Speaking only for myself, I believe I've "made it." Two working bands, decent side hustle. At this point I can take it further with focus, work and reasonable expectations. Again, just speaking for myself. Important caveat: anything worthwhile takes WORK. Any success in music is work. And like any work, there will be times you don't want to do it. But like any other job you show up on time, prepared and you don't make excuses.
I know Terence repeats this fairly often but things like showing up on time, prepared, avoiding drama, and acting like a professional are important in this line of work. It's stuff that matters and is probably not as common as one might think these days. I have, at times, been tempted to do (or not do) things for reasons that don't really make much sense when well thought out. And even just yesterday, I was asking myself what the "professional" way to handle a certain situation was. It's not that I didn't know. But I kinda had to talk sternly to myself to act on principles, not on feelings. I'm glad I did follow through with the principles. There were good connections made there that I'd have missed otherwise. Will they go somewhere in the future? I don't know. But I do know they never would if I'd not gone. Kinda like planting seeds in my garden. If I plant them, some will come up, not all, but some. If I never plant them, I know how many will come up, none.
...very wise, my friend, you're very wise... ...thank a lot for your words, they were needed!!! ...indeed... ...and warm greetings from Santiago de Chile, Downtown, Spring everywhere!! 💖🎵🎤🎵💖
I'm 57 and have enjoyed music as a hobby - sometimes playing live (including church services) 40+ times a year. I've been in IT since before y2k so my remote day job has been instrumental in funding the music hobby. At one point right after high school (Class of 86') my 2 bandmates at the time and I actually scraped up the money to record a demo of 8 or 9 of our original songs. I don't think we ever heard anything back from any of the places we sent it. Oddly, I think we were all relieved since it turned out it wasn't our dreams to go that direction - kind of a "clarifying" moment.
I needed to hear this encouragement today man. For all the gains I feel I have made, especially this year, I still feel stuck most all the time. Kind of in a rut myself today. Glad I watched this!
I did ditch my music dreams for 19 years to better provide for my family... I was a professional in my 20's, hung it up in my early 30's, and came back to the music world at 49/50... In retrospect, I can see how I could have kept music as a side-gig, but I couldn't see it at the time. You are never too old to get back into it, or change your mind if you do hang it up. It's still out there and you still have skills... just knock off the rust and get back to work.
I agreed giving up is a big mistake just persevere in what you are doing and one day you will achieved to live your dreams as a musician. Learn as much as you can while you are playing with other musicians and be humble to learn from someone better than you. I still learning from others in You tube to improve my musician skills and hope one day be able to teach others about it. Never give up and try harder each time you fail. One day you will break all the surrounding wall barriers and go where you want to go. Thanks for sharing should you pursue or give it all up. The choices you make today will determine tomorrow future what you really want to do in life.
I agree 99%. Esp about the "pain of having given up being greater than that of trying". That is how I kept going. The 1% where I have reservations is that you are "making it" (or making a coin from ra ra vids) so it seems easy to say "Keep at it, son". Some of us have plugged away for decades; whenever it seems there is a winning door opening, it slams shut and a day job is the only door open. What if there really are people for whom music will never "happen" in any way? And if so, should they bail totally, do it as a hobby, keep plugging away as if their ship can come in??? No doubt that is a personal Q&A :-)
Certainly things to think about. Some people won't make it in ANY business venture on their own. Someone might say the same thing about something like market gardening. There will be a few who will try to encourage you and let you know that you can make a living doing it. And there will be a whole lot of people who tell you you can't. Who's right? Pick almost any business out there and someone is making serious coin and someone is losing their shirt. Same business. What makes one successful and the other fail? Lots of factors involved, some of which aren't universal. For instance, playing jazz in a location where jazz is really not much appreciated is probably not the best location to try to make a successful income playing jazz. I am capable of something like a paid church position if I wanted it. I don't enjoy the music I'd have to play so don't pursue that.
In my 40 yrs of being a music man, this biz has always been tough.. I could always handle all the obsticles with drive and a positive attitude. I have always been the one saying... "1% is still a good chance" lol But...How do you stay driven in a failing world where it seems not just "almost impossible" but not a chance in hell?? Seems the reality of keeping a career in music going is circling the drain... Please Dear God, someone prove me wrong.
At the extreme top levels, maybe... but the vast majority ofthe music business are small timers who just play on their local scene. Very few devils there. Jerks and A-holes? Yeah... but very few of who you're talking about.
![YoungBoy Never Broke Again - Missing Everything [Official Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/dTYeMZGzOzw/mqdefault.jpg)
I needed that cauz I'm still pushing,
There are people who have lucrative careers unrelated to music and also do music.
