Perceptions of more and less subtlety, such as creative insight and decision making, are open to reasoned debate, but only between those who are practised to a sufficient degree of proficiency / competence in the particular area of endeavour being debated. These are conventionally referred to as adult conversations.
How can I be a professional musician?...
Wednesday 23rd. December, 1998.
An ongoing question asked by many students in Guitar Craft: "How can I be a professional musician?". The quick answer is this: why? and you probably can't.
To earn a living as a professional musician means that people give you money. If anyone is going to part with their hard-earned pay, it's likely to be on the basis that:
1. The musician gives them something that they want; or:
2. The musician gives them something that they need.
The only possible alternative I can conceive is that of permitting the outbreak of charitable acts, which has precedents in several traditions (the Zen monk's begging bowl, for example). But this is not an intent I have recognised in the GC students and aspirant pros that have come to me for advice.
The two Argentinian Guitar Craft students referred to above: both are professional; that is, they are prepared to accept money for playing guitar and giving guitar lessons. Both of them are broke. Last year I advised them to go to GIT in Los Angeles, which provides an excellent education in the what-to-do expected / required of contemporary professional guitarists. Neither went.
On a personal level, I don't blame them: leaving home, family and friends is hard. I know. I haven't been at home much since 1967. So, what personal price is the aspirant professional musician prepared to pay? What limitations is the player going to set on the demands made of them by music and / or the professional life?
My advice remains the same, to nearly every aspirant player: have a richly enjoyable, sustaining and nourishing hobby. You need make no compromises with the music you play. If you become successful as a semi-pro, then you can move full-time if you wish. But if you have rent to pay, a wife and children who would like occasionally to be fed, you may well discover that you are prepared to lie (musically) for money. This is the shadow side of being a professional musician (cf Laurie Lee's poem "The Bird").
