The Real Truth About Making Money as a Musician

[@FoolishFrankie]

Really good video man. The end especially hit home about how much work being an artist alone takes and then adding on all the other jobs of running a business.

[@fueledbykyle]

Thanks for this! My career has fizzled down to 0 since Covid and I’ve been struggling to find ways to remind people I still exist. This video is motivating, thank you. 🙏

[@Retrobrio]

A few lessons I learned early on in my music career (keyboard/voice) were: always have the best gear you can afford (iow: don't let chincy gear detract from your hard work shedding your axe); always be a great person to work with i.e. friendly reliable punctual etc...; and lastly, never undersell yourself - command what your worth - there will always be cheap folks who try and pay you too little. Yes, you may have to pass on some gigs, but not only is it a long-term winning strategy, you're also setting a market standard for the rest of the pro musicians plying their trade.

[@Bubba-zu6yr]

Press kit was genius! Every little bit helps… you got to kiss a lot of frogs, lol. Personally, I studied Jazz Ped then theory & comp in grad school. Just finished a long Broadway show pit run. I teach, and have a small music store/instrument support and repair/Ed. studio. In my 40+yr experience being malleable is probably the most important thing. Rarely turn your nose up at an opportunity (whether you think it’s cool or not). I wasn’t a big country music fan but not long out of school an opportunity popped up for a vocalist/guitarist that could read next thing I new I had several Grand Ole Opry appearances under my belt. You just never know. In a nutshell, being overly selective can have future consequences… It’s truly hard to ‘pick a lane’ when it comes to making a living off something like music but very doable, we just need an open mind and chops. Great stuff and thanks!✌️❤️

[@TheTeeProd]

I think in these discussions people never discuss the skill needed. Jeff, when you say "Musician" , there is a vast contrast between a Berklee graduate who has 10 years prior experience and someone who has 5 years of experience , and when i say experience i mean instrument+ear training. You showed in the video that you are a versatile musician that can play an instrument and compose AND be a businessman, most people find it hard just doing instrument and ear training. The money issue is irrelevant before you test your musical skills, the higher you are on the echelon the higher possilities you can do a lot of jobs...

[@stevenpietrusza6944]

i do about 90k a year right now in ORlando teaching and gigging im 28 been playing for just 6 years life is good

[@ata5855]

need a guitarist? lol

[@dikranaivazian2671]

Thank you for sharing your career/life path! Really interesting and I admire what you've done. Because of my lifelong passion for music, I had dreamed of pursuing a music career when I was young - but I also had a passion for science and ended up taking that route instead. It's turned out great but I've always wondered what the other path would have been like. I really admire anyone who had that strength, passion and practical/business sense for how to make music a career while also leading a life with adult responsibilities.Thanks also for your lessons, they're really great - super informative, clear, and helpful.

[@mr.nobody2244]

Interesting. The business part is the main reason why i will never make music professionally. Soulcrushing.

[@marcandrelegermusic]

Wow Jeff, great advice. All stuff I had to learn from experience. A loooot of experience lol! I hope starting pros listen, they could save a lot of time and lessen some anxiety for sure!

[@selliantuttimusi6735]

Amazing content man!

[@ralfbettker-cuza7432]

"Cold acquisition" of "customers" or in your case gig providers and companies is a crucial step if you want to build up any career as a self-employed person. I did the same thing as an Occuptaional Health Doctor - I needed companies that would be my customers and pay me and I had to start from scratch. In my case, just as in yours I suppose, it meant contacting 100 companies to get 10 contracts (or as a musician go to 100 bars and restaurants to get 10 stable venues to perform). It's just what you HAVE to do. The world ain't waiting for us. It's a necessary hassle, so the earlier one gets acquainted with it the better.

[@jayswizzle57]

Wish I could just practice and create all day and people would just offer me gigs. I am so not cut out for trying to sell myself.

[@joesauvage1165]

This was great and heart fully received! Thanks for your great content and love of your art and for your teaching passion. Best wishes always!

[@seanmarshallmusic]

Thanks Jeff, for inspiring me (and reminding me) to stay top of line in my own musical pursuit.

[@Ricky-er4ws]

Hey man I just watched your video on the making money making music. First I d like to say nice work on your music and your approach to making it work Very inspirational and inspiring to hear your story. The phrase “ top of mind “. That’s a great way to describe the the energy and the way you do your work that’s really inspiring to see. That lacks as you know these days with all of us as individuals. I hope that you have a great continuous growth in your career as a writer teacher and musician but most of all a person who also gives back to those who take off from there. Well done Many regards Ricky G. Oregon

[@JoshWalshMusic]

Great video Jeff. So much similarity in our stories. Really enjoy being in this jazz education KZbin creator space with you. Cheers dude.

[@Tmidiman]

Thanks Jeff. Great information.

[@marioguarini]

beautiful the press kit i also have mine of that time

[@atomicsquirrel9304]

Great bass player!

