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Dirty-South Blues Harp forum: wail on! >
playing harmonica for a living?
playing harmonica for a living?
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bigd
296 posts
Feb 13, 2011
11:15 PM
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I'm pretty lucky to be compensated decently for my playing with some regularity these days. I played the Blue Note last night and play weekly with and for Ashford & Simpson at their club. I'm in my own band and we get to play regularly though not too often as we're not hustlers and each member plays professionally elsewhere or have "day" jobs or both. I record and perform with others regularly too. So in my case I played last night, and have versatile shows tuesday, wednesday, and thursday this week. I'm not technically special on the instrument but can play in a way that connects with people emotionally and love to shimmer-play with singers. I'm also polite, on time, fairly prepared, and dress well as my audience can be very theater in their aesthetic (in other words they listen with their eyes). Mostly I've been lucky and treat most performances as an honor because they are. The currency I get from the audiences who touch their hearts as a physical metaphor of "being touched" is the most rewarding currency. The money (and of course it's not very much) has greater psychological force than monetary force as it represents respect from the hiring venue or musician. Truthfully all of life is a struggle for me: the expenses, the kids, the relationships, the poverty of my talent relative to others, growing older when your vain, etc. What I've learned is a life is bathed in personal satisfaction if the struggles are organic: challenging my stage shyness, being kind to myself on a bad performance night, managing the personalities of band members and divas (trust me: I could name drop),:these are all organic struggles. Not easy but well worth it: The right struggles. The money is the cherry!
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Mojokane
287 posts
Feb 14, 2011
12:57 AM
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The world most famous beach Waikiki. Has a lively avenue called Kalakaua Ave. I've been told by only a couple people, over the past several years, that it's a very generous place to set up shop. But it's rough, and long hours. you got to get there early(4pm), and hold your ground....all night (til midnight). That's known as a swing shift in the regular world. I've heard stories where decent players can make no less than a hundred a night....no lie! And in most cases, better. But don't rush over...
Hmmmm.... What am I waiting for?
But unless you are incredibly gifted, at the many facets of marketing your talents. You better not quit your day job, son.
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Why is it that we all just can't get along?<
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HarpNinja
1104 posts
Feb 14, 2011
6:02 AM
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If I wanted to make a living in music I would do the following...
Learn to play bass or drums.
Join a top tier coverband.
Give lessons during the week.
Play acoustic/duo/trio type gigs during the week.
Create a booking agency and book others off commission.
Find a roomate to split expenses.
Never get sick or have to see a doctor.
There are a lot of exceptional harp players in my neck of the woods and I don't think any hold an even weekly gig that pays decent money. The only blues bands that play around here on a regular basis are pro-quality acts that have people working on getting gigs every day...but they only play maybe once a weekend.
Of the many instruments featured in pop music over the last 50 years, the one that I would least likely pick to make a living on is harmonica. If you can sing and play other instruments, than maybe. But even Howard Levy has to play two instruments to keep things going.
And to complete my random thoughts on this, location and work ethic are often more important than talent. You can make up for short comings as a musician by living in an area with decent clubs and money and busting your butt networking.
Don't live in MN. The scene for local music here sucks. There is some stuff going on in the Cities, but in general, coverbands and tribute bands make the money. There is no such thing as a blues band playing 2-3 shows in the area a week for good money. In fact, I am an hour south of the Cities and 1.) can't find a band to play with with local musicians 2.) can't get a booking for decent pay 3.) can't think of a local band killing it right now - especially a band that isn't a coverband.
