How in the heck do I make music for a living

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:14 pm

I dont remember a thread like this one, even though its a very obvious point of discussion.

Allot of us here are musicians, and most of us here are musicians, of which many are more then decent, that have to do a silly job to keep them from starving or sleeping in the rain. Most of the more then decent musicians would sell their spare kidney to just make music and eat of it. Why can't we just make the jump and make money making music? Is there a certain trick? Is there some secret witchcraft involved? Is it possible without becoming a second mouse? Is our music not good enough?

Lens Larque · Post by **Lens Larque** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:29 pm

Consider the kind of music you make, and can play live. Playing live and becoming known that you can do that and be available for that is probably the best way to go.

Mastering and semi-mastering all styles of music and being able to play them. I like electronic music that is full of ideas but who else really listens to that?

I've seen a lot of internet style musicians who create at home, and distribute over the internet go absolutely nowhere. Gotta get out in the real world and check the markets and network face to face. Hustle.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:39 pm

Where is the market and how do I get there?

Lens Larque · Post by **Lens Larque** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 7:51 pm

I don't know where you live but take a good look at the biggest town around where you are. What the hell is going on? Are there any musicians playing locally?

What are Bestemor and Bestefar cutting a rug to?

edit

I think the zeitgeist for electronic music as we know it has collapsed entirely. The big ones have been locked in. The content of your work must be entirely overwhelming to break through. If you're laying down beats and synths or whatever but got nothing else you can forget it. Look at the new Flying Lotus record. Its OK. All the reviews are about its concept. That is what makes You're Dead relevant.

Headphase · Post by **Headphase** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:12 pm

Playing gigs, even if it's only to a few people, and getting recognised. Start a band, or go solo if you want, and perform. Then add some stuff on youtube, get more people listening, and (hopefully) get a record label

Of course it is easier said than done, and requires A LOT of hard work

Waterbagel · Post by **Waterbagel** » Thu Oct 09, 2014 9:27 pm

Working into that myself. Like it's been said up above, you gotta go out.

No one is going to stumble upon a bandcamp page, and VERY seldom will a "guys please check out my page" post on facebook amount to anything tangible. (not saying you do these, these are just things I see)

Since I noticed this after my post, this is what I was alluding to:

Lens Larque wrote: I've seen a lot of internet style musicians who create at home, and distribute over the internet go absolutely nowhere. Gotta get out in the real world and check the markets and network face to face. Hustle.

furthermore

Touring is how many bands make their money (part-of-a-label bands, anyway). It's also a lot of fun.

Ever been to a venue that caters to more eclectic music? By that, I mean not your usual run of the mill cover bands or anything. Electronica, grunge, anything-goes type venues.

Talk to them. Get to know their booking guy. Put together a (good-sounding) demo. Give it to him. Rinse and repeat with all eligible venues in the area, even branching out into the more typical venues.

sorry this is so stream-of-consciousness

Skytree · Post by **Skytree** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 12:18 am

I did this for 4 years and just recently started feeling too burnt out from touring and promoting pretty much constantly. It started to interfere with relationships and health which made me reconsider. Ultimately I decided I can't and don't want to do it indefinitely, but everyone's experience is different.

For the sake of keeping music fun sometimes you gotta keep it simple. Playing live and traveling a lot can be rough - I have a lot more respect for other artists (like Boards) that choose not to tour after having done so myself for a while.

The truth is, a lot of the artists you listen to probably do something on the side (IE: Tycho is in part the result of a solid graphic design income). I'd rather release tunes because I love to, not because I have to. Same with shows.

On my end, I'll mostly be working on design and engineering projects now while producing and teaching music on the side. Good topic man.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 9:07 am

So I guess this is the plan:

Play more gigs you lazy bum.
Play all gigs, even the shitty gigs.
Consider eating speed to stay fit.

...easy...

Why did God have to make me a musician...

Is there no Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start?

Skytree · Post by **Skytree** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:59 pm

Cupz wrote:So I guess this is the plan:

Play more gigs you lazy bum.
Play all gigs, even the shitty gigs.
Consider eating speed to stay fit.

...easy...

Why did God have to make me a musician...

Is there no Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start?

I suppose my recommendation would be:

- Sure, play more gigs. That's a good thing usually.
- Do something else you enjoy to make money on the side as shitty gigs are never worth your time.
- Speed, cocaine, Adderall, whatever your stim of choice, it will catch up to you. Seen lots of peers go this route - even if they go strong for a year or two they eventually crash and burn, and it's sad.

For Up, Up, Down, Down, Left, Right, Left, Right, B, A, Start, be insanely talented and reach out to just the right people at just the right time. It does happen, albeit very very rarely. Also, you get 3,000 IDM points if you live in the UK, where more interesting forms of electronic music are generally much more appreciated then, say, here in the States, and you won't have to deal as much with celebrity BS.

Otherwise, just do what you love, do your best at it, don't have expectations, have fun and it won't matter what other people think or how much money you make from it.

Headphase · Post by **Headphase** » Fri Oct 10, 2014 4:45 pm

Yeah drugs ain't the way to go. A while back I had my work experience at a music studio, and we were all discussing how drugs can mess with careers.

Just stay determined. It might take you ages to finally get recognised, but just stay determined

The Telepathic Kid · Post by **The Telepathic Kid** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 1:44 am

learn how to suck cock really well

then you'll make it.

ONTHE88 · Post by **ONTHE88** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:28 am

see below

ONTHE88 · Post by **ONTHE88** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 3:29 am

The Telepathic Kid wrote:learn how to suck cock really well

then you'll make it.

This man is thinking with his head.....

