Is music a full time job? If so, then what do you do?

[leedsquietman]

I worked in studios between 1993 and 2000 full time (and then part-time combined with education 2001-2009).

Like most graduate audio engineers, I started off doing tape op and editing 2" multitrack tape with razor blades combined with general 'go-fer', with the odd hauling about of instruments and mics/mic stands, this lasted about 18 months, then I progressed to setting up microphones and amplifiers for the lead engineer/producer, to after about 4 years becoming a lead engineer (at which point I was trusted to handle outboard gear, patchbays, the multitrack and 2 track stereo master machines, mixers etc and was able to do things such as blag free studio time overnight when no-one was looking, so long as everything was reset for the morning, so typically this would take an hour to set up, maybe 90 mins recording, then another hour to reset everything back to the way it was). This was mostly working with Studer A80s with 16 or 24 track heads and a combination of SSL and MCI Trident consoles, with ADAT recording later, and just moving on to Pro tools Mix a few months before I quit. I also moonlighted in a smaller, (but really cool) second studio with an API console and ADAT facilities because it was bloody hard work making a decent living.

Because it was difficult to earn a decent living this way, I got a job in education where I did part-time work after classes manning the school board's recording studio (based on PTHD and Logic), mostly doing audio for video (curriculum videos, new procedures seminars etc) and recording of choirs and school bands, with some occasional freelance work. We also did some multi media stuff with Adobe Premiere. This was probably 3 hours out of a 9 hour day, with 6 hours per day teaching. The money was great, until I was laid off recently.

[MPGK]

Lots of part time stuff while studying music, so I consider it a full time job.

Most money comes from giving singing, piano, and theory/ear training lessons and the occasional workshop, but I earn a € or two doing gigs and composing and/or producing for small film and video game stuff.
Also hoping to make more money with my own music in the future, depending on teaching sucks actually, even though it can be a fun and fulfilling job.

[Rave]

I work the lounge.

[lapieuvre]

full time

writing charts
music editing
programming shows on Live
arranging/producing