Amateur/Pro

eliam · Post by **eliam** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 2:45 am

Cool thread guys!

Yes, it's quite a challenge to find our way and take our place as artists in this world... The most important thing is Love, because it mows down any obstacle which stands in the way of constructive action. The other most important thing is to focus the attention on a given and clear objective and visualize it already manifested in details. Krizrox talks about spending an hour a day to do promotion work, so I might add another suggestion: take five minutes a day to do the visualization work and hold the picture of the project you wish to realize, completely fulfilled. This works wonder, because the big challenge in life is to take a firm grip on our attention and anchor it where we want it anchored, that is, on constructive things whatever they may be. Of course, happiness is the primary goal, so it could occupy half of the visualization session, the other half being an artistic project or whatever.

Personally, I give everything to music because I know it is my mission on Earth to bring music to the people. There are days where I spend 16 hours in the studio, composing, recording, arranging, mixing, etc. Usually I work like 12 hours a day, and I don't earn a living with it yet, but it's coming, I know it. I work alone, so I'm quite secluded, but I feel all right with that, for I do what I want to do and I prefer to be productive rather than anything else the world can offer...

I had a girlfriend once and I told her how dedicated I was to my art, but even though I was very clear, she twisted it and thought that music came first and she after. That was not it, like if I had a day job and she would compete with it as my companion... Silly humans...! It's true that sometimes I spent time with her and I craved to go back to my music, but I truly loved her (I still love her as a friend). I still want to find a mate who would understand my love for my work and feel good about it. It is possible, I might even have met her last summer!

Anyway, I'll keep on working more and more until I succeed in my endeavours and I wish you the same!

Be at peace,
Etienne

Immanuel · Post by **Immanuel** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:08 am

I had 2 friends who where both drummers.
A called B a prostitute, because B played in a party band.
B called A a prostitute, because A had a day job.

I would love to be able to have an easy life just playing the music I love. But I would hate to have to make music, that enough people like.

Therefor I choose music as a hoby, and the second best for a profession - music therapy. I don't have a steady workflow as a composer though, and I have sold some of my time to my study.

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:45 am

I don't really think about the difference between amateru/pro.. I mean, it would be a dilemma if I confined "music" as in selling to tunes to records companies, but I think things can go in many different directions. You can do stuff for theater, learn to arrange for an orchestra and orchestrate, make sound effects, do audio programming.. whatever. The job "composer" is sort of abstract. So in conclusion, I'll do audio for a living and compose when a job requires me to. There are thousands of other audio things you can do.

About doing what I don't like... or should I rephrase it, "what I'm not familiar with", I think it's always an interesting challenge.. unless people tell me to purposely make crap. Having to crank out tunes is kind of fun too. It's all a challenge. Kind of like homework. You hate it, and it kills your time, but you do it, and now it's all in your brain. Plus, if you get paid in the process, I don't see a point in complaining.

Of course, working with record lables who obviously want to get all the juice from you and through you away is just full of bullsh*t. Don't be a composer if your employers want a tree that grows money instead. Bad situations exist, but equally, good situations. Just run away and go somewhere else.

[ This Message was edited by: kensuguro on 2003-11-13 08:55 ]

paulrmartin · Post by **paulrmartin** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:52 am

(I hope you don't mind, Ken)

Ken and myself (to name just 2 people we all know and love

) have worked on a lot of projects at a pro level without being paid for it. Does that make us amateurs because no money came from our hard work and devotion?

_________________
Paul R. Martin - Are we listening?

[ This Message was edited by: paulrmartin on 2003-11-13 08:53 ]

kensuguro · Post by **kensuguro** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 8:57 am

great point Paul.

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:01 am

On 2003-11-13 08:45, kensuguro wrote:
The job "composer" is sort of abstract. So in conclusion, I'll do audio for a living and compose when a job requires me to. There are thousands of other audio things you can do.

Exactly! I freelance as a live sound engineer for local groups. Quite often, I'm compelled to help move the equipment in and out (which I hate, but it's all for the cause).

I don't necessarily have to do this. I do it because it brings in a little more money each month but more importantly, it gives me the opportunity to promote my studio! I've gotten plenty of business from face-to-face contacts I've made at gigs. So don't be afraid to take menial jobs in the music biz. They can easily lead to something bigger.

Here's another little helpful hint:

Talk to an attorney or an accountant and make sure your musical endeavors are treated like a business. I don't know how it works outside the U.S., but every expense related to the business is a tax write-off for me. Even the space I occupy in my house is a write-off. Gas milage to and from gigs or whatever. The point is, make sure you track your expenses every month. Didn't cost me much to get this all set up. Your biggest expense might be the consultation with a lawyer.

It can seem kinda mundane to have to track all this but once you get in the habit of doing it, it becomes easier. Keep a log book in your car. Note the starting mileage and ending mileage every time to drive somewhere that's related to your music. Take stock of all the equipment and software in your studio. List it down along with the purchase price and date of purchase on a spreadsheet. Note the amount of space you use in your home for the business. If you don't have a cell phone or beeper, get one. It should be deductible. Get a fax machine and keep it turned on (I use mine more for copying pages than sending faxes).

Get a separate checking or savings account for the business. Here in the U.S., you need to register the business with the local government before you can open a business account.

Take all this with you if you talk to an accountant.

Check into this even if it's just a hobby.

If you're still at the hobby level and want to go pro, these things are absolutely necessary! It was a real mind-bender for me when I got my business registered and all the pieces in place. The mindset changed literally overnight. I went from being a schmuck to a small business owner overnight. My mindset was now: "take this seriously - make it work!". Get a company logo. Put the sign up in your workspace to remind yourself that you own a company. If you have an answering machine, change the greeting message to reflect that it's your business (even if it's in your home). When you personally answer the phone, answer it with your business name first. It may just be your house but create the illusion that it's a store-front operation. People who call you will be more impressed that way.

[ This Message was edited by: krizrox on 2003-11-13 09:42 ]

krizrox · Post by **krizrox** » Thu Nov 13, 2003 9:36 am

I wanted to add one more thing that I believe is even more important than all this other stuff - your "significant other" (spouse, girlfriend, whatever).

I've been through one divorce myself due to music related endeavors. The mistake I made the first time was that I did not get my spouse to buy into what I was doing. And, to compound the problem, I alienated her in the process of trying to run a business. bad mistake! Tactical error!

Your business will likely fail if you don't get approval from your spouse. A girlfriend can be replaced easy enough but a wife is a bit harder since they can take much of what you own with the divorce. Even worse if children are involved.

The solution is so simple it's ridiculous.

Sit down with your "other" and explain to them what you are trying to do. Bring them into the process. Your wife can answer the phone and pretend to be a secretary. The "other" can run errands for you while you're working. They are working for you free of charge almost. Cheaper than hiring a secretary! By becoming part of the "biz", they will not feel alienated. Make sure you have regular sit down discussions to talk about the biz. The "others" can often have useful suggestions that you might not have thought of. They can work the phone for you, etc etc etc.

In fact, get the other her own business cards. List her as vice-president or something important. Make sure she's mentioned on a website or whatever. A lot of this is just mental.