Has anyone became a "profesional" [Archive]

fred d

Dec-25-2007, 6:24pm

Barry Platnick

Dec-25-2007, 7:04pm

Man I hope so..but I'm gonna' keep my day job for now

John Flynn

Dec-25-2007, 7:10pm

I know some folks who have started instruments late in life and become quite accomplished. In particular, I know a lady who had some cello lessons as a girl, but never went anywhere with it and did not play any instrument for most of her adult life. She took up the lap dulcimer at 55, and now in her late 60's she is in a gigging string band that has a CD, and she teaches dulcimer and gives workshops at festivals. She has just recently taken up the fiddle. It will be interesting to see what she can do with it.

Bob Sayers

Dec-25-2007, 7:28pm

The great oldtime banjo player and entertainer Uncle Dave Macon started his professional career at age 50 and by 56 was a star of the Grand Ole Opry. Of course, there's only one Uncle Dave.

Bob

Bob Sayers

Dec-25-2007, 8:16pm

In the "there's always hope for us old guys" department: I was astonished and delighted to learn recently that an old buddy of mine from high school, Lee Kaufmann, is now playing banjo in a first-class bluegrass outfit called Lonesome County out of southern Michigan. They even won first place in the band competition at the Renfro Valley Festival this year. Lee has always been an exceptional banjo player. But I think this is his first truly professional gig--at the young age of 60 (my age, too)! To me, that's really a great story.

Bob

stevenmando

Dec-25-2007, 8:35pm

I hope so I have been playing mandolin for some time now and Im 58 and I still keep reaching for that ring on the merry go round and I still haven,t gotten it yet but hey maybe some day just got to keep on reaching for it ,practice, practice , practice

Joe Mendel

Dec-25-2007, 8:37pm

Alex Usher started playing autoharp in her late 50's and has placed at Winfield several times and won once, she has at least one CD out and, several books published by Mel Bay.
http://www.melbay.com/authors.asp?author=991
http://www.musicfolk.com/docs/AboutUs/History/Alex_Post.htm

dcoxmandolin

Dec-25-2007, 9:05pm

As for being a "Professional" I would have to say quite a few have made a living from playing mandolin. It's one thing to say professional and another to make a living from it. I consider myself a professional and many others as well but I keep my day job. The ability to make a living playing is indeed a stroke of luck but also where you are geographically. In Colorado the music scene is seasonal for festivals where if you lived down southeast and have a good band you could stay busy year around. Keep pickin and you may be one that we are talking about in the future! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

jim_n_virginia

Dec-25-2007, 9:30pm

If the criteria for being considered a professional is living off your music and no day job I can qualify! I haven't had a day job in a few years and I play in a small trio and live completely off the music.

Now I don't make much but it doesn't cost that much for me to live and also I have made a few smart investments in my life (almost by accident really!) that really take care of me, but the music pays for my gas and food and expenses.

I have played all my life since age 10 but didn't really get serious and want to get paid for playing until age 45.

Music is a nice little extra hedge if you have a pension or somethinmg like that coming in. I know several retired military people who have a retirement check coming in and play music to add to it and live pretty good and they are relatively young 40's-50's.

mandroid

Dec-25-2007, 10:22pm

You've Done your 'back up job' until retirement,

so now you can follow your passion

and not have to sleep on other peoples couches,

while hustling low to kinda adequate paying gigs.
and traveling a lot to work your way up.

Got a good promotional package together?
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/coffee.gif

farmerjones

Dec-26-2007, 7:03am

Pros? We're the ones that are hated by the pros.
We're in the circle back in the campground. We're not paying managers or agents. We're not dealing with promotors. We're PLAYING. Life's too short for mikes, monitors and stages.

let me hit the edit button - im 45 but im 20 years younger than the rest of my bunch.

allenhopkins

Dec-26-2007, 9:03am

Started playing in my late teens, worked day jobs 40 years (wife, kids, mortgage etc.), retired at 57, "full-time musician" (whatever that means) for the last seven years. Play 150-200 gigs per year, mostly low-paying ones for seniors, libraries, schools etc. Sometimes a more high-profile one (opened for Dave Bromberg band last year, for Aztec Two-Step this year –– big whoop...).

