Like most creative professions, the life of a musician has its pros and cons. That is because most musicians decide to work part-time than making music a full-time job. This is attributed to the sporadic nature of employment in the artistic industry where the competition is high.
Advantages of Being a Musician
The good thing about being a musician is that you can enjoy what you are doing and earn an income as you follow your passion and do what you love. Also, you have an opportunity of collaborating with other artists, get new experiences, and travel across the world. In most cases, professional musicians get their salaries as either solo artists or being part of a group. Other benefits of being a musician include perfecting your craft, creating industry contracts, and making vital contributions to your artistic community.
Disadvantages of Being a Musician
However, being a musician comes with its share of challenges. For instance, the lack of a stable income and steady schedule are some of the disadvantages. Although the travel appeals to many people, being on the move has its drawbacks as you are far from your family. Moreover, musicians do not enjoy the benefits of a steadier job as such as retirement income and health insurance. It may be a serious struggle to make your ends meet when you are performing, traveling, composing, and continually marketing yourself.
Before you launch your career as a musician, you need to have a game plan. For instance, you have to consider costs that are associated with the work you do, including studio time, equipment, and production costs. Also, you will need to hire the services of sound engineers and public relations experts. Remember to factor in promotion expenses and travel expenses.
You should note that the music industry is changing because of the popularity and acceptance of digital music platforms. Although they can help you gain a large audience, they limit your earnings. When starting out, you can use them to gain more exposure.
Playing it Smart
If you have a background in business, marketing, or finance, you can increase your odds of being a creative musician. The truth is that most musicians have side education or training or professions in other areas. For instance, you can be a tutor or a band teacher, or an unrelated field of work.