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Mike
Quicksilver Custom Harmonicas
Updated 2/1/11
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waltertore
1068 posts
Feb 14, 2011
8:44 AM
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Don't expect to live in any city and make a living playing blues today. I remember when clubs were prety much associated with certain bands. You could get an ongoing weekly/weekend/or monthly gig in those places. I played the original black cat lounge in austin 2-5 days a week when I was in town. Even then, without out of town/state/country gigs it was impossible to make a living unless you were a sideman and played in several bands. Drummers and bassists could always make a living and never leave town. It never was easy. Top 40, mustang sally type bands, and cover bands always made 2-5 times what a blues band made. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
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orphan
1 post
Feb 14, 2011
9:40 AM
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This has been a really great thread! I can't believe I'm making my first post. Thanks to everyone for your vantage point. To answer Adam's question, I got a 64 Chromatic when I was six. I got a couple of lessons right after that from Harry Desko. Parents got divorced soon after, so the lessons stopped, but I still hand the harmonica. Got a couple of Hohner diatonics in the mid 60's. Bought a Gibson 100W amp,($600 back in the 60's), a used EV641 (which I still have) and taught myself how to make some music and a lot of noise. So I have been playing 52 yrs. and am still absolutely amazed at the possibilities of the diatonic. I have had my own band, played in bands, been in studios recording as guest on other peoples projects, sat in with bands, played on the street, and continue to look for opportunities to get the music out. I don't see me ever making a living at it but like others, I have been paid sometimes. I played a 2010 Christmas party with a friend (acoustic guitar/vocalist) and got paid $200.00 for a 45min. show. That was fun even though we didn't do much blues.
I see that "mychangingcolors" has discovered he is a lover of the harp. I wish you well on your Journey & Relationship with this instrument. I also see that you have something to say that can only be expressed through the harp. Those of us on this forum understand that very well. It is a Good Thing when a person finds their Passion and determines to devote themselves to it. Thanks again to all who have posted. I also want to thank Adam for posting Jason's input. Each of us experiences our own Blues, those things in life that grind on our very soul. Our music as Auldous Huxley said, "Lets us express the inexpressible."
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thechangingcolors
9 posts
Feb 14, 2011
11:41 AM
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ay and a good thing there are still people out there quoting Huxley. he really knew what was up
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chromaticblues
590 posts
Feb 14, 2011
12:29 PM
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Nice post orphan!
I just want to point out something that orphan said. The journey and your relationship with the harp.
@changingcolors concentrate more on today's part of the journey, not playing for money tomarrow! Practice, learn and enjoy playing the harmonica. Everytime you pick the harp up play it like there are two hundred people watching you. Professional practicing may make you a pro someday! Enjoy the journey! You should print the article from Jason. There is SO much bullshit involved when you start making money. There are good people and bad people everywhere. Always be awhare of your surrondings!
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LittleBubba
30 posts
Feb 14, 2011
1:28 PM
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I've always thought it humorous when a musician complains about getting stiffed by a club owner, and two other musicians complain about the same guy stiffing them 20-30 years ago, with different clubs in different locations. Some of these guys jus' pad their margins by screwing performers, and they've done it their entire lives.
...Or, there's the bandleaders who start shorting your pay 'cuz they can't pay their own bills. At least that is more understandable.
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BronzeWailer
86 posts
Feb 14, 2011
1:40 PM
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My daughter asked where I was going with all this practice I was doing on the harp; could I get a job? 'It's a music plan, not a financial plan,' I told her.
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Aussiesucker
752 posts
Feb 14, 2011
3:06 PM
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Interesting thread.
I think there is a world of difference in making a living & making money. There would be many excellent musicians just making a living & having to supplement with teaching or even have to seek work outside the music industry.
And, some of the ones making serious money may not technically be the best musicians but are gifted or driven to produce a product that the masses want. They utilise skills of salesmanship, professional management, self promotion, planning etc.
IMO just being a top player in itself will never make you bucket loads of money. The same would apply to almost any field of endeavour.
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djm3801
343 posts
Feb 14, 2011
3:50 PM
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A living. Depends on what you want out of a living. Very subjective. Starving artists. Are they happy? Some amazingly talented people I know - artists, musicians, photographers, woodworkers, writers - do what they love and make almost nothing. Health insurance. Auto insurance. Car repairs. Gas. Forget about owning a home in some cases. Marriage? Depends. Spouse may think it cool for a while but living on the financial edge makes cool very uncool to many. Before we got into harp, how many harp players did we know by name vs guitar, singers, drums, bass, sax. When I was a kid in the 1950's, you could actually see harmonica players and acts on variety shows. No more. I admire folks who follow their passion and their dream. But they pay a price. If you can make a living eventually, you will surely have paid some dues. Some good words here from folks who have been there. Me? I been working in corporate America for 45 years. And, yes, I do love my work. Good luck.