Now getting into my mid-sixties, and still have the physical ability to traipse around, hassle with PA speakers (let me tell you sometime how much I appreciate the Fender Passport), cases, driving etc. Maintain a website, send out schedule e-mails and postcards to a modest mailing list, keep my books on my iMac, pay my taxes like a good boy.

So: music can be a decent part-time job. Never planned to make a living at it, and my civil service retirement checks are what pay the bills and buy the groceries. But music keeps me active, involved, growing to the extent that's possible, and expressing the things I want to express. So if you didn't start "early,' well, you can't start any earlier than right now, and if you have a few decades left, fill 'em up with music if you can.

Jason Holmes

Dec-26-2007, 9:38am

So if you didn't start "early,' well, you can't start any earlier than right now, and if you have a few decades left, fill 'em up with music if you can.
Well said.

hoffmannia2k7

Dec-26-2007, 9:46am

The great oldtime banjo player and entertainer Uncle Dave Macon started his professional career at age 50 and by 56 was a star of the Grand Ole Opry. #Of course, there's only one Uncle Dave.

Bob
good to hear some uncle dave chatter. I was recently blessed with a niece and spent all of the christmas holiday serenading her with Uncle Dave hits like Peek-a-boo and tossing the baby so high.

the most you can hope for out of playing music is enjoying it, and if I was retired I would want to stay that way.

Ken Berner

Dec-26-2007, 10:03am

I would never consider myself as a professional musician, although I have been fortunate to receive a few good sums for playing. I started playing mandolin at age 60 after being a mediocre guitar player. Now, at age 72 I play at jams a minimum of six times a month, plus church, nursing homes, schools and an occasional paying gig. I have just begun to pursue my interest in clawhammer-style banjo and old-time music. Being retired affords plenty of time to enjoy music, so I think I had better hang on to my "day job".

keymandoguy

Dec-26-2007, 10:49am

Well Im not a profesional as I dont make a living from it But I bought my first mandolin at age 65 I,m 71 now and play with a Gospel band and a bluegrass band. Have played festivals at Beanblossom and Henryville, In. Also done 6 guest apearances last year on the Lighthouse Harbinger TV show in Louisville, Ky. I think Im doin OK for an old geezer ( lol ) http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/mandosmiley.gif

MikeEdgerton

Dec-26-2007, 11:33am

allenhopkins

Dec-26-2007, 12:15pm

MikeEdgerton

Dec-26-2007, 12:47pm

I'd just get myself in trouble if I used that line http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif

JeffD

Dec-26-2007, 1:23pm

http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sleepy.gif Has anyone become quite good when they had no music experence.and Picked up the mandolin,banjo,mayby Uke #after retirement mayby 55 or so I love hearing about the young but is there a chance in H??? #that us mature folk can become accomplished
I agree with what has been posted. I think I should add, however, that whether or not you can or will ever become "accomplished" or "professional" you can have one heck of a good time. Don't let the goal and its obtainability affect the journey and its fun.

Ken Sager

Dec-26-2007, 3:49pm

It wouldn't be too hard to make being a musician a part-time job when you have something else paying the bills. Doing it full-time and surviving on the money is what's hard at any point in your life.
Exactly spot on, Mike. #The way I phrase it, "Music's a great mistress but a lousy wife."
Like any other pursuit, if you're any good and you put 40 hours a week into it is quite possible to make a decent living. The other question is whether you enjoy it enough to put 40 hours a week into it.

I'd rather put 40 hours a week into music than a desk job.

I've done both.

