JPF Home Page Forums General Messages General Message Forum Earning a Living with Music

I have no idea who here on the JPF boards are doing the same thing. I know several JPF members that don't come to the boards that do similar stuff and make a living in music.

I can't compare being a musician to being a TV anchor. One fundamental difference is that there is a finite amount of anchor slots. I'm aware it's a highly competitive field and those that get an anchor spot are likely to hold on to them as long as they can or as long as they can climb the ladder of anchor ranking [i.e. getting to bigger markets]. Music on the other hand, is not so finite. There's way more outlets and way more niches that can be filled and/or created. Someone can always come along and invent a new market/genre in music. I don't think it's the same for TV anchors.

All of my working musician friends know it's a lot of work, but are also grateful to be making a living. Additional a vast majority of them are very helpful to others. Whether it's giving advice or passing along a gig that might be right for a friend. Musicians that are open and helpful to others often get the bigger and better gigs. At least that is my anecdotal experience.

I have spoken on panels at conferences for the California Copyright Conference, SESAC Songwriter's Bootcamp, and other events. Why? Because I'm friends with people who have asked me to do so. They respect my opinions and experiences. It doesn't hurt that I'm coherent and engaging on stage. I'm happy to share my knowledge of what has and hasn't worked.

I know full well that I cannot be the be-all-end-all of music to everyone. I also know that my music is not for everyone. But my writing and production skills can allow me to do many types of music and that is something very few can do effectively. I worked my ass off to get to that level of proficiency and I'm still learning.

There are some fundamental things about the music business to applies to all those who decide to jump in. The scary thing is, so many writers/composers ignore them or don't care and may years later wonder why they're not making enough money. For as much education that's available today, to ignore these fundamental things or pass them off, is being willfully lazy or disrespectful to one's self and others in the business.

This is going to sound like a dick comment: Most of the time a big pro working musician will turn a blind eye to someone who is so willfully lazy or disrespectful because they're busy making a living. They don't have time to waste on someone not willing to learn how it works. But if one understands the game and they're not a dick about it, those same pros can be your best friend and great company.

I keep a sign in my studio that says: Don't Be A Dick. It's a good reminder to remain cool. As the JPF motto goes: We're All In This Together.

p.s. - sometimes we do things for free because we love it, or just want to be a part of it. Case in point, the JPF theme song. I was fortunate to be asked to sing one line of a verse (much like a We Are The World Kind of thing). I'll never forget JPF member Harold Payne standing in the vocal booth with me. He turned to me and said "I really loved the way you sang the line, it's so much better than what we intended." This was immediately after I got grilled by the one of the producers and asked to do it differently. It's little gems like that that keep music from being just a job. BTW - Harold is another JPF member who makes his living performing and writing, he's one of the nicest people you'll ever meet.