Man your content is worth thousands of dollars and you give it out for free. It is well appreciated. Thats love man
Needed to hear this! Just started pursuing my music dreams at 27! And got my first song coming out next week! Never give up on your dreams
Speaking only for myself, I believe I've "made it."
Two working bands, decent side hustle. At this point I can take it further with focus, work and reasonable expectations.
Again, just speaking for myself.
Important caveat: anything worthwhile takes WORK. Any success in music is work. And like any work, there will be times you don't want to do it. But like any other job you show up on time, prepared and you don't make excuses.
I know Terence repeats this fairly often but things like showing up on time, prepared, avoiding drama, and acting like a professional are important in this line of work. It's stuff that matters and is probably not as common as one might think these days.
I have, at times, been tempted to do (or not do) things for reasons that don't really make much sense when well thought out. And even just yesterday, I was asking myself what the "professional" way to handle a certain situation was. It's not that I didn't know. But I kinda had to talk sternly to myself to act on principles, not on feelings. I'm glad I did follow through with the principles. There were good connections made there that I'd have missed otherwise. Will they go somewhere in the future? I don't know. But I do know they never would if I'd not gone.
Kinda like planting seeds in my garden. If I plant them, some will come up, not all, but some. If I never plant them, I know how many will come up, none.
@briantrout7051
We're on the same frequency.
Such a great video man!
...very wise, my friend, you're very wise...
...thank a lot for your words, they were needed!!!
...indeed...
...and warm greetings from Santiago de Chile, Downtown, Spring everywhere!!
💖🎵🎤🎵💖
I'm 57 and have enjoyed music as a hobby - sometimes playing live (including church services) 40+ times a year. I've been in IT since before y2k so my remote day job has been instrumental in funding the music hobby.
At one point right after high school (Class of 86') my 2 bandmates at the time and I actually scraped up the money to record a demo of 8 or 9 of our original songs. I don't think we ever heard anything back from any of the places we sent it. Oddly, I think we were all relieved since it turned out it wasn't our dreams to go that direction - kind of a "clarifying" moment.
I needed to hear this encouragement today man. For all the gains I feel I have made, especially this year, I still feel stuck most all the time. Kind of in a rut myself today. Glad I watched this!
I did ditch my music dreams for 19 years to better provide for my family... I was a professional in my 20's, hung it up in my early 30's, and came back to the music world at 49/50... In retrospect, I can see how I could have kept music as a side-gig, but I couldn't see it at the time. You are never too old to get back into it, or change your mind if you do hang it up. It's still out there and you still have skills... just knock off the rust and get back to work.
I agreed giving up is a big mistake just persevere in what you are doing and one day you will achieved to live your dreams as a musician. Learn as much as you can while you are playing with other musicians and be humble to learn from someone better than you. I still learning from others in You tube to improve my musician skills and hope one day be able to teach others about it. Never give up and try harder each time you fail. One day you will break all the surrounding wall barriers and go where you want to go. Thanks for sharing should you pursue or give it all up. The choices you make today will determine tomorrow future what you really want to do in life.
thank you!
I agree 99%. Esp about the "pain of having given up being greater than that of trying". That is how I kept going.
The 1% where I have reservations is that you are "making it" (or making a coin from ra ra vids) so it seems easy to say "Keep at it, son".
Some of us have plugged away for decades; whenever it seems there is a winning door opening, it slams shut and a day job is the only door open. What if there really are people for whom music will never "happen" in any way? And if so, should they bail totally, do it as a hobby, keep plugging away as if their ship can come in??? No doubt that is a personal Q&A
:-)
Certainly things to think about. Some people won't make it in ANY business venture on their own. Someone might say the same thing about something like market gardening. There will be a few who will try to encourage you and let you know that you can make a living doing it. And there will be a whole lot of people who tell you you can't. Who's right?
Pick almost any business out there and someone is making serious coin and someone is losing their shirt. Same business. What makes one successful and the other fail? Lots of factors involved, some of which aren't universal. For instance, playing jazz in a location where jazz is really not much appreciated is probably not the best location to try to make a successful income playing jazz. I am capable of something like a paid church position if I wanted it. I don't enjoy the music I'd have to play so don't pursue that.
In my 40 yrs of being a music man, this biz has always been tough.. I could always handle all the obsticles with drive and a positive attitude. I have always been the one saying... "1% is still a good chance" lol
But...How do you stay driven in a failing world where it seems not just "almost impossible" but not a chance in hell?? Seems the reality of keeping a career in music going is circling the drain... Please Dear God, someone prove me wrong.
Is there a cut off age for following your dreams?
The music business is run by devils...
At the extreme top levels, maybe... but the vast majority ofthe music business are small timers who just play on their local scene. Very few devils there. Jerks and A-holes? Yeah... but very few of who you're talking about.
I needed that cauz I'm still pushing,