercials years ago, and it really changed my views on making a living in the music field. It paid well, very well in fact, but you have to deal with the most clueless people constantly and put a lot of creative effort into music that ultimately I disliked a lot. I mean, if the client wants a country twanger song for their product, you can't give weirded out electronica. At the end of the day, the last thing I really wanted was to come home and write more music to be honest, my ears and brain were just done.

I've also been doing stuff at home part-time for a few years as well, mixdowns and mastering. While I find this work MUCH more satisfying and it still leaves me with creative energies for my own work, getting enough work to do it full time is VERY hard and time consuming. I recently moved and thought about going full time to avoid a job, but I could just never get enough steady business to make it happen.

In the end I chose to go with a more straightforward day job, doing mechanical engineering for a biotech company. It worked out great in terms of my music making, I had a stable job, enough income to own a nice studio and more or less any gear I wanted, lived in an area where I didn't have to worry about my studio getting broken into, etc. I focused on always making sure I did great at work, so they'd let it slide if I left early, or came in late because of studio stuff. Ultimately I think I was far happier treating music more as a hobby, than as a profession.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:13 am

hobbyist!

pic is not of me, just what I do.

mpresev · Post by **mpresev** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:30 am

what do you do to a client that you did a remix for but didn't pay.. No contract because it was a hand shake agreement.

lunabass · Post by **lunabass** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:35 am

mpresev wrote:what do you do to a client that you did a remix for but didn't pay.. No contract because it was a hand shake agreement.

try shaking his hand again but with a little more vigor

mpresev · Post by **mpresev** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 12:38 am

how much do ppl charge to do a remix?

dcease · Post by **dcease** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:13 am

mpresev wrote:what do you do to a client that you did a remix for but didn't pay.. No contract because it was a hand shake agreement.

wwsd?

gjm · Post by **gjm** » Wed Apr 09, 2008 1:24 am

gjm wrote:I suppose I kinda cheat too. I teach music (as in help people learn to play, guitar, piano and drums). I am 42 years old (maybe midlife) and have been in the 'work force' 24 years. This is by far the best gig I have ever had. Yes there is the day in and out teaching thing, but I also have time to write music as well. On top of that, I saved nearly 8 hrs per week of my life in driving to and from my last work effort. I have all the school holidays off (14 weeks per year). I see my three kids far more, and now also teach all three of them. I get to hang out with my honey during the day as well. I had to adjust my life style a bit for sure. But I know I won't regret it. I faff around with live ... and maybe will get some stuff tracked soon. I am happy to do my bit and I'm glad it is with music. I wish upon you the same joy and fun I have ... GJM.

I have had a little more time to think about this topic and would like to share a few more things. Yes, this is definately the best 'gig' I've had, including the touring and session playing I did in my 20's, but not for the music, for other stuff. Some of the others who have spoken about this topic are involved with music but very differently than me. Honestly, I am just a no name local Joe in my community providing basic music lessons. There is no glory, no fame, no hit songs, no one pumping my ego unrealisticly. My music gets listened to by my immediate family, and my students (I write my own learning material). I have no dreams to make it big in music either. Every body always pays their bills.

It is very busy, full of deadlines, sometimes unwanted pressure as well. Its not a walk in the park by any means. However, If I contemplate the alternative, my previous experience, then I am at peace. No more do I have to make payrol for 12 other people, I don't have to be everybodies social worker and listen to their issues and put up with them in the workplace. No more accounting nightmares, or 55-60 hr weeks, no more being stung by asshole customers for more than the cost of a new car etc etc, you get the picture. Now I am sure similar issues exist for those who work in music full time as well. Business is business. The little bit of music that I do gives me the basic lifestyle I dreamed about when I was trying to be the man. Money is much tighter, and my family does without, but I am now truely here with them.

If I was starting over, I would do it slightly differently. I tell my own kids NOT to get a carreer, but choose a lifestyle. My advice to my own kids is to get a qualification (trade, degree) in something that requires the human interface, where people can't be replaced. Then, spend sometime playing around and sorting out the things you might want to do (music, mountain climbing etc), but stay in touch with your qualification. If you find that you begin to do well with your 'play time goals' fine and well. If not you can go back to what you were trained in, then maybe do it again with another dream. (in a nut shell).

Some of you who are starting out (much younger than me) might want to try what a programmer friend of mine does. He is on a temp list. Works for 2 months then takes a month off. He is always in touch but never full time. This might provide small 'Full time' stints at music. Just an idea.