Becoming a full-time musician

[JimOfferman]

I am going to switch careers from developing (game) software to being a musician full-time. I haven't fully figured out the plan yet, other than that I know the transition will have to be somewhat gradual. If I'd quit my current job tomorrow, I would run into the ground pretty quickly if only because of my mortgage, so that's not the way to go. Instead, my plan is to start monetizing my music while keeping the job and then jump ship once the dough starts rolling in earnest.

Anyone have any insights into starting up a company (which is basically what I'll be doing) while still keeping a regular job? What are the (not so obvious) pitfalls I should try to avoid?

Also, if anyone here has experience with making money from music, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

[norbert]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

I am going to switch careers from developing (game) software to being a musician full-time.

Sounds great! I'm on a similar path. For more inspiration, make sure to read Steve's latest blog articles if you haven't done so yet.

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

I haven't fully figured out the plan yet, other than that I know the transition will have to be somewhat gradual. If I'd quit my current job tomorrow, I would run into the ground pretty quickly if only because of my mortgage, so that's not the way to go. Instead, my plan is to start monetizing my music while keeping the job and then jump ship once the dough starts rolling in earnest.

Maybe you can somehow manage to cut back on your working hours? 8 hours a day is way too much distraction, not to mention that for a usual employee it might take as much as about 2 hours to start his workday after waking up in the morning and it takes at least another hour to get home and relax.

Another thing to consider is that the hours you spend at your full-time job are probably your most productive hours.

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

Anyone have any insights into starting up a company (which is basically what I'll be doing) while still keeping a regular job? What are the (not so obvious) pitfalls I should try to avoid?

I've started my company too early and back then I had almost no income so I ended up with some "tax" debt (social insurance etc). However, if you keep your job, you probably don't have to pay any taxes unless you start making money in your business.

Does it hold any benefits for a musician to start a business? I think I don't need a business to sell music. What are your plans?

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

Also, if anyone here has experience with making money from music, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Although I make music, I have not taken any steps to monetize it yet.

[NotesMaeve]

Slamhot Boy used to be a full-time musician! He actually belonged to a union and everything. After Miss Practical-Sensible (his ex wife of over a decade) convinced him to quit, I learned this much as he's gotten back into it:

You are going to get roasted, but that doesn't mean your potential growth as a musician isn't absolutely unlimited!

You just have to take a big risk as a musician and put yourself out there.

That's all I know. You'll do great, and you already have a legion of fans here!

[JimOfferman]

Hey Norbert!

Cool to hear you are on a similar path! Things are always easier when you know you are not alone.

Originally Posted by norbert

Sounds great! I'm on a similar path. For more inspiration, make sure to read Steve's latest blog articles if you haven't done so yet.

I haven't read them all yet, but I sure plan to.

Maybe you can somehow manage to cut back on your working hours? 8 hours a day is way too much distraction, not to mention that for a usual employee it might take as much as about 2 hours to start his workday after waking up in the morning and it takes at least another hour to get home and relax.

I just cannot do that right now, not without penalty. Long story short: reducing the number of work hours now means I cannot keep up the mortgage. I could sell the house, but then I'd also be giving up the very comfortable environment that enables me to make my music. I'd have more time to make music, but I am quite sure I'd be less productive in that time.

So, for now, the job - and with it the house - stays.

Another thing to consider is that the hours you spend at your full-time job are probably your most productive hours.

I'm actually far more productive when I'm making music

I've started my company too early and back then I had almost no income so I ended up with some "tax" debt (social insurance etc). However, if you keep your job, you probably don't have to pay any taxes unless you start making money in your business.

Does it hold any benefits for a musician to start a business? I think I don't need a business to sell music. What are your plans?

In The Netherlands, yes! I don't have to pay VAT on the equipment I buy and I can deduce company losses from my income taxes. I've actually been in business for almost 8 years now (the company was founded on February 29th, 2000). So far, I've only been investing in equipment and have yet to make a profit... but that has gotta change.

As for my plans, I intend to somewhat follow the footsteps of Jonathan Coulton (www.jonathancoulton.com). He garnered a bunch of attention with his "Thing A Week" project (where he released a new song every week for a whole year). I'm not going to be able to pull the same stunt, but I do like how he has built a very "personal" relationship with his fans through his blog and his embracing of fan-made materials. In my view, he is the first of the next generation of superstars and I plan to be second or third of that generation!

Although I make music, I have not taken any steps to monetize it yet.

Do you have plans to start doing that?

I have posted some of my music on cdbaby.com and through their service made it available on iTunes and a bunch of other sites. So far, I've earned the grand total of $12 selling my music. A remarkable feat, actually, considering I spent $0 on marketing!

Marketing/advertising is the one area I really need to improve...

[Brutha]

At the moment, how makes the music for the game that you are developing?
Maybe you might have a chance to make the music for the game you are developing.

What do you answer someone who asks: "What do you do for a living."
Are you able to be authentic and unique in your "pitch"?

[Lucas]

I have been in a functioning band for about 5 years. If I could go back and tell myself something it would be to build a mailing list of some sort. Email is the way to go now. Only the truest of the hardcore fans will visit your website to find out when you are playing! You want casual fans and other people to show up as well. So when you play a show, build your email list. We actually give away copies of our current record at live shows in exchange for their valid email address. While it may seem like a waste of money as opposed to selling them, we have built up an "influence" in our scene. What that translates into is more money for our gigs, because the club owners see that if we are pulling 150 people per show, it results in more food and alcohol sales, not to mention the cover charge to get in.

If you help the club owners sell more food and alcohol, you will get more per show. Once you get to a certain point of influence you can dictate your prices to play in their establishment.