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timeistight
18 posts
Feb 14, 2011
4:32 PM
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This thread made me think of Bill Anschell's Careers in Jazz.
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phogi
506 posts
Feb 14, 2011
5:31 PM
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Alright, I'll chime in.
99.99% of the money I make comes from music. Music pays for my house, my car, my food, my wife (who does not work), and my health insurance. The pay is good but not great, and I'll never be famous. I can pick up at almost any point and go work anywhere in the country, though pay is variable by state.
The work is good, but the hours are long and can be very stressful. The expectations are very high, in that you have to be good at it, or people will not only think you are not good at it, they will also think you are a bad person (that's just life for teachers, cops, politicians, and soldiers)
This is life being a school band director.
The entry fee is high, and you need a specialized degree (for now, anyway). To gain access to this you also need to be almost a virtuoso just to get in. You need to be able to read at least four staves at once, be familiar with the common errors for all the instruments, be able to repair instruments, play all the instruments, be able to transpose all combinations of the keys of Bb, Eb, F, and C. You have to bleed leadership. You need at least mediocre conducting skills. You have to be able to manage large groups of teenagers by yourself (sometimes up to 100), and you sometimes have to be an asshole so they don't eat your eyes for ju-ju bees. It helps to be a workaholic.
Pay range is from 20,000 - 80,000 a year, depending on location.
In music, there is all kinds of ways to make money. Performing and Teaching are just two. I chose this way because family is important to me.
Some people say, 'those who can't, teach.' What they don't tell you is that, for music, the missing part is, 'those who can't abandon their families, who can't abandon a geographic location, who can't live life hand to mouth, who can't afford to lose it all, who can't live on 15 k a year...
I could go on, but you get the drift.
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thechangingcolors
17 posts
Feb 14, 2011
6:31 PM
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A- i plan on being very good at the harmonica. i already have a pretty decent start and i havnt been playing for very long. in a few years i hope to be a really excellent harmonica player and an adequit singer and percussionist.
b- im not going to have to worry about supporting a family, as i will never be married or have kids (not that theres anything wrong that of course, but its not going to happen for me and thats fine too)
c-i really dont care if im ever famous or ever make any good money off of it. in fact if i never make any money off of it im sure things will still work out. but if i could actually find a way to make enough money from preforming music to have enough food to survive and have some harmonicas ill be really happy. And i mean i am literally prepared to go without common luxuries of american life, in fact i would probably try to go without them even if i could afford them, for my own reasons. im really not sure i even want to own a house, il have to fill out lots of tax forms and the government will know where i sleep.
d-the bottom line is i want to spend all of my time possible practicing the harmonica as it is simply what i enjoy doing, so if im doing it all the time i should try to make some money off it too, to support the habit. and yes i believe that the life of a musician can be very stressful but other things are all stressful in their own ways. im really stressed out right now because so much of my time is spent doing things that i dont care about (school...) and it almost feels like im wasting all my time. i would rather worry about how im going to get enough money to eat then worry about trying to be a successful productive and material consuming member of society. thats the real stress right there..
so in other words i dont need to make alot of money at all, money wont improve my quality of life. being able to play music all the time is what will improve my quality of life. forget conveniences, they make me take life for granted. im such an anxious and depressed person most of the time, i need the music. its for other people too, but its mainly for me.
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boris_plotnikov
446 posts
Feb 14, 2011
9:33 PM
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The worst thing of make living playing music is the fact you have to spent bunch of time on self-promoting or just wait for someone who will be already well known or who promotes the whole band with you as a participant.
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Excuse my bad English. Click on my photo or my username for my music.
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djm3801
344 posts
Feb 15, 2011
7:32 PM
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phogi,
Bravo!
