How much do you make in this (music) business?

[monkie]

If only I had known then what I know now.

So many of us say that, and it's true.


I dreamed for years of becoming a rock star, but I lacked two things: confidence and talent. I have one of those now (confidence) but the talent? Not a chance. I can strum a guitar and sing better than 90% of the people out there, and I can write a songs that a few people say, "hey that's pretty good," but I learned a long time ago that I didn't have that God-given talent for music, so I gave up the dream. It's too bad that it took me so long. I held onto that dream for a long time, and it was actually emotionally painful to hear good music in the car or Ipod because I thought, "I should be in that position."

The dream came in stages.

First, there was the young teenager listening to Ozzy and Dio and thinking, "I'm going to do that someday."

Secondly, I picked up a bass guitar at age 15 and tried for hours a day to learn it, but was impatient and lazy at the same time. I didn't want to learn notes, chords, theory, etc. I just wanted to be naturally good. But it doesn't work that way.

Thirdly, I was with a couple folks here and there, but none of our arrangements worked out. We never wrote anything good. But the entire time I thought I was better than most bands out there. I would see bands like Poison, LA Guns, etc., and think, "those guys stink. I'm totally better than them."

But where was I? Living at home with mom at age 20. Not cool.

Finally, I went off to college and "settled" on a career totally unrelated to music, and I'm successful in it (although I don't make a lot I have enough to own a home, take care of the wife and kids, healthcare and a good retirement in fifteen years). But through most of that I felt tons of regret for not having pursued the dream enough.

Eventually I realized, when I became a Christian, that I was a very arrogant and stubborn person. Now, some people realize who they are in other ways, but for me it was coming to Christ. That's when I learned that I wasn't any more special than anyone else, and I was no more deserving than anyone else.

Then my dream of becoming a rock star went away. Finally I was free of that desire and longing. I also learned that I don't want to be famous (well, a little), but seriously, I now know what problems that would be for me.

I also came to realize that I really do lack the talent necessary to make it as an artist.

That said, I still like playing music, making up songs, and having fun with it. I stink, and none of my music will ever gain me fame or money, but that's okay.

Every once in a while I think of becoming a manager and discovering new talent and nurturing it, getting them signed, and then of course taking a fair cut as an agent or something.

But that career is not scheduled for the immediate future. I'm 41 now and have about 15 years left with this career.


I wish everyone the best of luck in their pursuits. If you have what it takes, go for it. I'm a firm believer that you should do whatever it takes to gain confidence in yourself (and still be humble, of course).

Anyone truly can make it if they have the talent. Looks don't matter. It's all about making it happen for yourself.

I remember a quote by James Hetfield of Metallica. He said it in simple terms: "Anyone can do what we're doing if they just put themselves to it."

Wow! I've seen and heard of people that has little to no music talent and still got somewhere, though not very far and not very long.

I know how you feel. I'm in the same boat as you. However, it's the "confident" that I lacked big time and it's holding me back from reaching the dreams. Still trying to overcome that fear everyday.

 

[steveneudaly]

A few days ago, I told myself "I'm done working for free."

Later that day, I agreed to work an event for free.

One step at a time, I suppose.

 

[gethypedmusic]

I recommend a plan of attack to actually get in the industry... If your thinking your music will be suddenly be found. Your quite wrong. Prepare to work your ass off. I live in the studio. Im mad when im not in the studio... I fuck... and while doing so I think about the studio.... if your 30 and haven't made it... Become a song writer and find a new talent with a face to pull off what you couldn't.

 

[DBXXL1]

Tv, reality shows, & cheap technology killed the music industry

It's guys who only do it for fun and then say that money doesn't matter make it so that for the guys who the money does matter get screwed.

Charging nothing in a market that is business orientated just completely skews the fact that some people aren't lucky enough to have a really great sideline job and music does pay the bills. I doubt you do your dayjobs for 'fun' or if your employee beside you just starting working for 'fun' what would it do for your wage? This is why I'm pro-union.

Andy

Andy you hit the nail on the head. Because people are giving away their work like crack in the idea of doing it for fun or hobby they have made so that seasoned, experienced musicians who really have plied their trade have to deal with nonsense all the time. I can not imagine Sprint giving away a phone without you signing a contract where in some way they are getting their money back, so why whore the music industry with the hopes of getting rich quick when that was never a reality even in musics heyday?

It is also why there are really few true artists out there anymore. No more artist development, real production, real musicians etc. playing in popular music genres.

I remember looking at album covers and seeing names such as Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller, Eddie Van Halen, Patrice Rushen etc. now all you see are a few top producers/writers doing a couple bangers and then a list of other random producers name and the artist. This has created circumstances so that little or no classic work is being released anymore. It's all about the moment. it's all about the one itunes download.

Again, much of this has to do with technology being so accessible to every person who watches "making the band" that think they are going to get rich in the music industry but some has to do with the lack of music education in schools. When I was coming up we knew about all the great musicians even if it wasn't what we were feeling. We learned about classical and America's classical music jazz. We were being taught refinement and culturing which again is a big problem today folks think being common is great! The true musicians were always so uncommon that's what made them special!

