Why is Music such a bad career choice?

Question

Someone answered one of my other questions, and said that music is a very bad career choice, but I'll only realize this in 5 or 10 years. Why?

Answer 1

That was me who cautioned you not to go into music. My reasoning is that there are literally thousands of qualified applicants for every real good opening. This is especially true if you are a classical musician.

In my field for instance, as a clarinet player, there are maybe 200 slots in professional orchestras and most of the top spots are filled by people who be there for 10 to 20 years. The actual number of position that are available each year are no more than a handful. Meanwhile, thousands of very good clarinetists are churned out by the music schools every year.

While there are lesser jobs such as Broadway shows, cruise ships,… you should bear in mind that being a performer can be a very rough life and can evolve dealing with some not very nice people.

If all you want to do is be a band teacher then I would say go for it. But, then plan on your free time being taken up with unpaid rehearsals. Still I think music makes a better hobby than a carreer

Answer 2

Q: What's the difference between a large pizza and a musician?
A: A large pizza can feed a family of four.

Music jobs are rather scarce, and can be tenuous. The only way to be successful in the music business is to be as marketable as possible. Learn everything you can, develop many different performing skills, and be willing to specialize in something other than performing, or even something other than what you most want to do. Some may argue that what I'm describing is how to make a living in music, not how to have a successful *career* in music. If it is truly a career that you seek, then you must either really be the very best musician out there, or go into teaching. I did the latter. Good luck!

Answer 3

Music Career Choices

Answer 4

Music is not necessarily a bad career choice. It can be difficult... you have to be good and very persistent if you want to be a professional performing musician. Making it in the recording industry can be difficult too... often you have to start out from the bottom with low pay and work your way up. Teaching music is an option too... and requires a degree in music, but offers the stability of a teacher' salary... But no matter what... if you are really passionate about something, don't let anything stop you! Go for it! :-)

Answer 5

If you are talented, hard working, and committed to the industry you can make it. I'm not the most talented classical pianist out there but I have a career. I perform concerts all over the world, I teach 20 students, I'm the assistant director at a conservatory, I travel to judge music festivals. But what is the key to my success? It was ignoring everyone who said it can't be done. I work harder than any of my colleagues, I continue to study scores, and history, I connect with musicians all over the world, and I basically give my whole life to it. So where is my joy? When I perform, being on stage is the greatest thing, teaching students brings joy because I share my love with others. If you want it, you can do it. Many of my colleagues in New York City don't have a career like me, but they maybe more talented. Talent takes you so far, the rest is up to your determination and hard work. If you want to give up and quit, that's fine by me as well because it's another opportunity for me to perform. You have to be hungry and forget all the jokes people make. My career has taken me all over the United States, Canada, and Europe. All because I'm hungry! Any succesful musician will say it's the hunger that allows them to be successful.

Answer 6

Dearest Pink Carnation,

Music is a special thing...and to master it you will have to overcome your worst fears, hunger, sadness, Isolation and loneliness, mental illness and depression are very common and are real possibilities..its a real battle with yourself. Few come through shining stars...most burnout and give up on there dream.
then when you've written and sung and recorded all your material finally mastered the process of creation and music theory you realise it took 5 to 14 years to do that!
all the while questioning your sanity, because music is etheral.
and you must guard against going deaf...
then you discover you need to learn about delivery and marketing, humanities and mass media...that takes 2 to 3 years to do...then you realise you've just wasted the good part of twenty years and have nothing to show for it...your still learning Multimedia and the art of digital feeds when it dawns on you!
the new song on the radio raking in the millions is made from your voice labeled with someone elses face! you've been soldout by someone you thought you could trust? or was it something else? you lose the plot!!! and then you pull yourself together...All the while now pondering how it was done and if you'll ever know?
You've written and recorded hundreds of songs...But no ones interested because no ones heard of you...While your doppler goes platinum in over thirty one countries...And your powerless to do anything about it...you lose the plot again...Because you cant talk about it (they'll think your crazy) and pull yourself together because you need to ignore it and promote your own stuff!
you start running around, phoning and writing everyone you know!
you should have been listening through photography classes...
and acummulated a massive amount of contrived art and photography by now! And have everything archived and ready for release...
Hold back your best material for the Label that signs you
and pays you! promote and release everything else for free to create a fanbase.

the Secret to music is:
how much must you give?
before you start to get?
And how will you go when
your the only person who knows
your already famous?

PLAN AHEAD YEARS IN ADVANCE
and you'll have the ride of your life!
but don't expect a monetary living from it!
that's a secondary thing and comes with age.



MusiC is the best career in the world :)
its also the hardest!

Answer 7

Successful songwriters can make some good money. The trouble is breaking into the industry and getting noticed. You'll probably have to work another job while honing your craft and struggling to get a song or two sold. Be prepared to move to Nashville or LA Photography is getting harder with the advent of cheap and/or disposable cameras. One of the big money makers for photographers is weddings and more and more brides/grooms are skipping the expensive add-ons (where the profit is) for the basic package (five hours of work plus expenses) costing around $300 to $400. Instead, they are putting disposables on every table and asking folks to click away and send them the amateur pictures for albums.

Answer 8

Unless you plan on becoming a "rock star" or similiar there is no money being a surburban singer/musician/artist......Pub bands just pump it out every Friday/Saturday night....all for a couple of dollars each....Plus even then with a pub band you get groupies.....even if you are a classically trained musician there are many a lonely night on the road travelling with orchestra's and ensembles....etc...So why become a musician at all...Its those creative sensitive types that come asunder later in years through booze or drugs....like I said even if you are a surburban artist nobody really listens ...its like you don't matter unless you have "rockstar" mantle to your name.....this I have discovered in my 43 years on this earth....maybe...........maybe I'm wrong...but I stand corrected if I am....

Answer 9

Because you will either hit it big and be a star or just keep trying and be a starving artist forever. A lot of people learn that when they have to rely on something creative to earn money, it starts feeling less exciting and creative. Some of my coworkers at my tech company play in bands and are very happy to have a steady income and a hobby they enjoy rather than relying on their music to make money.

Answer 10

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