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Rubes
236 posts
Feb 16, 2011
3:33 AM
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I've been playing unpaid and for the LOVE of it for most of my 45 years of life. But becoming more serious about growing in the last few years, and pushing myself with some good buddies/bandmates I am now looking at making some regular part time cash. Progress is fantastic, but alas! ......we do originals..... :~)
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KingBiscuit
14 posts
Feb 16, 2011
6:06 AM
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When my wife and I decided to sell everything we owned and take off on our sailboat, the comments we got fell into 2 categories. "You're crazy" or "I wish I could do that". The first group, we just ignored. To the second group, I said "You can do it, you just have to decide that living on a boat is more important to you than what you are doing now".
After kicking around on our boat for a couple of years, I decided the life was not for me.
Bottom line, if you are willing to sacrifice whatever it takes to make a living playing harp, you can do it. You might not like it once you get there, but at least you tried.
Dan
For what it's worth,
Dan
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Miles Dewar
728 posts
Feb 16, 2011
6:52 AM
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This is where studying books like "The Closers" by Ben Gay comes in handy. And others. #2 of that is the best closing book I've read so far.
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waltertore
1073 posts
Feb 16, 2011
7:15 AM
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KingBiscuit: Good on you for following a dream! You summed it up well. Most are not willing to make the sacrafices. I can remember countless times playing clubs around the world and some local players would come up and tell us how they wish they could be touring but their town just doesn't support bands. I would listen and then tell them that is why I am in their town because no one town will support a blues band. I also said one has to move to a happening music town. Living in the boondocks will never get you on the worldwide blues circut. Also music scenes come and go. That is why I have lived in SF, Austin, NYC, Brussels. Until one gets a national reputation they will have to live in a music city. Jason's post rings real true for the facts. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Feb 16, 2011 7:24 AM
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Blind Melon
42 posts
Mar 03, 2011
9:54 AM
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When I saw Kim Wilson play for the first time several years ago, we had a nice conversation between and after his sets.
I asked Kim what is the best advice that you could give to someone who is passionate about the blues and loves to play harp.
Kim said to do it for fun. He said that he was one of the lucky ones who makes a decent living off of it, but he has put in his dues and has been doing it for decades.
I enjoy playing harp, whether it is in front of others or just practicing by myself.
I also like the lack of pressure of having to make a living doing it. I think, at least for me, the pressure could force me to lose the fun.
I am married with two teenage kids and have a really good job. I find it really tough to put in the time practicing that I should, but I am on my own "schedule for improvement".
For thechangingcolors and anyone else contemplating living the life as a fulltime blues harp player, I only wish you the best!
Last Edited by on Mar 03, 2011 9:59 AM
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waltertore
1140 posts
Mar 03, 2011
11:07 AM
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play for the pure joy. It is one area of life that you can have total control over. Once you do it for money it turns into a different reality. I feel blessed to have experienced both ends. Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Mar 03, 2011 11:10 AM
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shadoe42
8 posts
Mar 03, 2011
11:17 AM
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I consider myself quite lucky. I do not make a living at music(yet) BUT my music does tend to pay for itself and I break even most of the time. I have a day job, I do applications support for Tulsa 911, that is what pays the bills. 30 weekends a year the band is doing its thing in various ren faires and more and more Bars/Pubs and such.
And what I play over the years has changed. And you can guarentee that almost 24ish years ago now when i was in my first band in high school that i did not even consider that I might have my most musical success getting on stage and ren faires dressed as a pirate :)
Or that said pirate band would be about to play some place as the main act like the Voodoo Lounge in Harrah's Casino in KC.... (march 11th :) blatant plug), and I consider it lucky that I now get to pull out my harp with said pirate band on a few tunes.
if you think it is hard to get into bars as a 'normal' band try being a bunch of pirates hahahaha.
And I keep dreaming about where we can take this...ride the train till the end of the line that is for sure.
Point being for most of my life I have had this need to make music. Now after a lot of years and a lot of bands and a lot of styles I seem to have my best shot at it... in a place I had never thought to look for a long time.
