Being a Musician or being a Dreamer?

[fluteguy18]

This is a question that ultimately came out of a rather upsetting evening ( let's just say I met my best friend's boyfriend. She's serious about him, and I now hate him and the feelings are mutual).

Are musicians dreamers?

I've always considered myself a musician, and never a dreamer. Dreamers to me have always been directionless, irresponsible, and unrealistic. How is that different from being an aspiring pro musician? Aside from practicing and making ends meet, our lives seem pretty directionless to the outside world. The odds of making it professionally are so astronomical that we can hardly be called realistic, and to pursue such dreams where a financial investment is huge and the reward comparatively meager in most cases is fiscally irresponsible.

I have dreams. I'm not afraid to go after them. But considering my impending future (search around in case you don't know what I mean), does that make me selfish?

Are we dreamers?

Feel free to post here, or if it is a more personal/private send things to me in a message. I just want people's thoughts.

[dogster]

I am a professional musician but not as skilled as you are for sure . I think i was a dreamer I dreamed to be a professional musician . My friends think I am an excellent musician but I think I am well just good lol.
I try to be humble and I have people who are sometimes jealous of my skills as a computer expert , musician and Film maker and editor in my field. I don't hate anyone because it wastes too much energy.
I instead send people love and it works most of the time lol. Like I said you are an amazing musician and hope great success for you .

Sincerely

Doug

[Phineas]

Fluteguy18

Do not let people cheat you out of your dream. People always have something to say when you are good and not working. Then when you make it, these same people will be on TV talking about how dedicated you are.

I stopped playing music for a living because I got tired of being called a bum and lazy. I had a fairly decent career for a teenage professional musician. As long as I was working, everyone would say how proud they were. When things got slow, I was being lazy and told to get a real job. 20 years later, these same people were wondering why I was not famous yet. If I would have just stuck it out just a little longer, I would have been able to make a decent living just playing music. Now, all I can do is hope that my career takes off again so that I can do this during retirement.

When I get into discussions like the one you went through, I usually come out on top. Most people no matter what they do are looking for some company to take care of them. Some people are always on contract. Some people are business people trying to promote something and get it started. What is the difference between that, and trying to find music gigs? Absolutely nothing. Being a freelance Engineer, I have never had a steady job. I guess that make me a bum Engineer...lol But when I am working, I get paid good money! Sounds like a musician to me!

Do not be like me and wind up 44 years old wondering what would have happened if I would have stuck with it. You are a talented musician, and you WILL make at least a good living at it if you stick with it.

Lastly, IMHO, the reason that a lot of musicians do not make it is mainly due to a few factors

1. Influence. Putting too much value in what people say. It is ok to take criticism about a performance, not your career choices!
2. Selling your talent too cheaply.
3. Lack of a good work ethic and habits. Showing up to rehearsal, and gigs on time. Self promotion. There are multitudes of musicians out there just looking for the big break, instead of making one for themselves!
4. Artists feel like the world owes them something because they are good.(See number 3)
5. Afraid of success. You would be surprised the talented people who sabotage their own careers over something stupid.
6. Unwilling to start from the bottom. Everyone cannot be first chair or the principal right off the bat.
7. Taking the wrong path career wise. I see artists start out in a realm and get stuck there, Or spend too much time on a path, and go nowhere. If you do not want to make a living playing in blues bars, then do not just play there for money! You may wind up stuck there! Same thing goes with any other music.
8. Not willing to invest in themselves. You have to spend the money for the gear, the photos, the tux, the webpage, etc....

DO NOT LET ANYONE TALK YOU OUT OF YOUR DREAM! it can happen if you make it happen.

Rant over

Phineas

[Classitar]

Great comments!

I would just like to add that working in a job with a salary, benefits & pension is a lot more selfish than trying to perfect an art that is meant to be shared. Its not called the rat race for nothing.

We can have dreams in any endeavor, of success in any number of careers.
The difference lies in having the patience, self sacrifice and tenacity to make the dream a reality.

You know that many professional musicians derive most of their income from private lessons, teaching while accepting performing opportunities .
That's much easier to accomplish than performance alone, and not an uncommon way to earn a good living.

But I think the real issue here may be that some people are going to try and tear you down no matter what business or art you are involved in - thats the kind of combative attitude they are used to in family and work life (your friend should consider this) . Others are going to try and be supportive for the same reasons

[MissyHPhoenix]

Everyone has dreams. Everyone is a dreamer. What could possibly make one person's dream legitimate and another person's dream "selfish"?

