Hobby, Passion, Career?
Howdy music makers! Today I would like to discuss the varying degrees of commitment for artists out there in the not-quite-famous realm of music. Many of my posts are for those who are making music a second career or want it to be much more than a hobby. I’m sure there are many out there though who may struggle to relate to those articles because music is important to them, but they don’t see a need for monetizing it or being deliberate in marketing or building a fan base. And that’s okay! So let’s talk a bit about that shall we?
Do you record but just for fun? Do you create EDM or remix music but don’t post anywhere or very few places? Do you write an occasional ditty on the guitar and made a rough demo or two but didn’t take it much further? Have you created a song and casually put it out on Bandcamp not expecting anything to come from it? This is sounding like a hobby to me. You aren’t expecting radio play, not seeking sales, and you may or may not be interested in serious feedback. You hit a couple open mics for fun, you don’t have a website, etc. I really want to stress to you and all who you interact with on your music that this is valid. Not everyone has the want or means to do any more than this.
Okay... now let’s go the opposite end of the spectrum... Do you gig regularly and build your local network? Are you active across multiple social media platforms to promote your music? Do you invest in equipment and studio time? Do you have multiple releases available across the expected platforms? Do you actively market and promote new releases? Most importantly, are you making money from your music and are you working to make it self-sustaining? You don’t have to do all these things exactly as I stated them, but if this sounds familiar to you then you’ve chosen to make music a career. This is far more than a hobby to you. You (should) take your audience and feedback seriously. You are learning or have learned to take the good with the bad, celebrate successful releases, and learn from the not-so-successful ones. You seek (or should be seeking) out the wisdom of peers and participate in the music community.
So what’s in between? That first one may seem like not enough for some of you but the second is too much. Well nothing is black and white. You can be somewhere in between with a strong love and commitment to music and a desire to be heard without a desire to be paid or the drive to market and grow your audience substantially. You participate in the music community and release music but promote more casually, if at all. You may or may not have a website or EPK. Maybe you have had a couple reviews but don’t really seek them much. You love your audience but maybe you aren’t on Spotify. For you I’d say this is a passion. There is nothing wrong with this either. (And yes a career musician is passionate too just to be clear.)
So why did I write this at all? Because there is a point where you need to recognize where you are. And there is a point where you may pass from one category to another and you need to decide how to conduct business and yourself. It is a spectrum with gray areas that come down to your intent and your commitment. Are you just a hobbiest? Great! Be that hobbiest with the understanding and expectations of one. It takes a lot to turn professional and self-sustaining. Are you making this a serious primary or secondary career? Then you’d better act like it and don’t make the excuse of “it’s just a hobby” when you hit a wall or a rough patch. Be frank with your family and friends that this is serious for you. (Don't let it go if they say to you that it's nice you have a hobby when you have 5 LPs, regular gigs, awards, and dozens of reviews, interviews, etc.) Is this a passion? Be honest about that too. You can be a serious artist without worrying about marketing so long as you recognize your own expectations. You have a space here too! Maybe you teeter between passion and career even, and maybe you're facing a choice to push further. Many of us choose to not go all in on music due to other needs and life choices but we maintain a strong passion that borders on a career. Remember that not all advice or articles are geared toward the same audience with the same expectations. Be honest with yourself. But most importantly remember that wherever you fall on this spectrum that your place in the music community is valid.
Do you record but just for fun? Do you create EDM or remix music but don’t post anywhere or very few places? Do you write an occasional ditty on the guitar and made a rough demo or two but didn’t take it much further? Have you created a song and casually put it out on Bandcamp not expecting anything to come from it? This is sounding like a hobby to me. You aren’t expecting radio play, not seeking sales, and you may or may not be interested in serious feedback. You hit a couple open mics for fun, you don’t have a website, etc. I really want to stress to you and all who you interact with on your music that this is valid. Not everyone has the want or means to do any more than this.
Okay... now let’s go the opposite end of the spectrum... Do you gig regularly and build your local network? Are you active across multiple social media platforms to promote your music? Do you invest in equipment and studio time? Do you have multiple releases available across the expected platforms? Do you actively market and promote new releases? Most importantly, are you making money from your music and are you working to make it self-sustaining? You don’t have to do all these things exactly as I stated them, but if this sounds familiar to you then you’ve chosen to make music a career. This is far more than a hobby to you. You (should) take your audience and feedback seriously. You are learning or have learned to take the good with the bad, celebrate successful releases, and learn from the not-so-successful ones. You seek (or should be seeking) out the wisdom of peers and participate in the music community.
So what’s in between? That first one may seem like not enough for some of you but the second is too much. Well nothing is black and white. You can be somewhere in between with a strong love and commitment to music and a desire to be heard without a desire to be paid or the drive to market and grow your audience substantially. You participate in the music community and release music but promote more casually, if at all. You may or may not have a website or EPK. Maybe you have had a couple reviews but don’t really seek them much. You love your audience but maybe you aren’t on Spotify. For you I’d say this is a passion. There is nothing wrong with this either. (And yes a career musician is passionate too just to be clear.)
So why did I write this at all? Because there is a point where you need to recognize where you are. And there is a point where you may pass from one category to another and you need to decide how to conduct business and yourself. It is a spectrum with gray areas that come down to your intent and your commitment. Are you just a hobbiest? Great! Be that hobbiest with the understanding and expectations of one. It takes a lot to turn professional and self-sustaining. Are you making this a serious primary or secondary career? Then you’d better act like it and don’t make the excuse of “it’s just a hobby” when you hit a wall or a rough patch. Be frank with your family and friends that this is serious for you. (Don't let it go if they say to you that it's nice you have a hobby when you have 5 LPs, regular gigs, awards, and dozens of reviews, interviews, etc.) Is this a passion? Be honest about that too. You can be a serious artist without worrying about marketing so long as you recognize your own expectations. You have a space here too! Maybe you teeter between passion and career even, and maybe you're facing a choice to push further. Many of us choose to not go all in on music due to other needs and life choices but we maintain a strong passion that borders on a career. Remember that not all advice or articles are geared toward the same audience with the same expectations. Be honest with yourself. But most importantly remember that wherever you fall on this spectrum that your place in the music community is valid.
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