I make my living in the music industry, I am fortunate to own a home, a nice ride and continue to make a living doing music but I paid my dues and still am. Why folks today think they should shortcut all things is actually why our society is in severe decline. The music industry just is one more factor for sociologists to site!

 

[Lt. Bob]

Andy you hit the nail on the head. Because people are giving away their work like crack in the idea of doing it for fun or hobby they have made so that seasoned, experienced musicians who really have plied their trade have to deal with nonsense all the time. I can not imagine Sprint giving away a phone without you signing a contract where in some way they are getting their money back, so why whore the music industry with the hopes of getting rich quick when that was never a reality even in musics heyday?

It is also why there are really few true artists out there anymore. No more artist development, real production, real musicians etc. playing in popular music genres.

I remember looking at album covers and seeing names such as Quincy Jones, Marcus Miller, Eddie Van Halen, Patrice Rushen etc. now all you see are a few top producers/writers doing a couple bangers and then a list of other random producers name and the artist. This has created circumstances so that little or no classic work is being released anymore. It's all about the moment. it's all about the one itunes download.

Again, much of this has to do with technology being so accessible to every person who watches "making the band" that think they are going to get rich in the music industry but some has to do with the lack of music education in schools. When I was coming up we knew about all the great musicians even if it wasn't what we were feeling. We learned about classical and America's classical music jazz. We were being taught refinement and culturing which again is a big problem today folks think being common is great! The true musicians were always so uncommon that's what made them special!

I make my living in the music industry, I am fortunate to own a home, a nice ride and continue to make a living doing music but I paid my dues and still am. Why folks today think they should shortcut all things is actually why our society is in severe decline. The music industry just is one more factor for sociologists to site!

No shit ...... ANYONE can go into a club and say "I'm a musician" and get a gig.
Around here there are lots of hobby bands that don't care at all what they get paid 'cause they have their day gigs and music is just for fun so if they make some money great. If they don't ..... no biggie.
So there are bands around that'll play for the same money I need to get as a single! And a lot of them suck but clubs don't really care ..... all they see is they're getting 5 guys for the price of one.
I actually can see the hobbyists point .... they're just having fun ..... but it really screws up those of us that have to pay our mortgages with our music income.

Something else ...... music is about the ONLY job I can think of where the pay hasn't changed in 40 years.
40 years ago a club musician would get about $100 a night ..... good nights maybe 150-200. Now 40 years later that's still what club gigs pay.
Nothing to do about it but that sucks.

 

[UrbanKlass]

hhmmm...

I honestly don't know if this thread is inspiring or just down right depressing!

C'mon people, there is much money to be made from this industry whether you see it or not. The way I perceive things, and the way you should, is that there is roughly $32-$34 BILLION just in the professional industry. Now realize that the industry is split into three now, and not two (as it was before the home-musician/producer boom)...

Instead of having professional --> consumers...

You now have Professional --- (amateur) --> consumers...

If you're an artist, engineer, producer or beat-maker - you can make money in this industry easier than you think. Will you make millions? Probably not. But I know plenty of beat-makers and engineers making a respectable $3000-$6000 per month, and the oldest one is 27.

You have to understand that the industry has a spectrum of users. The most professional users will be top labels/artists/producers - who have the attention of the consumer, but are not close to them. The least professional (or amateur) users such as home engineers, mixtape artists etc, have very little attention but they have their ears to the streets when compared to the professionals. Meaning they can reach people on a more personal level, the consumer will feel 'special' to be there from the begining.

Know how to market your products or services *properly*, and you'll get your money.

If you have the talent and the passion, pursue it. Financial, or any other, success comes from not one big leap, but many small steps. Each step must be planned and executed one by one until you reach your destination.

I hope that helped any non-believers out there to know they can get where they want to be!

 

[jokerone]

It's guys who only do it for fun and then say that money doesn't matter make it so that for the guys who the money does matter get screwed.

Charging nothing in a market that is business orientated just completely skews the fact that some people aren't lucky enough to have a really great sideline job and music does pay the bills. I doubt you do your dayjobs for 'fun' or if your employee beside you just starting working for 'fun' what would it do for your wage? This is why I'm pro-union.

Andy

I had this conversion with my cousin about photography. My point to him was, you shouldn't choose a career that was fun and expect to make a decent living out of it. He saw it as anybody taking photos and giving them away was taking money out of his pocket.

My point to him was, I have to pay the guy $200 to clean out my septic tank and I've never met anybody who has jumped up and said "My hobby is cleaning septic tanks, so I'll do it for nothing.".

If you can make money having fun, then my hat is off to you, but don't get mad at other people having fun because nobody is paying you.

 

[BLP]

I make $$$ in the hip hop business. That business is very lucrative.

 

[CoolMusicNotes]

not much for me