mike257 Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Hi guys, I'm sure we've all considered this at some point in time, I'm seriously thinking about taking the plunge and would love to hear your experiences, those of you making a living or those of you it didn't work out for. At the moment I have a reasonably well paying job, but have been 'redeployed' from running a successful, award winning project that was saving tens of thousands a year for my employer into a lower grade desk job that is essentially glorified customer service. This has left me completely pissed off and demoralised, and thinking it might be time to make a life change and do something I love for a living. I've recently joined a function band who are out doing a couple of weddings a month, with bookings already in place until this time next year. I also own a seven seater splitter van and do a bit of work transporting, tour managing and teching for bands, and some occasional freelance live engineering for a local PA company - my day job limits the amount of this work I can take on at the moment. I think if I could pick up one more regular function gig, I could probably get close to making a reasonable living, though I need to carefully consider things as I've got the missus, 3 month old baby and two step-daughters to think of. I'm lucky to have a very supportive other half who made a similar move a few years ago to pursue photography and has ended up with a career she loves as a lecturer in a local college teaching the subject, so she understands where I'm coming from and is very supportive. I'm trying to make positive steps towards this - I've joined the MU, and I'm just getting signed up with an agency that specialises in hooking working musos up with function acts and dep gigs (a friend is on their books and between them and a few bass students he's making a living from it) - and I'm putting together a catalogue of video and audio recordings to build a proper online presence for myself. I play bass and guitar, so that will hopefully double my opportunities, and I'll be starting singing lessons soon to get my BV's up to scratch. I'm hoping that between this, the splitter van and the engineering, I'll have enough things on the go to keep my options open for work. I know there's a good few full-timers on here, and a wide range of experiences, so I'm really looking for some advice - am I being realistic here? Any pitfalls I should be aware of? Any tips and suggestions? Thanks in advance for all your help and advice! Mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Don't underestimate how difficult and stressful it can be, even for established artists. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1342962718' post='1743170'] Don't underestimate how difficult and stressful it can be, even for established artists. [/quote] Thanks Nige, wise words. Whilst I'm still writing and playing original music, I'm not expecting that to generate any kind of real cash and I am totally prioritising things that will make a bit of money. Whilst functions etc aren't anywhere near as enjoyable as creating original works, I still enjoy being out playing them enough to make it a main source of income compared to a thoroughly unrewarding 9-5. I'm trying to have as many avenues for earning as possible so that will hopefully alleviate the stresses of where the next pay check is coming from slightly. I do worry about the gaps in between and am looking into insurance to cover sickness etc. I'd like to get some decent savings in the bank before kissing the day job goodbye! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Can you go part time at work until you get an established music income? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike257 Posted July 22, 2012 Author Share Posted July 22, 2012 Possibly, yes - I work for a pretty big company and have experience in a number of areas within what we do, so it's certainly something that I could look in to. My employer makes regular use of contractors via a couple of employment agencies to cover times of peak demand for engineering work too, so it's something I could fall back on if money got tight. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) I'm tempted to say 'go for it'. Better to try and fail than not try at all. If it all goes Pete Tong you can always get another job... Edited July 22, 2012 by discreet Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
eddiehoffmann Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Go for it man. The first couple of months are going to be difficult, but you're gonna be surprised how stuff is gonna start to come your way once you're concentrating on playing full time. If you don't like it, or find it too hard you can always go and find another job one day. You'll never know if you don't try. Good luck! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1342962718' post='1743170'] Don't underestimate how difficult and stressful it can be, even for established artists. [/quote] Absolutely this. Im really struggling to make ends meet, and I lodge at my sister's house. Even just getting regular local work is difficult. Our guitarist got knocked back 10 venues in a row, one pub we had to book 12 months in advance and even then they cancelled 2 weeks before the gig. I am actually strongly considering doing something else as a job. It's an insane amount of work for seemingly very little return, however as stressful as this is I much prefer it to retail. And when the work does come in it's great, just be prepared for quiet patches. Im trying to get into teaching and have started to advertise my self, there is a rock music school a few minutes walk from mine and they currently have no bass tutors, however the fear I have is that I only have experience to fall back on. If you can do several things in it then great, but it's almost impossible to just rely on gigging. Take the plunge by all means, you'll enjoy it as difficult as it can be but be prepared to fall back on something else. Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xilddx Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Cool. You'll also need to be very organised and clued up about your tax affairs, and running your own business to maximise your income and minimise your outgoings. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musophilr Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 I spent some time away from what would have been called my normal "day job", after being made redundant from it. Drifted into freelance music teaching and did reasonably well out of it, topping it up occasionally with a relatively unskilled p/t office dogsbody job. Now that even the people with money aren't spending it, business has nose-dived, I can't find another suitable office dogsbody job, and the people recruiting for software think you forget how to design and make software after a few years, it's banging your head on a brick wall trying to tell them that the details you forget are not the big issue and freely available in reference manuals anyway. Conclusion: if you're making money out of your day job, and can make more on the side out of music, do it, but IMO quitting requires serious unpleasantness going down in the day job coupled with guaranteed rewards in what you look at next. Both conditions are necessary; stay out of what you used to be good at for long enough and no matter how good you were, you'll find it very hard to take it up again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BottomE Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Hi Mike i did it for a few years back in the 90s when i had no financial obligations or kids to feed. I was lucky and got onto a pretty lucrative circuit in the Middle East playing at 5* hotels on 3/6month contracts. I ended up really not enjoying it - the money was good and it was nice to tell people i am a pro musician - but i ended up falling out of love with playing. There were times when i was waiting for a contract to happen and couldn't get involved with anything else - kind of in limbo. Looking back i probably don't realise how easy i had it but it really is different playing full-time. Its a lot more fun now, not relying on it for an income and playing what i want to play (to some degree). All that said i am glad i did it. Whatever you decided to do - good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
gjones Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 You have a van? Isn't that how Bill Wyman got the Rolling Stones gig? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musophilr Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1342965642' post='1743202'] You have a van? Isn't that how Bill Wyman got the Rolling Stones gig? [/quote] Didn't someone say if you want to be in a band you either learn to sing or get a van? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='gjones' timestamp='1342965642' post='1743202'] You have a van? Isn't that how Bill Wyman got the Rolling Stones gig?[/quote] It was because he had an[i] amp! [/i]A Vox AC30. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JakeBrownBass Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) . Edited January 19, 2013 by JakeBrownBass Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
sarah thomas Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 It sounds like you're well placed to make the switch. If you're debt free (apart from the mortgage) and can save up three months worth of income before you quit the day job then you are fantastically placed. You could try drawing up a business plan for a reality check. Also, you might regret never giving it a go. I tried years ago, only with writing rather than music and while I eventually retrained and started teaching, I'm really glad I tried - met some fantastic people and learned a lot about myself. A supportive partner is essential and as your's knows exactly where you're coming from, maybe it's your turn now! Good luck. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BassTractor Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) Since you ask, here's my bit. I hope it translates, but my English is not as good as it may seem (do not underestimate this bit!!). When I have to choose in this type of situations, I have this set of questions that to a surprisingly little degree are about music, like: - If you decide to go for it, and if that in hindsight seems to have been the wrong decision, can you live with yourself? - If you decide to keep your job, or find a better one, can you live with the thought of never having tried living off music? - Have you really set up a really realistic budget that gives you real confidence you'll really survive? Really? - Have you taken a hard look at yourself and questioned your reasons and reasonability in this, as well as your realism? - Do you [b]know[/b] that you have all the resources to be able to make this work, or are you living in a bubble of hope? To me, this type of questions soon results in a feeling about whether the thing is nonsense or not. Many projects and ideas are dropped, but I did start a musical career once, and gave it up once. As a background carpet, here's my experience: Wanted to be a musician in classical and rock. Saw that way too many educated musicians struggled financially. Decided to have something to fall back on and took an education in the field of leadership, with subjects like law, economics, psychology and sociology (I thought that that would help me later, and it did). Then started studying classical music (rock education didn't exist yet in college then), and made sure I got a complete study in the pedagogical side so I also could fall back on teaching as well. Worked as a teacher and had many small jobs like depping, playing music to theatre plays, composing stuff for theatre, some recording, some marketing and some gear responsibility. Total income hardly worth mentioning, and most came from teaching. Then moved to Norway, and was forced to decide on a future. Worked as a teacher for two more years whilst thinking and discussing with the wife, and then decided it was best to live where I live, and that that was more important that hunting for a musical career (which in my case would mean to move to Oslo). This automatically meant my planned musical career was not to be. Since '86 I've only had regular jobs, and I've only depped sometimes. Personally, i got the best time not from music as I expected, but from having my own company within sales, and doing everything that needs to be done there - so much fun I was able to decline a great job offer in marketing a few years back, that would give a much better income, but where I would be someone else's slave again. YM [b]Will[/b] V best, bert Edited July 22, 2012 by BassTractor Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
