The Business of Music

What is new in the world of music for me?

New music to play. New shows to play. New people to show music to. New audiences?

My time is busy with 2 jobs, volunteering, and a training schedule (5 days a week). I want to play music for "fun" and record a few ideas I have, but the time it takes to set it all up and do it takes away from rehearsing for jobs and family obligations. Should this be a warning to younger up and coming musicians to "not get involved with others"?

No. I believe time can be managed and priorities can change and fluctuate with the circumstances. I have time off coming, and I will use that time wisely. I have to set goals and accomplish them. I need to use the support of others to help me-- there is only so much time in the day. The good thing is that I am not looking for only myself to shine, but for others to shine as well. I can be creative, but honestly, I am at the point in my life when I don't feel I need to prove myself with everything I do. Yes, I kill it in the gym and on various stages, but supporting others looks better on me. I would rather now help carry a group of hard working people than be a solo artist trying to outperform others and rake in all the cash. I have been there, and the struggle to be the "one" is not worth it (especially in Maine). Digitally, you can have a website, sell your music on Bandcamp, plug yourself through social media and other avenues, and market yourself in various forms. Yet, keeping up with this is tedious. In EOS, we are lucky to have a dedicated few doing this for us, and I for one, appreciate them (there's a plug to one of my readers)! It is hard to juggle your own professional life, but juggling many lives with various schedules is harder. It is easier to do it with less people, but more people always looks better.

I once played 3 keyboards in a band-- my hands were always on 2 different keyboards. I worked hard to make a huge sound and it paid off. I couldn't stop the drama happening between the singers though, and that band folded. I put in the work to carry the band (I made that sound), but another variable came into play to shatter that career. I know people are fickle, but I still don't give up on them. It is tempting though...

You know what keeps me in this mess of a partial music career? Dreams. I want others to see their dreams become reality, and I want to be more financially secure while doing so. I don't need to be greedy. I want to build bridges and not burn them down. I will have to deal with immaturity and life changes around the people in my somewhat circle, but I will face those challenges when they happen. Most of the adults I know have the decency to remove themselves from situations before they become toxic. Just like cells in your body will commit suicide to save the group, so should troubled adults remove themselves from situations where they will only harm others. Sometimes you need to skip a few measures in the music to keep from sounding wrong. Things happen! I will get what I need to get done under the radar until favorable conditions provide me an impetus to rise.

The business of music is perseverance. If you can creatively play it with ease, then your stress should only come from time management and human relations. For the new musicians, study human relations and dealing with various personalities. Play your role and help others in theirs. We are all counselors in a band working on each other's issues. The music will happen eventually.