| LearnJazzPiano.com archives: is this what they meant by sacrificing for your art? | |
| nate_smith -- 06/18/2007, 19:50:57 -- #35496 | |
| i've got a problem of conscience i really want to play professionally and the best advice i've been given is to just do it, but i'm working a nine to five during the summer (i go to school during the fall)and i'm so tired after work that i can't concentrate during my practice time. i've considered giving up my job and practicing full time, and looking for more gigs. now the gigs i do get are like $50 bucks a night while that is something i can't pay what little bills i have with that. my gigs are also far and few between because they conflict with my job. do i have my priorities out of order. do any of you guys have any advice on what i should do. thanks, nate | |
| Whacky -- 06/18/2007, 21:38:18 -- #35496 | |
| It doesn't sound like you are prepared to live on 50 bucks a night with gigs few and far between. Could you maybe work part-time and play part time? As you start getting more and better paying gigs, maybe you could make th leap of faith into playing full time When I was playing for a living, raising three kids, I used what I called a "reverse budget" I would calculate and evaluate my living expenses frequently, to establish a monthly quota. I would then make sure I had enough gigs or reduce my expenses. If I had extra gigs in certain months, I knew to hang onto the gold for the months with less giggage, etc... | |
| Scot -- 06/19/2007, 09:50:22 -- #35496 | |
| Hi Nate, It sounds like you're preparing for a non-musical world, maybe playing piano as a hobby. There's no problem with that, as life goes on it's less stressful to know where and when you are getting paid (such as, every two weeks a check in the mail). The thing is this: you don't choose music, music chooses you. If you want to be serious about music, it has to be a major part of your life. The decision boils down to if you really want to be a pro player or if it's going to be a hobby. As a pro player you spend 8 hours a day working music (or more). That doesn't mean practicing all the time, part of that time is hustling gigs, setting up and playing in jam sessions, rehearsing with people. Every waking minute is about preparing for a gig, going to a gig, or playing at a gig. If you're ready for that, dump your 9-5 job, pick upa part timer like Dr. Whack says, and start focusing on music. If you're not ready for that, then don't worry about it, most people when they realize what it takes don't want the stress and concern that not knowing where the next check comes from can give you. | |
| Adam1226 -- 06/19/2007, 14:08:34 -- #35496 | |
| Question-- Say that you are one of the people who has elected to enjoy piano as a hobby. How do you think that you can maximize your playing experience? All I would like to be able to do is play songs that I like from a lead sheet without having to practice the tune a million times. I'm not real concerned with how much I swing, or whether or not I can improvise, but I'd like to be able to arrange songs in a pleasant way that doesn't sound completely amateurish. -Adam | |
| jazz jasper -- 06/19/2007, 18:17:37 -- #35496 | |
| I have never done anything except music, I refused to go to college to 'learn' about a job and decided to do it instead of learn how to do it, I also refused to do a 9-5 job and made sure that I comitted to music 100% and a lot of people especially school teachers decided to write me off and say it was a waste. I now play Westend (Broadway) shows that tour round the country, but i started by getting local gigs and just commiting 100% to music. I don't know what its like in the U.S but in Britain it worked! By not having any distractions and putting myself under pressure (e.g, I HAVE to find work or ill be living on the street), I managed to pull off what everyone said would be a strain and struggle. Im 19 and I started 10 months ago and in 10 months Ive managed to establish myself as a full time pro and I'm now having to turn down work. At first its hard to find the gigs but I garuntee, if your serious enough and you have the balls to drop everything and go for it, it will pay off. If you just pour 100% into whatever you want to do - YOU CANNOT FAIL! I should really hide this formula but I tell it to everyone I meet because 99% of them won't believe it and won't out in 100%. Its a bold thing to do but if you really want to make music your job, you need to make it your job. I mean that you need to only do music, because that way your not distracted by anything else and you HAVE to get good, and you HAVE to work hard, and you HAVE to get work. Hope that helps, I just say go for it Jazz | |
| jazz jasper -- 06/19/2007, 18:19:51 -- #35496 | |
| *99% of people won't believe it and won't put in 100% | |
| jazz jasper -- 06/19/2007, 18:22:51 -- #35496 | |
| I also think that you must never put yourself in a box, you need to be able to do it all if you want to be a pro, not just jazz, but everything, classical to pop, I must say though that jazz is a great platform for all pop/modern music. Sure make jazz your specialty but you must be a jack of all trades. | |
| Whacky -- 06/20/2007, 11:22:11 -- #35496 | |
| I pretty much did what jazz jasper is doing (and is recommending) at a very young age. I made a pretty good living for about 30 years, but now I question whether I should have done it that way or not. Of course each one of us is an individual on a hopefully unique path. I think it is important to get in touch with your gut and follow it. Some of my friends who "specialized" are still going strong, because they are doing their own thing (I'm thinking) Me, I loved the variety, was proud of my versatility, and loved the money. Somehow though, I lost sight of who I am and why I originally got into music...maybe I'm just nuts?? (yes, I'm in therapy:) Bottom line, music is a gift to be explored and enjoyed - as long as you are exploring and enjoying, I don't think you can go wrong:) | |
| nate_smith -- 06/20/2007, 11:59:29 -- #35496 | |
| your right! i think that maybe part time thing maybe for me. i'm a music major in college so the summers are reserved for earning money for the school year, but i've got enough scholarship money to take care of some of that. i think that i maybe over thinking the gigging thing. i wanna teach at a college, maybe directing a jazz band or group of singers, but also i would like to play. i should practice a lot more than i do, so i need to maybe take another look at the way i spend my day. i appreciate all the advice, and i'm gonna go with my gut and just let things happen!! thanks again, nate | |
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