Now, this isn't so much about getting into a position of power, so much as it is that in the beginning the club owners are doing you a favor. Once you build that influence you can return that favor.

[Ninja]

You could also use your current job to sell your music in that field. A game is no good without music! And there are a LOT of games out there...

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by NotesMaeve

Slamhot Boy used to be a full-time musician! He actually belonged to a union and everything. After Miss Practical-Sensible (his ex wife of over a decade) convinced him to quit, I learned this much as he's gotten back into it:

You are going to get roasted, but that doesn't mean your potential growth as a musician isn't absolutely unlimited!

You can't call yourself a musician if there isn't still some smoke coming out of your ears from the last time you got roasted. It's just part of the job

You just have to take a big risk as a musician and put yourself out there.

That's all I know. You'll do great, and you already have a legion of fans here!

I know! Which is like totally awesome!

Originally Posted by Brutha

At the moment, how makes the music for the game that you are developing?
Maybe you might have a chance to make the music for the game you are developing.

No, music for games is actually very different from what I do. I write songs with words in them to convey messages or feelings, while game music is all about influencing the player's moods by weaving intricate and mostly instrumental tapestries.

What do you answer someone who asks: "What do you do for a living."
Are you able to be authentic and unique in your "pitch"?

It's actually pretty rare for people to ask me what I do for a living, because it is already quite clear that I am a musician. I've had random people ask me at what time I would start playing in bars that had no stage area.

I am a musician like I am a Dutchman. Developing computer games, by comparison, is just a job that pays the bills. It's a fun job, but nothing more.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Lucas

I have been in a functioning band for about 5 years. If I could go back and tell myself something it would be to build a mailing list of some sort.
...
Now, this isn't so much about getting into a position of power, so much as it is that in the beginning the club owners are doing you a favor. Once you build that influence you can return that favor.

Thanks for your input Lucas! I agree, a good mailinglist is very valuable to an artist. As are a good website/blog with RSS feeds and having regular new content on sites like YouTube.

I'm not actually too concerned with live shows at the moment. I want to concentrate on creating a solid internet fanbase first and earn money through track sales and things like music placement deals with small movies or corporate videos.

Organizing concerts is actually pretty easy, once you have enough of a fanbase. Like you said, all the clubs care about is getting enough people inside so they can make a profit. Artists who sell 100+ tickets are just easy money for a lot of clubs.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Ninja

You could also use your current job to sell your music in that field. A game is no good without music! And there are a LOT of games out there...

Like I said in response to Brutha's post, that is a wildly different field from what I do. I am an apt songwriter and good live performer, but those aren't the skills that a game composer relies on. I'd love to do an end credit song for a game, though or maybe get one of my songs in, say, the next Guitar Hero. That'd be awesome!

Although, with most of my music being heavy on piano and less on guitars, I'd probably have to wait until someone develops Piano Hero...

[Brutha]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

It's actually pretty rare for people to ask me what I do for a living, because it is already quite clear that I am a musician. I've had random people ask me at what time I would start playing in bars that had no stage area.

I am a musician like I am a Dutchman. Developing computer games, by comparison, is just a job that pays the bills. It's a fun job, but nothing more.

That isn't a good answer, you aren't a musician, you are the musician that does XYZ.

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Brutha

That isn't a good answer, you aren't a musician, you are the musician that does XYZ.

Aaah, you wanted to hear my sales pitch. I haven't really finalized the wording yet, but I am using this:

"I'm a musician, a singer-songwriter. I write and perform songs about love, of course, and about how to make the most out of life and be the best you can be, which is very important to me."

[Mags]

Jim, have you ever read Christine Kane's blog (www.christinekane.com/blog)? She's a singer-songwriter, whose blog covers everything from creativity to the business side of making music to personal growth.

Interestingly, many people (like myself) found her blog via the personal growth angle, and have ended up becoming huge fans of her music!

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by Mags

Jim, have you ever read Christine Kane's blog (www.christinekane.com/blog)? She's a singer-songwriter, whose blog covers everything from creativity to the business side of making music to personal growth.

No, I hadn't found her yet. Thanks for the tip!

[webwhiting]

Hello,

Changing careers is a sacrifice. I decided to do it and I live very frugally and do not have a mortgage or a car. It all depends upon what you are willing to give up and go without. I have a friend who is a music producer and musician and he does a lot of things to bring an income in. You will want to check out NYCastings is a casting wire service providing top-quality casting to directors and producers in Film, TV, Commercials, Theatre, Print, V.O. etc. and also do a search on google "alerts" for musicians, musician, making an income full-time as a musician and do the alert for all the forums, websites, blogs and news on these topics. You will get a plethora of resources. You may also want to check this out StumbleUpon » Welcome to StumbleUpon as a resource for networking and getting you name out there.

Infodocktor

[JimOfferman]

Thanks for those very valuable tips, webwhiting! Great stuff!

I agree that switching careers requires sacrifices, but I do think you shouldn't blindly give up things left and right. I gave up the car (actually, the engine died on me), because I felt I could manage without it and not having the car would free up resources to do other things. Like buy a new computer for my studio.

The house is different. Selling the house and renting something smaller isn't going to dramatically reduce my costs, because rented space is very expensive here. And you do need some sort of roof over your head, if only to keep your equipment dry and not stolen.

I am looking at making another sacrifice, though. I'm thinking that cutting back on my work hours might actually be a very good idea. If I do that, I will need to generate some income with my music to compensate. As a result, I'll be more committed to this new path.

[cela]

Very exciting, Jim!

Reducing your work hours could be the real push that you need to make music make money for you.

A small change in circumstance might be all you need to move forward on this path.