MikeEdgerton

Dec-26-2007, 3:59pm

Well, let me put it this way. I love music but I have yet to get it to pay in a 40 hour week what I can make in an 8 hour day doing what I do now. Sad but true. I don't think I totally suck at music (I'm sure some would disagree) and I do think I'm one of the best at what do for a living so I'm assuming it just isn't in the cards for me at this point in my life. If you're able to make it work for yourself I envy you. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Tim2723

Dec-26-2007, 4:17pm

There's a lot of good points here. #Part of it is playing in the right place. #I'm in NJ where the population is high and there's a lot of work available. #Like Allen, I play 150-200 shows a year. #I play Irish folk for theme venues. #Bluegrass will starve you to death here, but Irish is big. #You can get from $300 to $800 a show for Irish in NJ. #Because of where I am and what I play, my experience is the opposite of Mike's. #I can make more money in eight hours of music than I can in 60 hours at WallyMart (not that Mike stocks shelves at WalMart, mind you, but well, I'm in Jersey and that's about all I can do here! LOL). #And all the while I'm doing this, I'm a total hack compared to many of the players here. #I play three chords and simple melody breaks. #What I do should be illegal.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Jason Holmes

Dec-26-2007, 7:04pm

I play three chords and simple melody breaks. What I do should be illegal.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Aren't those things the cornerstone of many genres of modern music though? Three chords and a catchy melody?

Tim2723

Dec-26-2007, 7:58pm

I play three chords and simple melody breaks. #What I do should be illegal.
http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif
Aren't those things the cornerstone of many genres of modern music though? #Three chords and a catchy melody?
Not the way I do it, Jason! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

MikeEdgerton

Dec-26-2007, 10:25pm

There's a lot of good points here. Part of it is playing in the right place. I'm in NJ where the population is high and Because of where I am and what I play, my experience is the opposite of Mike's. I can make more money in eight hours of music than I can in 60 hours at WallyMart (not that Mike stocks shelves at WalMart, mind you, but well, I'm in Jersey and that's about all I can do here! LOL).
Tim, I live and work in Jersey. Honestly, you can do something other than work at Wal-Mart http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif

Dennis Russell

Dec-26-2007, 11:05pm

Do you mean playing music for money? I get paid sometimes at our club get togethers. but sometimes win at contest either on my guitar or mandolin or fiddle or is that different. I have sat in with a few proffesionals at two hour shows playing back up for banjo and fiddle players, a couple of bucks and my supper mabey gas to get home afterwards, I thouroughly enjoy it, but not enough to make a living. I played proffesional on my electric guitar in a three piece country band twelve years ago, only made tips on Sunday afternoon's, taken out to supper afterwards but not enough to consider myself as pro.
I have filled up for sick pros at a gig, something I wouldnt want to do for a living...................Dennis in Az

chipotle

Dec-26-2007, 11:38pm

I am doing the best I can to participate in church. http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif

Jerry Haynes

Dec-27-2007, 8:50am

Is there hope for those on the backside of 50 http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/rock.gif?? Absolutly ! If you are fairly healthy, age really has nothing to do with how good of a musician you want to be.
I started playing mando at 45 or so, professional..no, decent would be more like it. I'm now 54, and playing bass in a bluegrass band. Probably make a couple thousand a year playing festivals etc, I consider this FREE MONEY ! It's usually spent on gas , food and stuff, but I'd do it for free. In our band , if we can pay our expenses , we're happy. Will play for food , we actually have done that. If anyone can make a living playing music they are very fortunate, few are able to do that. I really do it just for the love of it, and of course ... the food.

Tim2723

Dec-27-2007, 9:35am

There's a lot of good points here. #Part of it is playing in the right place. #I'm in NJ where the population is high and # Because of where I am and what I play, my experience is the opposite of Mike's. #I can make more money in eight hours of music than I can in 60 hours at WallyMart (not that Mike stocks shelves at WalMart, mind you, but well, I'm in Jersey and that's about all I can do here! LOL).
Tim, I live and work in Jersey. Honestly, you can do something other than work at Wal-Mart http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif
Yeah, you can play Irish music! http://www.mandolincafe.net/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif