Graham English Blog Archives

Musician, Author, and Entrepreneur

For Those Of You Interested In Making Money With Your Music

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I’m running a little poll to help me better serve you. If you could take just a moment to answer the following question, I’d greatly appreciate it.

If you were just beginning as a musician and wanted to make a living with your music, which of the following income opportunities would most interest you? (Check all that apply)

Teaching music
Live performance/Studio musician
Composing/Songwriting
Recording/Engineering
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About Graham English

Graham English is a musician, author, and entrepreneur.

Comments

  1. Maurits says

    Good question.
    I think you have to be very realistic in the first years of your career. So my advice would be:
    1. Teaching to earn an income that is steady every month.
    2. Live performance is very important to make the ´flight hours´in becoming a real professional. Don´t let money be an important keyfactor in doing the things you like to do.
    3. Songwriting is VERY important, for the long run. You won´t make a lot of money with it the first months/years, but it can be THE moneymaker for you if you keep on writing.
    4. Recording is something you really have to like. It´s a special craft and if you´re not the tech geek you need to be, don´t see it a your main thing for making money.
    So, my advice would be

    Make Teaching 50 percent of your income and make the rest of your income with live performance and other forms of work. And do something else beside your music making, something with which you stay with both feet in the world, a volunteer job, or something for a good cause.

  2. Marko says

    Excellent advice, Maurits. I totally agree.

    The royalties of compositions/productions are great – once they kick in. Problem is that in many cases you are paid your money for TV/radio broadcasts sometimes more than a year later.

    With developing the necessary connections and reputation for producing quality work, assume at least 3-5 years to receive any significant income that would match/replace your teaching fees.

    However, once you reach that point, your life as a musician in terms of what projects/gigs/students to take on, does become a lot easier. 🙂

  3. Lexa says

    I think that we all need to go with our hearts, comfort levels and levels of talent. Add a little reality check and/or fate to these and the mix of music style, timing and current geographical location, shake and play.

  4. David says

    Nice words from Maurits;

    Make Teaching 50 percent of your income and make the rest of your income with live performance and other forms of work. And do something else beside your music making, something with which you stay with both feet in the world, a volunteer job, or something for a good cause.

  5. Hal says

    I feel that it is necessary to be versatile in today’s music industry, particularly when getting started. All of the “income opportunities” mentioned in the survey are parts of the whole that increase your chances of success. You never know, you may even find that you enjoy a particular aspect that you had not considered palatable before. Don’t cut yourself short by thinking that you only want to do one thing.

    You also learn from each activity. For example, you will be surprised at how much you can learn from your students when you teach them and pay attention to their successes and challenges.

    Also, just because most of your income comes from one opportunity at any given time does not mean that it always will. You need to be ready to grab the next opportunity when it presents itself.

  6. Don Anderson says

    This is just a courtesy reply to your poll to indicate that I have no aspirations to make money with my music. I am learning to play just for the personal pleasure of playing alone or with a couple of friends. This is probably the case with others of my advanced age group (80’s). However, I still kick life in the slats riding my Triumph Trophy 1200 and my (very hot) Honda CBR 1100 XX, Super Blackbird…just to let you know there is still life leading up to death. The most important life lesson…show up !

  7. Tyrone says

    I’m an aspiring musician of over ten years, that plays several instruments; my love, the 5-string bass. I wanna say that all of the above comments are great, and they all covers the point. As a musician, knowing some of all and not just all of one, will cultivate you as a great musician as you grow as you learn. We can never know it all, and there’s always room for improvement.., even for the professional. If we really love the art of music, then we will dedicate what’s necessary to perfect what we do. It’s also a job. If it’s not one of the loves of our life.., the a second trade “would and will” be necessary. Big ups to you Mr. English and all the aspiring musicians of the world. Everyone do have a great day…

  8. Wendy says

    Hi Graham
    As another mature student (71yrs) I was very interested in the answers you received.
    Today’s musicians seem to have a good grasp on the situation in the music world.
    When I was growing up in England during WW2 music lessons were very low on the list of necessities, if a teacher could be found.
    In middle age I was introduced to the home organ. I found an excellent teacher and progressed into teaching, then playing in public.
    I never made a living from it but it certainly helped the family finances, with me at home bringing up two children.
    Since retiring I have kept up the interest and progressed into keyboards. I am President of a small organ club.
    I also entertain at retirement resorts, we have a ball. My husband is compare and roady.
    So you see it is not only about money, it’s about giving, receiving and sharing.
    As the old song says. LIFE IS NOTHING WITHOUT MUSIC
    Regards and good luck to you all
    Wendy

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