[@superjazzman100]

Jeff! You Nailed it!

[@simonkilcoyne4027]

Great content as always 👍🏻

[@jejuislandtrekker8113]

Good Stuff! My ultimate challage. Definitely not impossible.

[@gib321]

Happy to be a hobbyists and to be able just to enjoy it. Being a professional musician is a tough gig if you'll excuse the pun and I respect the work and dedication that goes into it.

[@jimkangas4176]

Up to you of course. But I started playing out in my 40's (guitar) although I had played as a teenager. I was really just a hobbyist, but did a gig at a music store/school with a few people and I ended up fronting a band. Of course, we didn't make much money and the gigs weren't frequent. After a few years I went out with just another guitarist and a bass player in restaurants. Then, for about 10+ years, I played in restaurants with just a bass player, typically once a week. For me, this was being a hobbyist/semiprofessional musician in addition to my day gig (software engineer). I want to get back into as a solo performer now (I live elsewhere), but you can make anything you want of it. Supporting a family solely through music though, is not easy.

[@genuinefreewilly5706]

As I see it there is a hungry appetite for music as there is an ever growing number of content creators on various digital platforms. I frankly had no idea 3 months ago There are stats on this, and intensely proud new content creators. I really believed the market for original music was saturated. I no longer think that is the case If one can compose, arrange, mix and master your own music and stick it on a particular platform, it will find a home. Will you make coin? Probably not. Not yet.

[@Hulloder]

Do you think I need a music degree to try and make money on music? I am a bass player. I’m passionate but I don’t have a degree, or a huge amount of experience with paid work. But I want to start. I’m in my 30s now.

[@erictheredone]

Sadly the “talk” resulted in me spending the rest of my life waiting to be able to just play music.

[@iliasververis5024]

Can you explain?

[@javierrodriguez4218]

I guess he took another path and es constantly wishing to play music?

[@joyfulfrequencies5391]

Regardless of how hard it is to earn enough money from music nowadays, Musicians needs to think out of the boundaries to create different fusions and all sorts of the generous universal wideness of it. it's a global language, we need fluency..

[@nathang4682]

I thought I was about to hear a Skillshare transition when you started talking about how there are so many resources to learn how to run a business lol...another way to make money, yt sponsorships!

[@ThePerformingArtsInstitute]

Music is a business like any other. If we approach it as such, we won’t starve. Other professionals who have their own business treat it as such. Musicians for some strange reason focus on the art and negate everything else. That’s why we have so many starving artists. A lot of them play for free in exchange for “exposure” even after YEARS of practice. Imagine a doctor or lawyer being asked to work for exposure? We have to change that narrative and stop playing for chump change

[@tjwtrumpet]

Jeff love the videos! A few days ago one of your videos came up on my youtube that talked about playing a melodic minor scale 1/2 step above a dominant 7th chord,. I can't find that video. Would you please toss me to link to it? Appreciate all the help keep doing great videos!

[@jonnuanez7183]

In the 90s when Grunge was king, no one "sold out", man, cause that meant you were giving it away to The Man. The Godfathers of Grunge like Neil Young, etc, never sold out-so we're not gonna either. Of course, Neil Young in the 90's had already been a legend since his career began more or less. The Grateful Dead were multi millionaires touring the world in comfortable buses and planes. And lots of bands, the ones that lasted past the 90s or were supernovas, signed to major labels (Pearl Jam, Nirvana). Eddie Vedder and Tom Morello are each worth 9 figures. No, it doesn't mean that Charmin toilet paper has to sponsor your tour. But money is nothing to be ashamed of. You can't progress in life if you're not able to.

[@sandyshore18]

Who was the family friend? Michael?

[@hugovandermeer1566]

The real truth is.... You can't!

[@bobbachelor5930]

Strange, when Black parents have "The Talk" with their children, it's not about career options. It's about surviving encounters with police.

[@amj.composer]

Damn.... hit hard ngl

[@factchecker6674]

Not here for your toxic obsession with racism into a conversation about music careers!

[@bobbachelor5930]

​@@factchecker6674 Don't give a rats ass what you're "here for". Just because you live in myopic world, doesn't mean I have to !

[@TxmmyBeats]

You’re a real one Jeff! 🫡

[@michaelstevens8]

Hello from Kansas City, Missouri. Great Video as always Jeff. There have been many changes in the Music Industry over the past 20 years or so, post Napster. On the one hand there are fewer Jazz Clubs and Labels. Also fewer Live Venues in general Post Covid. On the other hand there is a whole new group of Opportunities because of things like the Internet, Websites and Social Media. You have to be a combination Musician and your own Director of Marketing. For anyone that's interested, please check out Making Money With Music by Randy Chertkow and Jason Feehan. Thanks.

[@Divyv520]

Hey jeff , really nice video ! I was wondering if I could help you with more Quality Editing in your videos and also make a highly engaging Thumbnail and also help you with the overall youtube strategy and growth ! Pls let me know what do you think ?