Is it possible to make a living on music alone anymore?

[Seizurema]

(Without necessarily playing pop, in the classical tradition, or remixing the work of others)

And how?

Discuss.

[Greenfuz]

ty segall does it

he quit his job as a cabinet maker or some shit after goodbye bread

you just gotta release three albums a year

[skullservant]

I would say it's pretty hard to do in any other form of music than what makes the charts, but I'm not going to rule it out as impossible. I've got friends that tour constantly that are making it work out

[Dr. Sherman Sticks M.D.]

LUCK. GRIND. INGENUITY.

[MEC]

...tour constantly...

[D.o.S.]

LUCK. GRIND. INGENUITY.

Pretty much.

It seems like having "desirable" merch--ala limited vinyl, etc. seems to play a big part in subsidizing the touring that'll really help you do a little bit better than breaking even.

Also, not having a band that sucks, either live or in the studio, is pretty essential, too.

And being able to dodge "life commitments" so you can tour 10 months out of the year.

[Deltaphoenix]

The other option is to become a "Promoter" and rip-off actual musicians.

[Haki]

Teaching is an option, if you combine that with a (cover) band that gets a paid gig once a week you could make rent and not starve.

[bigchiefbc]

Honestly, I would think it would be easier then it used to be. Nowadays, between direct sales on Bandcamp, spotify royalties (which are admittedly miniscule, but they're not any smaller than bands used to get for radio play royalties), and using twitter and facebook to promote your shows and merch, there are a ton of ways to make money. The problem is that it takes being tech savvy and hard work.

People forget how hard it was for bands to make it back before the Internet. You either had to know someone who knows someone, or you had to move to NY or LA and just play tons of shitty shows until you were "discovered".

[Bassus Sanguinis]

in no particular order.

Merch. Even if/when You sign a deal, don't give up the rights to Your own merch. It was "unheard of" when I first presented the idea when haggling such deal years ago, but labels have understood the reasons, and come up with compromises.

Don't be afraid of playing small gigs (regard all gigs as workdays and when it fells tiresome comparehow many workdays a year You used to do).

Try to stay away from family life and too demanding weird relationsips with needy people or anybody with attention issues. It's not necessary but it helps things a lot if You plan to not be at home by sunrise on more than one day weekly. At least think twice about GF/BF candidates without precious relationship with musicians, just how much shit are You about to take for being late from a date because You were at rehearsals - at work! Playing in a band members can be like being married to three or four other persons with busy schedules, always checking calendars and yelling each other about shit they missed.

(Addendum to precvious: buy eveybody one and make sure EVERYBODY uses their calendar. Build up an aura where rehearsals are regarded as important as public appearances and practice like hell. Try to sell the idea tto the band that it isn't good work ethics to skip even practices for pleasure. "What You mean You have birthday? Awesome, we have CD, birthday beer and a donut waiting for You, come play the rehearsals and THEN, in tow or three hourts, go back to to party with YOur family/GF/friends." Same with hang overs. Don't tolerate any of that shit to ruin schedules for others because of that, and show a good example Yourself. (that sure was hard at times but a few rough noon rehersals teach the lesson)

Also have a cover project/ party band or such that makes a little money to make up for the time offs when the rest of te band is unable to play shows for reason A, B, or C. If You have too many projects, that will blur Your focus and distract You (I had seven projects once, of which three were actually active) BUT it can also spread a word about Your main band through the other bands' members, their friends, and fans. Also, play the second set of Your own party/ classic rock/ country 'n'western/ polka songs, sell Your album at gigs.

AND try to sell Your cover band shows to big organizations, because if they're really big and just asked U2, they've probably got smaller staff events too taht You'd fit in better. Consider also spicing the show up with other performing arts. Find a good stand up comedian, dancers, mud wrestlers or shit and try working together. That shit gets noticed and get You asked to come again in the more wet company parties.

Offer to work as the soundguy at clubs You frequent, ask their soundguy straight up when he is having vacation and does he need somebody to back him up. Learn the trade from him and ask at Your own shows about everything worth knowing from the soundguys. Some turn out really talkative whne anybody cares to ask them. Same when You visit studios. Then read books, and ask people at Your gear shop.

Or work as a stage hand. Yeah, it's HARD work, but if You prove Yourself to be a good, trustworthy guy that learns quick, is always and without exception in time, turns up never drunk at work or even having bad hangover and does what ever show... You're in. Find a company /venue that doesn't rip You off, try to find better deals or work for a few, and if You actually enjoy it, consider specialising in something that not everybody does (like being a climbing rigger, a steel hand, operating the lights, being a trustworthy geet tech, or become the guy in teh crew that knows always somebody the band can rent their weird gear from).

Also, if You're good with people and explaining, try finding a few students and give lessons. Haven't done much that myself but Is there perhaps something that You know well and can teach from experience better than others? Concentrait on that and You might dodge going through the elementary basics and having to tune Your students' geets

I used to make a living for myself for a few years, before I had to start taking care of other people and I found a steady day job also.

[hiorgos]

...

[Bassus Sanguinis]

Pretty good post Bassus!

But what these "gigging musicians" do when they past certain age? I mean, all the gigs and records and living without knowing for sure your income can be done in your 20s or 30s, but I guess it has to get tough when this same musician gets older. Not to mention if he/she wants to have a family that needs an steady income.

Yep. There's that. For many it's time to look for a dayjob if they haven't got one already. I have one at the university, as a librarian, for the sheer appreciation of a steady pay, good health care paln and a paid vacation. Yes, I am a family man nowadays.

There are possible some career options mentioned above, that can be taken further. Most if not all of the tech guys, house musicians, and promotors taht work at theaters, gear/studio/rehearsal place rental, recording studios, and big venues tend to have a history of playing in the bands.

[vrom]

If age is a consideration for doing anything, you're simply too old (or too young) to do it...

My brother is a professional musician, by that I mean 100% of his income comes from music. He plays sax (and any other woodwind) with a few bands, does studio work, plays big corp gigs, does the club scene, makes albums, teaches privately and at schools, etc....

The key to being a full time musician is simply doing it full time, in all available aspects. But that's as one person, slinging skills all around. Getting a band to 'go big' is whole nuther thing...

[warwick.hoy]

be prepared to work as hard if not harder than a regular Jack off job.

[Uncle Grandfather]

Sure. If you're just starting out take any gig you can, and if you can't get gigs play open mics and laundry mats and busk etc. Its a business, so market yourself. Get gigs at weddings and etc. And get to know as many people/musicians in the local scene as possible, heads at studios, who ever books gigs at local bars/venues, owner's at local venues, people that work at local record stores. Its just networking and it can land you gigs by word of mouth. Most importantly play, always try to have a gig lined up. If you're not playing you should be networking. Also have something to sell at your shows, cassettes or 7" seem trendy now but t-shirts can make you some loot too. Start your own label to put out your own records, and record other musicians in your scene etc. always have something to release, ep, 7", records, and get distribution. how to record? get a loan from family, or go to a bank as the representative of the business(label) llc and apply for a loan. get a manager, tour in support of your records. rinse and repeat. with more exposure comes the chance of getting signed. getting signed means playing bigger shows with label mates. that leads to more opportunities which hopefully leads to more money. take that money and invest in a recording studio. eventually that can start to make money for you too, while also cutting costs when making records. that's sort of how i went about it.