pietruszka Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='sarah thomas' timestamp='1342967985' post='1743231'] . A supportive partner is essential and as your's knows exactly where you're coming from, maybe it's your turn now! Good luck. [/quote] Yes, yes and yes. My other half is amazingly supportive and understanding, as well as her parents. They all acknowledge how difficult it can be, especially in the current climate, pubs and clubs not wanting to take on any one else etc etc. Im still in training to be a climbing instructor to top up my wages and I'm still aiming to teach to. As a couple of people have said here, try it, you may regret it if you don't. I know I'm pleased I tried it! Dan Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='silddx' timestamp='1342962718' post='1743170'] Don't underestimate how difficult and stressful it can be, even for established artists. [/quote] This x100. I feel very fortunate and lucky to be able to have my bass earn my living for me. It's bloody hard and you should treat every day like you're setting up your business for the first time. But the rewards are worth it. I'd say for anyone wanting to go down this route, do not place all your eggs in one basket. Use your talents and skills to form multiple streams of income so when one dries up (which it most definitely will) you have something else to fall back on whilst you fill that gap. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discreet Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='dood' timestamp='1342988962' post='1743582'] ...do not place all your eggs in one basket. Use your talents and skills to form multiple streams of income so when one dries up (which it most definitely will) you have something else to fall back on whilst you fill that gap...[/quote] Excellent advice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dood Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 Thank you! You could say it's tried and tested from experience! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
darkandrew Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 [quote name='JakeBrownBass' timestamp='1342967838' post='1743228'] Also teaching is probably the most reliable source of income. [/quote] I would endorse that advice. I've always been a part-time musicican but also have commitments such as a mortgage and a family. I'd been teaching IT for donkey's years and suggested to my Head, one day, that I'd like to teach music as well. She took a chance on me and 5 years later I'm still teaching music and loving it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveK Posted July 22, 2012 Share Posted July 22, 2012 (edited) Just a little history: I started playing music about 1966 (aged 11 or 12), quit my day job at 19 to become a full time musician. With the exception of one or two short periods early on I've been a full time gigging musician ever since. I quit my job to fulfil my dream when I was young and irresponsible, without a wife and children to consider. I was living at home with my parents, so no bills to speak of - they supported/indulged me. I was enticed from my steady glassblowing job with the promise of £5 a week on the road - not a great amount, but enough nonetheless... Of course, the £5 a week never materialised, but I spent a great 5 or 6 years learning what life was like on the road sleeping on speaker cabs and bumming floors from punters for the night - I wouldn't change it for the world! Then in 1980 I was offered a gig that... blah! blah! blah! With all this experience I should be able to offer you shed-loads of advice...but, I can't! Y'know... as I type this, the only thing about your post that I'm remembering is the bit about "wife and children". I have 2 little ones (5 & 8) and I'm not sure that If I had them when I was 19 I would have made the same decisions. The kids are your biggest responsibility. Edited July 22, 2012 by SteveK Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lowdown Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 (edited) I am another when who left school and went straight into music for a living [and still doing it] It was easier then, even if you just owned a Bass you could work seven nights a week. There was gigs every where to be had. Night club and pub residencies [6 nights week] All the TV personalties had some kind of act and carried a band around with them. Theatre shows, over seas gigs hotels/Cruise ships galore/air bases/regular over seas corporate functions and of course sessions. My wife and two kids came along later in life, so i was pretty much into the groove by then. Unless you get Into shows or have a regular known name act gig, you will need a musical sideline as well, Teaching, using your computer skills like for arranging, transcriptions. working with midi files. Turning midi files into Sibelius/FInale scores for school bands and Orchestras and such like. Churning out media music for production/library companies, teaching Music tech etc. My wife who is a singer, apart from regular gigs also does voice overs and such. All this stuff adds to up to a very healthy Income for a musician. So it's not all doom and gloom as many say. Desire, skills, networking and a good thinking out of the box business brain will get you far. The more different work you do means you will meet more people, and more work situations arise because you are moving in those circles. I know a few guys on this forum who do very well out of the music business, but they have worked hard and have put a lot into it. On the other hand - If you are just wanting to do/be in an originals band, It's a much harder journey money wise. Only good experiences for me - Is it luck ? Nah, I just put in the hard work [and still do] and went for what i wanted to do. Good luck with your venture Mike 257. Garry Edited July 23, 2012 by lowdown Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dave Vader Posted July 23, 2012 Share Posted July 23, 2012 Every pro that I know teaches for the steady income. Except the pikey accordion player I met who is more of a long term unemployed claiming to be a pro musician, but we've all met them right? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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