On Earning A Living From Making Music...

Imake a living from producing music. I have done so for the past 1092 days.

This article does not discuss tactics but rather more of a philosophy for approaching your work if you are an aspiring full-time music maker. In my own experience I think applying these three principles has enabled me to earn a living from making music. This has been my focus:

1.Make Better Music
2.Make More Music
3.Help Others Do The Same

HONESTLY I STRUGGLE WITH THE SIMPLICITY OF THESE THREE POINTS. SOME MAY THINK, “DUH ZACH! THAT IS ALL VERY OBVIOUS”. THE FUNDAMENTALS ARE OFTEN OBVIOUS. THE FOUNDATION OF A BUILDING IS FAR FROM SEXY. HOWEVER, THAT DOES NOT MAKE IT ANY LESS IMPORTANT. 

THESE PRINCIPLES ARE MY GUIDE POSTS. IF I AM TO MAKE ANY EFFORT I WANT TO KNOW IF IT WILL ALIGN WITH THESE PRINCIPLES. I SEE SO MANY ARTISTS AND CREATIVES TRAPPED IN FRUITLESS PURSUITS EXPENDING VALUABLE RESOURCES — BARELY INCHING CLOSER TO THEIR GOALS. 

WHAT WORK ARE YOU DOING? THE WORK — EFFORT, TIME, AND RESOURCES THAT MUST BE SPENT TO ACHIEVE YOUR GOAL… HOW DO YOU KNOW IF WHAT YOU’RE DOING IS RIGHT? WHAT IS YOUR FOCUS? 

ARE YOU MAKING BETTER MUSIC, MORE MUSIC, OR HELPING SOMEONE ELSE DO THE SAME? 

THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET. THERE IS NO GUARANTEE OF SUCCESS. HOWEVER, IF YOU MAKE TRULY EXCEPTIONAL AND BEAUTIFUL ART MORE DOORS WILL OPEN FOR YOU. CERTAINLY BY DOING SO YOU WILL INCREASE YOUR ODDS OF GETTING LUCKY. 

YOU ALSO NEED CONSISTENCY. KEEP SHOWING UP. KEEP MAKING BEAUTIFUL ART. NORMALIZE YOUR PRODUCTION OF ART. THE DOGGED PURSUIT OF MAKING BETTER MUSIC WILL EVENTUALLY LEAD TO MASTERY OF YOUR CRAFT. WITH MASTERY AND CONSISTENCY YOU CAN CREATE YOUR OWN LUCK.