If you have the dream, keep dreaming it, and be open to where that dream might lead you. It may be somewhere you would never expect to a satisfaction you never thought possible.
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The Musical Blades
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strawwoodclaw
214 posts
Mar 03, 2011
2:48 PM
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what about busking does anybody make any good money this way. I was thinking about taking Roland ( my amp) on the street this summer & trying to make a bit of dough that way. play dodge the cops I could do with a couple a dancers
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bonedog569
234 posts
Mar 03, 2011
10:46 PM
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Wet Blanket continued:
How old are you ? Fairly young I would guess. What you think of as 'a living' now is not the same as it will be when you are 35 , 40 , 50. Do you want a family ? Want to buy your own home ? Wanna live in one place and sleep there most nights of the year ?
If you can not stand the thought of not making music full time - and are willing to potentially sacrifice most middle class comforts- and you just HAVE to do it - then do it. If you don't succomb to hard drugs or alchohol you will find a way to survive.
You may do better than that - some few do. But you will have to treat it as a business -not a party - and you will be working your ass off.
If you are going to do it - have to do it - give it all you have while you are young BEFORE starting a family - and give yourself some timeframe, after which you make a sound evaluation - and course corrections if necessary. good luck.
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Last Edited by on Mar 04, 2011 11:03 AM
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groyster1
896 posts
Mar 03, 2011
11:21 PM
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@bonedog
I guess you meant jason ricci-he is barely surviving???that should tell 99.9% of us to not give up our day jobs
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waltertore
1147 posts
Mar 04, 2011
10:55 AM
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This topic is of great interest to me. I started out much like our young poster. I had big dreams. Many poeple told me I was a train wreck in the making. I went on to do music full time for 20 years. I got to play and live around world with my music. Did I make money? That is all relative. I made enough to get by and when needed took short stints of day work in the manual labor fields. I got frustrated, happy, sad, hopefull, desperate, and just about any other emotion that comes to mind with living a dream and barely surviving. I had no home, insurance, or anything of real value outside my instruments (1 guitar and funky harps most of the time), an amp, car, trailer. I had, and still have my lovely Judy. We both decided on no kids and I told her up front my music comes first in my life. THis wasn't a selfish thing. It was what I needed to do. Unless one is driven this hard, the prospects of playing music for a living will never work out. All the doom and gloom is true. But when one is following a dream they see through different eyes. I didn't care about having money in the bank, security, and the future was a blank slate that unfolded in its own time.
Now I am in my mid 50's and have a regular day job, we have owned a house for 8 years, have insurance, and the basics covered. Do I miss those days? Not really as of today March 3,2011. I do miss them from the days gone by. I think one will always miss the days gone by if they were full of life and passion. They were great times and I would never trade them for anything, but today my life has different inspirations. Doing the things it takes to play small stage night after night no longer drives me. Instead my focus has been on learning how to record my music and putting out messages to the universe for someone to come along that will handle the nuts and bolts of getting my music back on the stage.
Life is a one way ride. There is no going back. People my age can't buy back that youthful time because now they have money to spend and are retiring. They can still persue passions but each era of life is unique unto itself. I have missed out on children, grand children, living a long time in one area, and most of the things that my peers are now enjoying from raising a family. But I did get to live my dream which included playing,traveling, living with a bunch of the blues greats.
Don't try and control your dream. Dreams are uncontrollable. If you think you can control a dream you don't know what a real dream is. Don't look ahead either because those realities have yet to arrive. Real dreams unfold in real time. One has to have the faith to dream! Walter
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walter tore's spontobeat - a real one man band and over 1 million spontaneously created songs and growing. I record about 300 full length cds a year.
" life is a daring adventure or nothing at all" - helen keller
2,600+ of my songs
continuous streaming - 200 most current songs
my videos
Last Edited by on Mar 04, 2011 2:04 PM
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Street Player Dude
6 posts
Mar 04, 2011
1:41 PM
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Recording artist and fellow harmonica player Randy Singer offers a great free Musician's Handbook for wanting to become pro:
http://randysinger.com/musiciansHandbook.html
Enjoy!!
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