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Surviving .The Working Musician .

I was browsing lowyat.net the other day . Somebody asked a very interesting question.

How do people in the music industry earn their living?

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Well , i think i fall into that category . I may not be that SUPER MULTI MILLIONAIRE dude in the music scene . But i am surviving . I will share some thoughts about it.

Let me be dead honest with you . Malaysia’s music industry isn’t that pretty . Many musicians struggle HARD to make a decent living . Many believe that our industry is going downhill .

I believe changing our approach can CHANGE the industry .

The best advice , i could give is also found in Robert Allen’s book .

Have multiple streams of income .

Here is a rough idea on how people make their living in the music industry .

1.Selling a product

2.Teaching (individuals or group)

3.Playing for an event

4.Renting equipments for an event

5.Organizing concerts and event

6.Composing , Jingles , music arrangement , sound track

7.Sound recording

8.Starting a jamming studio , music school or a music shop .

9.Wholesale

10.Advertising & endorsement

11.Session and Hired professional musician

12.Being an Artist , selling albums

13.Selling your band’s merchandise

14.Networking , agents & middle man for performers

15.Producing

16.Repair guitars , custom made guitars

Its a big business . It covers many aspect in many different ways , from servicing , manufacturing , being a middle man , creating something new , relationship to management ..

Why is it important to have multiple streams of income ?

Simple , because of the nature of the market . Let me explain to you the “seasons”. (wah , i sound like a feng shui guru)

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January-March . This is the month where people actually SIGN UP for music lessons. (their new year’s resolution) . So you might want to focus on this area at this time . Also , do not miss out the “bonus” period on February , people might wanna spent some money on a new amp or a new guitar .

March-April . This period is where Sound engineers , recording companies , Jingles and music arrangement players get their project . Why ? simple , people want to launch their products and advertisements on July , August and September . Background music and music arrangement are in DEMAND . Expect Sales , and lessons to be slow .

May-July . Company Annual Dinner Anyone ? EVENTS period . Expect lots of events , performances , equipment rental , jamming studios fully BOOKED , Battle of the bands , BIG competitions such as Philip Jazz competition.. you get the idea .

August-December . Where Sales pick up . People just feel like buying at this period of time . That is why music companies have their “year end sale”. Music schools will be a little bit slow due to SPM and PMR . But after SPM and PMR it will pick up again because new students will enroll . Do expect low budget events such as High school prom , College prom night . Towards the end of the year (Christmas-New year) , Expect loads of Street parties & Events , last minute recording projects etc.

So you see why is it important to have multiple streams of income ? NO INDUSTRY will give you good secure business THROUGHOUT THE YEAR .(unless you’re talking about petrol , internet , handphones etc) When one industry is down , you gotta switch to the another industry that is picking up .You have to move together with the market, and the market moves very quickly .

How am i supposed to LEARN EVERYTHING ?

Take one step at a time . Just like learning how to play a guitar .

I started out as a kid guitar teacher when i was 17 , and i started selling guitars too .

By 19 i was an event player for hired . Then i moved on to organizing events , being the middle man etc.

Slowly , i started to buy my own sound equipments , started a studio , guitar shop and a music school .

Today , i import & export musical instruments , consult new businesses and new jamming studios , supply sound & lights to event companies .

Next year , will i be doing the same thing ? Definitely not . Because I am moving along with the market . I will be working on my own guitar brand , as well as securing sole distributorship for other brands . I am also looking forward to start a new Music Master branch too.

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Is it hard ? Yes , but it is possible . The point is , You will not do the same thing for your entire life . You have to keep changing and adapt to the market .

Even professional musicians such as Jose Thomas started a Pub called Groove Junction . Today , with the internet , everything moves so quickly . We need to improve and learn to move forward , instead of being stuck at the same place and whine about how sucky Malaysian Music Scene is .

So if you’re the guy who is moving along with the market , great ! If you’re that typical musician who whines about how shitty your client is and all , CHANGE and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT ! Learn a new skill and MOVE ON !

Feel free to apply this in other areas of your life

Continue with part 2 , here