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Re: Fundraser for Ken Peplowski

Author: Fuzzy
Date: 2022-07-18 01:34

Dan,

I do think your question touches on an important point for some (especially the younger folks who might be evaluating clarinet performance as a primary source of income.)

There are many ways in which to earn income playing music. Some of which pay well and are packaged with retirement packages, insurance, etc., and others that pay very poorly/sporadically - and many gradations between.

I attended an adult class with one of the world's most in-demand living jazz clarinetists. One of his statements stood out to me, "You know, if my 50 year-old self could tell my 17 year-old self how things would be - I'm not sure this is the path I would have chosen. My non-music friends all appear financially set at this point in their life - more so than I am. They seem more prepared for the various health issues that arrive. I've had a great life and love doing what I'm doing - but I'm not sure I would have taken this path." (Words to this effect)

Another oft-cited jazz biography contains a snippet where the author recounts how he was flown all over the world (sometimes in first class), stayed in some of the finest hotels - performed in front of royalty and heads of state (all on the host's dime)...but back home, he had trouble finding enough money to scrape the rent together.

I think your question is valid in that it exposes one of the traps young people can get caught up in - following their dreams to the point that it causes them real discomfort or loss of independence in the later years of life.

Business sense is important in a life of music. In my opinion, working a "primary job" makes you no less of a musician - any more than being a professional musician means you're incapable of doing other things at a professional level.

If a person can gain/create a position which allows both a performance-only income, and life-long security...great! But when looking at the number of "musicians" alive today - only a very small minority achieve this.

Fuzzy
;^)>>>

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Fundraser for Ken Peplowski new

2022-07-09 03:07