After a heated debate on the "selling out or cashing in" topic, it made me start to wonder what everyone does?
I work for an inbound call centre 9-5 at the moment, and they say i can read or play on the net to take up the rest of the time, but what does everyone else do?
With the undefined selling out or cashing in, is anyone here a full time musician living off their craft, and what does everyone else do to allow them time to write in here? How does everyone pay their rent, and how do you fit music into your life? And in saying that, if a company offered to pay you to write/sing/perform music as a living, would you take it up or decline it seeing as that could possibly be considered "selling out"?
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I work in IT... desktop support 9-5. I ...
I work in IT... desktop support 9-5. I have an internet computer on my desk, and my bosses are all in a different building. I just finished watching the Wedding Singer. We aren't very busy. Gives me plenty of money and very little stress.
And I can leave the job at work. As soon as I leave work in the afternoon I am a musician. I live with musicians and I am very good friends with all of my band members (I am lucky enough to have 12 excellent people that I get to play all different kinds of music with.) I practice with these people all the time, and play gigs and record stuff. Basically, I don't fit music in... I fit work in, and music is what I do.
I aren't concerned with selling out... music for me is about having fun. But if someone wants to give me money for having fun, them I am down with that. It really is that simple.
A man after my own heart. I love music ...
A man after my own heart. I love music too, and if people want to pay me to do the thing i love doing the most in the world,,, great!
I unfortunately don't hang around with a lot of muso's, my ex and flatmates were muso's, but aside from that not much. I'm trying to hook up with some mates from high school who used to play and were great. I love live music. :o) Especially when i'm a part of it!
I workfulltime as a Graphic Designer ...
I workfulltime as a Graphic Designer for the Public Sector. Between 9-5, I mostly sit at a computer, or I'm cutting paper up. making mechanicals or mock-ups for various clients. Sometimes I get to use the company dig-camera...... But like Eddie said, I fit work around music. Once I walk out the revolving doors, I too am a musician again, but this even occurs when I take the bus to work in the mornings. I constantly have beats and melodies in my head that quite often make my day much quicker.
I have many friends similiar in my situation. My day time job pays the bills, drum hardware, and my 2 week trip over to Japan. I cannot complain. I am in a position where I love what I do at work, but most importantly can help to think that what I'd really like to do is play with my band fulltime.
About 8 years ago, I studided for a degree in Garphic design, got my degree, got a scholarship to do my honours. I decided to quit and move to Wellington. I wouldn't be here today if I hadn;t done that!
I design my bands promo material and website material. These are the aspect I love about being a graphic designer in a well established Wellington Band.
Wow! Why did you go to Japan? Was it ...
Wow! Why did you go to Japan? Was it for a music related trip?
I really set this question up to see how many people in nzmusic.com land are actually performing. I guess for me it's inspirational to see how many people are in it. And everyone's different ways of getting there.
Sounds like a bloody good idea being able to do covers and stuff - if i ever start making my own.... i know where you are now! :o)
Yea...Full-time Musician here....
Yea...Full-time Musician here.
How do you pay the rent and feed ...
How do you pay the rent and feed yourself? And because you actually earn money from yoru "art" do you consider yourself a sellout?
I'm asking this in a totally non-defensive way, i'm just trying to acertain what some of the general thoughts are on the term "sell-out".
// How do you pay the rent and feed ...
// How do you pay the rent and feed yourself?
its called "unemployment benefit" or "musicians benefit" which is the same thing, really.
Unemployment benefit... and what about ...
Unemployment benefit... and what about those of us who were dumb enough to start working when we left high school... i have to wait 26 weeks or something dumb before i can get it!
great for those already on it, but not for me.... any other suggestions?
errr....... sickness benefit? haha...
errr....... sickness benefit?
haha
Cute prozaco, cute..... any MORE ...
Cute prozaco, cute.....
any MORE suggestions? I'm open....
Even better...Mom & Dad!!...he he...
Even better...Mom & Dad!!...he he
nearly Full time muso, AND full ...
nearly Full time muso,
AND full time office bitch.
hmmm, never really hit me untill now. where the hell is all my money?
Yea hate that feeling... get to the end ...
Yea hate that feeling... get to the end of the week...." ok, who ate all my money?".