About giving head

vballs · Post by **vballs** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:14 am

How about writing music for video games? Sounds like an awesome way to make money and surely it is something you could train for so has a more defined route. Also Cupz, having heard some of your stuff, sounds like you could have a knack for such a thing.

lyst · Post by **lyst** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 7:30 am

The music game has changed so much over the years.

Really, you can't just make music and start touring and releasing stuff.

You have to go at it all differently, think of something nobody has ever done before, make your mark somehow. Everything is so over-saturated, we have 16 year olds popping out decent electronic beats these days- all because the internet makes everyone feel like they can be a star. This just makes life a lot harder for someone who's put years and years into their work and are looking for a break, because the people they need to get to are so annoyed with other people flooding them with 'alright' demos.

What can you do to set you apart from the rest?

Another sad fact is a lot of the times it has nothing to do with how great of an artist you are, it is all about who you know. For instance, the LA beat scene, Low End Theory, all that. There's some relatively shitty artists coming out of there that are getting signed and records put out just because they're involved with those guys. See "ELOS" on Alphapup Records.

Cupz · Post by **Cupz** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 12:28 pm

Great reactions in this thread right here!

vballs wrote:How about writing music for video games? Sounds like an awesome way to make money and surely it is something you could train for so has a more defined route. Also Cupz, having heard some of your stuff, sounds like you could have a knack for such a thing.

Oh I love making video-game music, and I do have a knack for it. I've tried getting some assignments, but only got some oppertunities to work on crappy tower-defense flash games. I know I have to start somewhere, but I can make games like that myself (and do) and even do a heck of a better job. Its definitely something I'm keeping my eye open for. Developers like Cactus or Vlambeer make my heart go boom and I'd love to make music for that kind of talent. You are right. Produce for other media might be one of the little realisable ways to do it.Film soundtracks, commercials, that little song you hear when a company puts you on hold. I'm all up for it.

lyst wrote:The music game has changed so much over the years.

Really, you can't just make music and start touring and releasing stuff.

You have to go at it all differently, think of something nobody has ever done before, make your mark somehow. Everything is so over-saturated, we have 16 year olds popping out decent electronic beats these days- all because the internet makes everyone feel like they can be a star. This just makes life a lot harder for someone who's put years and years into their work and are looking for a break, because the people they need to get to are so annoyed with other people flooding them with 'alright' demos.

What can you do to set you apart from the rest?

Another sad fact is a lot of the times it has nothing to do with how great of an artist you are, it is all about who you know. For instance, the LA beat scene, Low End Theory, all that. There's some relatively shitty artists coming out of there that are getting signed and records put out just because they're involved with those guys. See "ELOS" on Alphapup Records.

Lots of wisdom here. I totally agree. The market is filled to the brim with psuedo shit. I do like to believe there is a not-so-subtle difference between real music and the stuff 16 year olds make. Talking to one of those 16 year olds made me realize a good example is that a "real" composer can compose in "any" genre they want, which is something I like to think I'm capable of (bold statement, but I have yet to prove otherwise!), while most of the crap out there is people making music they like best. Be it Afrojack, Armin van Buuren or Boards of Canada. The ability to make music in genres I dont even like myself might just give me that little boost I need, especially in that intermediar way the answer to the previous quote was talking about. Then again, maybe I'm just fooling myself.

There is always the quest for the thing nobody is doing yet. I think I might have found something new, which is now in its early ubersecret prototype stage, but being original compositional is hard nowadays. Every genre has been mixed, every brainfart has been made into reality all over the world. Especially the shitty ideas. I *think* I can make stuff nobody has ever heard before but people will most likely find it unlistenable. You could almost say originality is dead, even though I dont exacly believe that "Find a niche" is now definetely noted.

Networking indeed seems the key. It seems you need to impress the right person at the right time and stay under his/her wing for a while. Hitch a ride. WHEREZ MAH AUTECHRE.

Aerial Boundaries · Post by **Aerial Boundaries** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 4:57 pm

The Telepathic Kid wrote:learn how to suck cock really well

then you'll make it.

"Sitting behind their big marble desks, ties done up to eleven, clicking their fingers to the fucking Lighthouse Family, getting their dick sucked by a big Alsatian dog. They're all perverts mate."

re-phaelam-ed · Post by **re-phaelam-ed** » Mon Oct 13, 2014 8:05 pm

Cupz wrote:How in the heck do I make music for a living

be taylor swift

Techboy · Post by **Techboy** » Tue Oct 14, 2014 10:41 pm

yeah, VG music is prolly right up yer alley actually. gigging and shit is a big part of it though, and having your music heard in other environments than the internet (radio, whatever). much more likely to grab someones attention that way - the sort of environment people browse the internet in is terrible for it. the vast majority of people arent in the right sort of mindset to stop and go "wait, wow" and suddenly put on their headphones and deeply connect with your music anyway, not that any of the sites they use will actually give them that chance. on facebook its obviously just non stop clickbait, and soundcloud isnt a lot better - unless they specifically click on your profile (and even sometimes if they do) they'll get one of your songs and then it will be "MORE STUFF WE THINK YOU WILL LIKE!" ... and even then it will be a fucking miracle to get people to pay for it. (not just your stuff, everyone faces this issue now. releases != cash, unless you have a serious hardcore fanbase of many tens of thousands. which is obviously a tall order).. i think i am just rambling, maybe you can make sense of this shite.

untitled · Post by **untitled** » Wed Oct 15, 2014 1:15 am

dj
produce some wicked trax
kickstarter
tour bus (where you can also live when your gf kicks you out)
dj
???
profit
dj some more

Warning: tour buses cannot cross large spans of water so you would also need either an airplane or a yacht which can carry your tour bus

____twoism

How in the heck do I make music for a living

How in the heck do I make music for a living

Re: How in the heck do I make music for a living