In my opinion, 99% of the population are b-flat, average peeps who will always do what everybody else is doing and are too afraid to raise their head above the crowd 'cause they think it (the head) will be cut off. I have always been a little bit strange in relation to the majority crowd. When I was younger I always tried to hide my strangeness, my weird ideas and feelings, because every time I let someone know my thoughts, I was punished for it. It took many years for me to mature to the point that I finally said I didn't give a flying flip if others considered me weird, and was willing to take the negative feedback that resulted. And there IS negative feedback. Prime example -- my tattoos! I've actually had mothers pull their children away from me in a store, like I was contagious or something!

Anyway, the reason for the above rant is this -- I believe I am and have always been a dreamer. I also believe that musicians are more sensitive and artistic than the seething mass of human herd. WE, musicians, have a little something extra in our DNA that puts us apart. I do not mean apart in a "superior race" type of thing, but ..... we're just different. Look at artists -- they also have the something extra that pushes them to practice their calling, and many of them are criticized for it, also. We are, simply, just not a member of the pack and do not always follow the same track that everybody else does. And, unfortunately, because of that, we will always, always have those people who feel the need to try to put us down and tell us that we are "wrong". I believe that those people are simply intimidated by people who are different in any way, that it somehow makes them wrong or less with their beliefs and/or career, feelings, etc. etc. And remember, there are ALWAYS people who are simply bullies and have the need to put someone else down in order to make themselves feel more powerful!

Are you following your dream in order to lay around and do nothing all day and have someone else support you? Of course not! You have very valid, solid goals (i.e., look at your dream of working for Powell Flutes as a flutemaker!) and they are not any less real and attainable because they are not the usual "business" career. Gird your loins (love that phrase!!!! LOL) and carry your head high with pride because you have the courage to go against the flow instead of with it, and I applaud you for it. Just keep in mind that you will encounter negativity from the conformers, and give their opinions the grain of salt that they deserve. Nobody has the right to approve or disapprove of you and your dreams except for you, and perhaps your fiance. You are the one who has to live with yourself. I have used the phrase "You are not my Daddy" many times when faced with the type of situation you described. Put that person behind you and go forth and make music!

[fluteguy18]

This was spurred by my feelings that getting a job with Powell would be a compromise on my dream of being a studio musician. I don't have lofty dreams of attaining wealth that way, but merely being able to support my family. This guy basically thought I was a foolish, irresponsible dreamer for entertaining the idea of taking a chance with getting a career in studio recording versus a much more probable career as a flutemaker. Considering that providing for my future family has been a worry of mine, this really struck a nerve.

And that led to the question: are musicians dreamers? And if so why/why not is that a bad thing. Furthermore, how does that relate to people who are do-ers from dreamers because a lot of dreamers ARE do-ers.

[sidekicker]

I think all musicians are dreamers to some extent. And that is fueled by our passion for the great music we are so privileged to perform. That passion is powerful and often drives us toward music degrees, etc., until the diplomas arrive and get framed.

Having said that, however, I do believe that musicians wishing to make a living in the classical performance field sometimes tend to underestimate how incredibly difficult it really is to make a living at it. And even if we succeed, the pay pretty much sucks and many times the playing environment isn't the most positive (who hasn't sat next to the incredibly annoying oboist who refuses to concede that it really is possible for the oboe to play in tune with the rest of us if they will just try, or the clarinetist behind us who tends to play everything faster and louder than anyone else in prominent woodwind section passages, or the bassoonist that is almost always behind and/or fumbling for the right notes?). And that doesn't even factor in the long hours of practice still needed, and the often necessary supplemental income one needs from other gigs and teaching just to make ends meet. Often, even flutists lucky enough to get orchestra positions are forced to take on other jobs; particularly when they have a family to support. I hate that it has turned out that way, but from my vantage point, it appears to be the case and has generally been the case for the 3 decades I have been involved with this instrument. I don't see it changing anytime soon.

In my humble opinion it really takes a very balanced and realistic look at where you want to go with a music career, and what you expect to get out of it both financially and personally. Alot of musicians I think (and I was one of them too at one point, so I certainly know the mind set) have very unrealistic expectations about the size of the competitive musician playing field; it is enormous and takes almost a perfect combination of skill, musicianship, good teacher connections, and, frankly, just luck, to be successful in most cases -- particularly as a flutist because it is such a popular instrument and there are zillions vying for very few spots.

Personally, I think it's better (particularly if you intend to support a family at some point) to work toward getting a good job you enjoy in a non-musical field, then play anywhere and everywhere to your heart's content without having to worry about whether you can feed your family or pay bills. That's what I ended up doing in spite of the fact that I have degrees from a prestigious school and studied with a well-known presitigious teacher.