:o) What does "nearly full time musician" mean? You're waiting for more money to do it full time and keep paying bills? or you dont have enough gigs? Sounds like you do gigs... when's your next one - any in auckland?
farking bums who steal my money (taxes) ...
farking bums who steal my money (taxes) get a real job!!! I am a civil engineering student who wants to build things that don't fall over. Of course i also dream of making some metal and rock n roll music in the future. My fav aspect is singing, then guitaring.
Yea, i love singing too. I'm doing my ...
Yea, i love singing too. I'm doing my real estate papers at the moment so i can work as a PA for a family friend who is at the top of her game in the industry. Im also thinking of doing this course, so it might work well to work part time for her, and music the rest of the time.
Do you play anywhere?
thats it, nz muso and kittenslayer have ...
thats it, nz muso and kittenslayer have to get together...then form a band.
Ralphie that could be dangerous... i ...
Ralphie that could be dangerous... i actually have a kitten..... though she tries to eat me when i dont' feed her... i could let her starve for a few days then introduce the two.....
hmmmm....aaggghhh....yeah, whatever....
hmmmm....aaggghhh....yeah, whatever.
Ralphie, see below, there's a name for ...
Ralphie, see below, there's a name for our band and all now!
:oP
how great!...
how great!
Ok, now i KNOW you're just being ...
Ok, now i KNOW you're just being sarcastic... i wish i could see all the people's reactions to posts and stuff, i think it would be really hard case.
:oP I love you too ralphie.... :oX
lets just say that most weeks i should ...
lets just say that most weeks i should have every night either rehersing or playing
...not that i get paid for my labour. but you have to pay for recording somehow or other, so im happy to not be paid if it means i get to reccord/travel/make videos/etc for free
next gig on friday at kings arms.
[ http://www.thewbc.com ]
//*farking bums who steal my money ...
//*farking bums who steal my money (taxes) get a real job!!!*//
Kittenslayer, if you really want to confront the people who take your hard-earned cash and fritter it away on unecessary expenses, I recommend heading to Wellington and setting up camp outside the Beehive. Our esteemed leaders have recently seen fit to give themselves yet another raise. Oh, and they've taken to referring to MP's 'perks' as 'entitlements'. Poor buggers. It must be unbearably stressful to have to shout at each other all day in exchange for fat wads of cash.
Stop wanking on about taxes, ...
Stop wanking on about taxes, kittenslayer.
You paying taxes would mean you were old enough to get a job. And even if you ARE 15, you're just demonstrating that you're too fucking slow to realise that with the $6.50/hr Foodtown job you have, you don't earn enough for the Government to keep your PAYE tax. It's called a tax return. Try it sometime.
Law Student + Part time work + Musician ...
Law Student + Part time work + Musician - i dont care if i get paid for gigs - as long as im playin em.
However fame and world dominance would be nice - but not in a robbie williams kinda way - i prefer the Perfect Circle/ slash TOOL approach where its real reclusive. No compromises on what i write kinda thing.
I find that gigging lots balances out study with Law - I wanna use the degree to start a record company...
oh and then theres my other life as an LSD dealer...
[ http://www.acidjack.co.nz ]
Guessed the lsd thing from the name... ...
Guessed the lsd thing from the name... :o) hehe
Sounds good. Glad i'm not the only one up for world domination. We shoudl get a band together with everyone who wants world domination - great for enthusiasm!
We could call it "the dominators" and ...
We could call it "the dominators" and all speak with russian accents...
[ http://www.acidjack.co.nz ]
I love it - so where is everyone from? ...
I love it - so where is everyone from? We might need to set up some kind of link to practice... or you could all move to auckland..... :o) hehe
i teach music- & i play- i like both- ...
i teach music- & i play- i like both- get money for the 1st
Sounds really good. I wish i could ...
Sounds really good. I wish i could teach music. Would be a great way to be doing it all the time.
what exactly do you do dan? like give ...
what exactly do you do dan?
like give lessons?
or teach in a classroom?
hod music at onehunga high school...
hod music at onehunga high school
I do the morning fill at Pak n' Slave, ...
I do the morning fill at Pak n' Slave, 5-9 6 days week, pay is shitie but better than dole.
I'm in a cover band but we haven't had many gig lately, I haven't been enjoying it that much anyway.
