DRUMMER CAFE

I've been doing music full-time (teaching, doing gigs)  for 9-months now and it's been an up-and-down ride.......3-kids and a mortgage makes it even tougher.  To make it even more tougher, my wife got laid off (mortgage industry).  We had to cash out her 401k and spent most of our tax return ($6k).  She's been doing some temp work so we're praying she lands something permanent. 

Some weeks I'm signing up new students and then in the same week, some are leaving because they are either going back to soccer or realizing drumming just isn't IT for them. 

As far gigs go, it really is tough to get into the money making cover/wedding bands here unless you're in the right network.  And like a lot of other drummers, the pool is pretty big.  I'm playing in country cover band right now and have been doing auditions to get into other styles of bands.   

I like the part about diversifying.....maybe I need to start learning some percussion because I've been seeing a lot of ads looking for percussionists.  It probably won't hurt learning another instrument too. 

Anyways.......I'm trying to remain positive......the music business is definitely not for the weak, I just want to stay home, sensitive types........you really have to do a lot of networking....sometimes not even with musicians. 

cc

Not to be nitpicky, but if you start thinking about financial income more than artistic needs at your early stage I think you might hate being a professional musician.
Playing professionally is a balancing act between making ends meet and playing what you want. When both come together it's bliss.
If you were to join the military for stability rather than because it's something you want to do, you may find yourself unhappy. You may not.
But most players who choose a performance career in music do so as a vocation, not with a set income in mind. Again, after a few years of single figure income you may find yourself unhappy, if six figures seems more attractive regardless of the music.

Spot on!  The pay for an E-6 (Tech Sgt in the AF) in the D.C. area is probably closer to $60K, considering the housing allowance for this high cost of living area.  Add the per diem for travel and the extra clothing allowance, and it's likely closer to $70K.

I'm not sure about the 6-figures...I heard it through the grapevine, maybe I'll have to go back up that grapevine...


As for this part- I certainly can do that. And that's one of the things that I love about school bands it that I can play in so many different ensembles. I play in ALL of the bands that my school has- Marching, Wind Ensemble, Symphonic Band, Drama Ensemble, Jazz Band, Jazz Combo, Basketball Band, and Winter Drumline. And I am 1st Chair percussion as far as concert stuff goes, and I am snare drum section leader in drumline, I play set and aux. in jazz band AND I play 4-mallet solos.


Really my goal is to be able to make music and make enough money to live a somewhat decent life.
The college that I'm pretty sure that I want to go to offers a Music Performance/Ed-double degree- I may check into that.