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Thoughts on choosing to become a professional musician

Author: frank
Date: 2006-11-09 18:13

Wanting to, and becoming a professional musician is one of the most exciting, yet disappointing life choices. I don't find many posts that actually discuss the downside of choosing this path. It's disturbing how many college programs exist for performance majors. Why are universities training people in a field where their is virtually no gainfull employment? College teachers are in essence, training other's to be college teachers. This cycle continues because if said college teacher tells said student that there are NO JOBS to be had, the teacher then cuts his career short by losing students. Very select few individuals are lucky enough to land a full time playing gig. There are a lot of great players out there. What would happen if a big orchestra like Chicago folded? John Yeh is great and could win any job out there, but...are there any jobs out there for him that would be equal to or greater than what he currently has? He has a lifestyle and income that might need to be maintained. This is my point. John can't just "apply" to the Philly orchestra. Where is he going to work if there are no other openings? All this assumes he still wants a steady orchestra gig.

I am at a sad place in my music career. The future isn't bright. Actually, it never was, and hasn't been in this country for at leat 20 years. When we are young and then in college, everything is idealised. Most serious performance students dream of that orchestra, pit/studio or solo gig. Reality is that thise gigs barely exist. And...they don't pay much. It currently costs between 1100-1400k a month in San Francisco for a studio apartment. A STUDIO! I see freelance musicians in the bay area working the beat. They work 7 days a week and drive nearly all day from gig to gig. I highly doubt most clear 35k a year. That is poverty level in this area. They would literally qualify for food stamps. It's only going to get worse. Orchestras and pit work are becoming dinosaurs and museum artifacts. Classical music is a bad business to get into. There are no jobs and the pay for the majority of them is extremely low. Consider this: a San Francisco cop makes between 67k-85k a year...STARTING SALARY! You need at least a GED to qualify. How many full time orchestras pay this high? My 6+ years of college have been a waste I guess.

I am not trying to discourage anyone from playing music or trying to become a working pro. I think music is fun and love it dearly. Sadly, when my current job ends, my professional career has to end. Not by choice, but by the sheer fact that I WILL NOT get a lateral or better playing job. I can't wait to just play for fun again! yay!

My advice is to follow your passion and dreams in life. Understand that becoming a working professional musician can be a very long, frustrating, heartbreakingly difficult road. It can also be amazing to experience if you are lucky enough. Most of us wake up one day and realise that eating Ramen noodles and peanut butter sandwiches while living in a studio apartment with two other people is not an option anymore. Good luck to all of you!

Post Edited (2006-11-09 18:17)

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