I would like to get in a rock band that play their own music (similar to SoundGarden, Qotsa, Foo Fighters etc) but most people here want to play nu-metal or death metal.
If nothing is happening by the end of the year I might consider moving.
Come joing our band we're forming to ...
Come joing our band we're forming to take over the world "the denominators" or somethign similar... see above.... :o)
I work as a chef for a diner in the ...
I work as a chef for a diner in the mornings till about 12 monday to friday... I play in a covers band as a guitarist.. although yesterday i brought my first PA system (and it fucking kicks ass) so i will be doing some origionals and taking over the singing
Sounds great. Nice to hear that people ...
Sounds great. Nice to hear that people are slowly progressing on their dreams. Keeps dreams alive when you keep getting one step closer! Well done, i can't wait to come and hear you!
i work on the weekend selling paint and ...
i work on the weekend selling paint and painting accessories to unsuspecting victims. . . in the uni holidays i sometimes work in a lab for the same company i sell paint for. . . my mum pays me for driving my little sister to swimming training sometimes.. . . ..
i don't really make any cash from music yet. .. but we'll see . . .
i don't think it's 'selling out' if you get money for doing something you love .. . perhaps if you make major changes in your sound or philosophies to try and get more cash .. that could be considered 'selling out' .. . but who really cares......
[ http://www.mp3.com.au/grusome ]
I think it's a really good answer... ...
I think it's a really good answer... and arn't you sweet taking your sis to swimming! :oX
I'm studying TV/Film and Radio ...
I'm studying TV/Film and Radio fulltime.
I manage a band, and play guitar, but don't play in my own band or anything. So I'm surrounded by music, and don't get payed anything. Ever.
How do you manage a band? I mean, not ...
How do you manage a band? I mean, not litterally, but why manage a band, and not be in it? Just cos you have the contacts or something?
I'm too shy to actually get on stage ...
I'm too shy to actually get on stage and perform, but I'm rather good at talking to people who "matter". I guess.
[ http://www.mottob.tk ]
I work as a receptionist in a hotel, ...
I work as a receptionist in a hotel, and am at uni doing a tourism diploma.
I play bass in a crap band. I recently purchased a guitar. It's orange- however I won't be playing ska on it.
I was paid an obscene amount for a gig in Aotea Square on newyears eve 1999, so am trying to claw my way back to the glory days and not feel past-it and burned out.
I'm trying to get other 'side projects' going but am having some technical dificulties with electrical devices
Music isn't likely to be a full-time money spinner for me, it's more like a weekend game of polo- just for the enjoyment of it, breaking even is the first goal.
//I play bass in a crap band lets hope ...
//I play bass in a crap band
lets hope the other band members don't read that koe!!!
Breaking even sounds good. I think ...
Breaking even sounds good. I think there's a lot of people who sound like you - it's just a weekend thing they love to do like sports. For me i love it all the time. :o) I want to do it 24/7!
//lets hope the other band members ...
//lets hope the other band members don't read that koe!!!
they would never kick me out, without me they wouldn't be able to achieve our distinctive blend of nu-metal-meets-folk-music
glad to hear it! :)...
glad to hear it! :)
//I'm trying to get other 'side ...
//I'm trying to get other 'side projects' going but am having some technical dificulties with electrical devices
Koe - I emailed DiSoRdErLy's managers - they replied saying 5 of their guitarists have walked out on the band, and you can replace them! Just drop them an email with a picture of you at your angsty, glittery and most make-up-ed best and you're in. (you're welcome!)
They want another smoke machinist too, shall I talk to tclak about it?
//Koe - I emailed DiSoRdErLy's ...
//Koe - I emailed DiSoRdErLy's managers - etcetc
Damn I only just got my Ukelele serviced, I was hoping they would take me onboard, and we could play some nu-bluegrass. Looks like I'll have to dig out the eyeliner.
//They want another smoke machinist too, shall I talk to tclak about it?
I dunno, I wouldn't want tclak to overstretch himself- playing the smokemachine in 3 bands must be pretty draining
Koe, you can join our new band... (see ...
Koe, you can join our new band... (see above......) :o)
I'm a kareoke singer and NZ's only ...
I'm a kareoke singer and NZ's only supplier of xxx modified plushies. You'd be surprised at the demand!