Re: Re: should musicians have a second job?

[Todd Howell <ransacker@earthlink.net>]

RW

I think it wonderful that you can pull it off. I am almost jealous. The 
idea that all you have to do is make music is wonderful. The fact that you 
can do this is even better. There is, I am sure, a purity to your life 
that mine wouldn't have had as a professional musician. I found myself 
taking hideous gigs for the paycheck. 

I liken it to porn. I was the occasional pro who had to turn it on before 
the cameras for the money. I was reasonably fit and doing it for the buck. 
But me? I'd rather be a fat ****er who did it for love. Not pretty. Not 
svelte. Just another chump in the basement. I feel better as I write this.

I am glad that your reality allows it. Make the most of it and create 
something brilliant. Blessings on your journey.

Ransacker




-----Original Message-----
>From: Rick Walker <looppool@cruzio.com>
>Sent: Jan 13, 2011 4:32 PM
>To: Todd Howell <ransacker@earthlink.net>
>Cc: Loopers-Delight@loopers-delight.com
>Subject: Re: Re: should musicians have a second job?
>
>On 7/22/64 11:59 AM, Todd Howell wrote:
>> If they want to eat. Being a pro musician was great when chemical 
>> amusement was free and the girlfriend and I lived on her student 
>> loans. American loopers, you need health insurance or else you are 
>> royally ****ed when you get ill or injured. Living outside of the 
>> established economy is grand fun until serious life changes occur. I 
>> am happier now in my middling health care job while not dealing with 
>> the business side of the music business. Lets' face it, alot of the 
>> people you have to deal with in the business are pretty reptilian. 
>> Every club you play, every event, every booking agent is a boss. 
>> Wedding gigs were even worse. Don't get me started. Now, I have one 
>> boss. So I started to realize there wasn't much freedom in that life. 
>> I had a lot of bosses and four bandmates. It was all of the irritants 
>> of marriage without sex.
>I respect your experiences and conclusions, Todd,  but not everyone has 
>the same experiences
>and not everyone's solutions are the proper solutions.
>
>I've been a professional musician without a day job for 34 years 
>now..........without health care.
>I won't tell you that it's been easy, but I feel blessed to have lived 
>the life I have lived.
>
>Does it have it's drawbacks..........certainly...........I've been 
>forced to cancel a quarter of my months' income
>because this week because  I have the flu and am going to NAMM 
>(hopefully) this weekend..........
>that's a stressor for sure.   But in my own case (and I truly don't 
>think I have the answer for anyone outside of myself)  I've been able to 
>be music for my whole adult life without a lot of compromise and that 
>has it's rewards.......though they are frequently spiritual and not 
>monetary.
>
>So,  I support your solution.   Truly I do,  but I would ask that you 
>also have compassion for my own
>solution , though it differs from yours.
>
>respectfully,
>rick walker
>