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

So the original question is: "how many people can make their living at music?" I'd say the answer changes on a daily basis. The limiting factors include taste, fashion, the economy, social and political changes, regulations and laws, and technological advances as well as those advances' acceptance among the consumers of music.

As the thread has morphed, the question now seems to be "how does one make their living at music?" I know several people who make their livings in the music business. All of them have some amount of talent, either musical talent or a talent for communication. That's not "luck" it's a gift. "Luck" is the perception that someone often beats of the odds at anything, flipping a coin to land at heads more than tails, for example. "Luck" cannot be developed, and is merely a perception based on observation of outcome. "Gifts," in this use of the word, are talents and abilities, they can be developed and do not guarantee outcome. A lucky fisherman is the one who never fished before, threw their line in the water and caught a state record bass. A successful fisherman is one who repeatedly catches trophy bass. A successful fisherman does not rely on luck.

I've met a few lucky musicians who make a living. One-hit wonders who never got the second hit, never really had the gift for it. If, and I say if, they are successful at all later on it is because they parlayed that one hit...they used the popularity of that one hit to draw an audience and sometimes even a fan base. That takes work and a lot of it. These people are few. After all, how many people catch that big fish the first time out? The rest of the folks who make a living have taken gifts and developed them. A naturally happy or sad demeanor, a cleverness with words, an astute analysis of everyday life, a "good ear," a compelling and identifiable voice, a head for business, speed and dexterity, social skills, a love of people, and of course, drive...these and more gifts get developed and used by successful artists.

Finally, I believe there is a danger in thinking "luck" is something bestowed on some folks and not on others. If that were true, the "lucky" poker player would consistently beat the skilled one. It doesn't happen. Skilled poker players make a living off of people who believe in luck. I believe "luck" is a human concept to describe statistical anomalies. In reality, statistical anomalies are a norm. That's why roulette wheels have the two green numbers, there are great casinos built on those numbers. I believe in God and work. God gave us free will. He gave us all gifts and a purpose. It's up to us to discover that purpose and work hard to develop those gifts.