The Music Biz in the 21st Century
Posted on December 28, 2009 with 0 comments
Well now, this could be a dissertation or just a quick blog, but here goes! I do a lot of thinking about the business. Mostly I think about how to make it work for me, how to increase the frequency of gigs and of musically satisfying experiences. Things have changed over the 31 years since my first paying gig. That was a private party in Mill Valley, trio with saxophonist Scott Barnhill & bassist Steve Weber. We made $20 each. In 1978, for teenagers, that was quite good. Today while my gigs pay more, it doesn't add up to a whole lot more once you adjust for inflation. But the money is not - cannot be the primary concern for a jazz musician. I do this because I love it, and because I feel drawn to do it. I still feel there's a lot I want to "say" through music.
So do I make a living being a jazz musician? I make a life. I feel very fortunate to be able to make music & work with a number of extremely talented artists. The time we live in - and the place, San Francisco Bay Area - have quite a large effect on the business of the Music Biz in the 21st Century. Fewer places to play, & pay scale has gone down due to the economy. What to do? I practice, compose, troll the net for work, and stay positive.
Lessons Learned I Hope Help Fellow Musical Artists:
• Nothing replaces being the best at your craft. If you can't be the best, get as close as you can. Be one of the best. Practice a lot.
• Establish a bottom line pay scale for yourself. Don't sell yourself short. Remember, you can always lower the amount you need for a gig, you can never raise it.
• If the pay is low but the situation is too cool to say no to, go for it!
• Every gig has something worthwhile in it for you. Every single one. To paraphrase my high school drama teacher, Dan Caldwell: "There are no small gigs, only small musicians."
• Never talk money on the gig. If you said yes to the person hiring you, say thanks when you get paid. (The few times I've broken this rule I've come to regret it.)
• The net has offered great opportunity for networking, connecting worldwide, take advantage of it.
• Once you say yes to the gig, play your best, regardless of the situation or how many people are listening. Pay respect to your fellow performers that way, and to the music itself.
So what do you think?
So do I make a living being a jazz musician? I make a life. I feel very fortunate to be able to make music & work with a number of extremely talented artists. The time we live in - and the place, San Francisco Bay Area - have quite a large effect on the business of the Music Biz in the 21st Century. Fewer places to play, & pay scale has gone down due to the economy. What to do? I practice, compose, troll the net for work, and stay positive.
Lessons Learned I Hope Help Fellow Musical Artists:
• Nothing replaces being the best at your craft. If you can't be the best, get as close as you can. Be one of the best. Practice a lot.
• Establish a bottom line pay scale for yourself. Don't sell yourself short. Remember, you can always lower the amount you need for a gig, you can never raise it.
• If the pay is low but the situation is too cool to say no to, go for it!
• Every gig has something worthwhile in it for you. Every single one. To paraphrase my high school drama teacher, Dan Caldwell: "There are no small gigs, only small musicians."
• Never talk money on the gig. If you said yes to the person hiring you, say thanks when you get paid. (The few times I've broken this rule I've come to regret it.)
• The net has offered great opportunity for networking, connecting worldwide, take advantage of it.
• Once you say yes to the gig, play your best, regardless of the situation or how many people are listening. Pay respect to your fellow performers that way, and to the music itself.
So what do you think?