Just my opinion based upon my own experiences. I'm sure plenty of others will disagree, but I only have my own life in this field to look at and offer my perspective from that. I am fortunate to have a non-musical job that I love, which affords me the opportunity to play wherever I want whether it pays or not; in fact, most of the playing I do is gratis and I rarely accept any sort of compensation. If I'm handed a check that's uncomfortable or insulting to turn down, I just donate it to a worthy cause.

Hope this helps some and is not too much of a downer, but I think you wanted honest responses and that's mine.

SK

[fluttiegurl]

I have a student who is 12 (she has been with me for three years now). Her dreams are to go to school for a music ed degree and start a music program at her small, private school. Her mother made the comment that she has big dreams for such a little girl. My response was, big dreams can turn into big things, but no dreams (no ambition, in this case) will lead to nothing. Who knows what she will do in 6 years, but at least she has some ambition.

On the other hand, I will never be, no matter how hard I "dream," a ballerina.

[fluteguy18]

I like that.

"Big dreams can turn into big things. No dreams turn into nothing."

The missing factor there is ambition. I think that ambition makes the difference between being a dreamer and a do-er. If you have dreams and don't go after them, then it's all pointless. If you will go after them with everything you've got... I think big things can happen. I really believe that dreams do come true if you really want them to. They may not come true in the way you imagined them, but I really believe that they do come true if you really work for them, give everything you have, and never give up.

A living example of this is a flutist I know. He wanted so much more than what he had been given. So he went after it with everything he had. That meant sleeping in dumpsters for a while. He never gave up, and he made it. Big time. He is my inspiration every day.

[cflutist]

FG18,

You definitely have the talent and work ethic to make it as a professional flutist, I say go for it !!!

The boyfriend's comment was probably just meant to hurt you because of his jealousy.

[fluteguy18]

Well. I won't go any further about the boyfriend drama on here. It would be inappropriate. His comments have upset me, but only because they sparked a legitimate question. Honestly, I don't care what he thinks. It's what I think about myself that's important. Ultimately he is a jerk who hides his insecurities with cynicism, psychological abuse, and mind games.

So. This has been what I've been thinking about today. Ultimately I think all musicians are dreamers. But there is a difference between being a dreamer and a visionary. A dreamer has hopes but no direction or drive to achieve their dreams. A visionary takes their dreams and then finds a way to make them happen. I'm going to take the advice my father has always given me: Chase your dreams while you are young because at some point you won't be able to.

[jmdewey60]

. . .cynicism, psychological abuse, and mind games.

Most people are like that to one degree or another.
You are in the type of situation where you will find people asking you to
come to work for them. Later on, it may be more likely to be the other way around.
When I was starting college I had a man wanting me to work for him learning to be
a helicopter mechanic. At the time it seemed more important to pursue a career in
science. That eventually went up in flames, and I ended up being a diesel truck
mechanic. Every time I work on a truck, I wish I would have done things differently
and was instead working on a helicopter and maybe owning one. I would not want
to own a truck.

[Fox]

This guy basically thought I was a foolish, irresponsible dreamer for entertaining the idea of taking a chance with getting a career in studio recording versus a much more probable career as a flutemaker.

Don't let it get to you. I've learned in the last couple years not to care at all what others say or think, unless they prove to me that they are worth it.

A few days ago someone "suggested" I do something differently than the way I was doing it. My response was "You know, now I'm going to do it this way just to piss you off!" I would have totally said that to this guy just to shut him up.

I think you have more important things to do than worry about what this guy says, like practicing so you can accomplish your dream.

[pied_piper]

FG18: Have you seen this? It was posted yesterday on the Larry Krantz Flute List.

Burkart Flutes has an immediate opening for a Customer Service
Representative to join our team selling artisan crafted flutes &
piccolos.

This is an excellent opportunity for a flutist who has sales experience
and likes to travel.

A qualified candidate must hold a Bachelor of Music in Flute Performance
or equivalent.

Duties include working with players in our workshop, at flute shows, and
during university visits.

This position is full time in our Shirley, MA location, complete with
benefits and a 401K plan.

If you are an organized, energetic individual with demonstrated sales
experience, please send your resume to info@burkart.com .

[cflutist]

FG18:

I also saw that on the list and was thinking about you too.

I know the people who work at Brannen are very qualified. The CSR has her BM in Flute Performance. The "finisher" who padded and finished my flute has a Masters in Flute Performance and is working on his Doctorate. Both of them play tested my flute before it was shipped to me. One of their "stringers" has his BM from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music.

I bet Powell or Haynes would hire you in a heartbeat too.