PG Music Home Forums General Discussion Off-Topic Career in music

Hi I like to sing but I have no band and no friends and my folks(parents)divorced.What can I do?
I wanted to try college but I don't have an income unless faking documents for medical conditions.I do have a medical condition but you're not going to like what you're going to hear.
I don't want to tell you my medical condition but I want to find out if you can become a musician by your talent and voice.I have voice but I have 0 connections in real life.I don't want to end up singing on the street.
Can someone take you in a studio if you have no one in this line of work?

Maybe if you do go busking on the street in the warmer weather next year, and you voice is Great, then maybe someone will hear you and bring you to a studio if you are really that good, and you do have to be THAT Good.

In the meantime do something, to earn some money, get yourself lessons a guitar or whatever instrument you interested in.

Plenty of free lessons on the internet.

Good luck.

You can be recruited from the street?
I really don't know how the real world works and that's the reason I'm asking this dumb question!

The music business is VERY tough these days and getting tougher as AI matures.
Someone once said, "You've got to be in the game to be in the game."
Seems to me that step one in getting "in the game" is to secure a steady income, then network from there.

So that means I should keep my expactations at low?

No it means if you want a career in music you advance in steps. You start by becoming proficient with your instrument, in your case your voice. You learn to sing many different song genres. You join community chorus or a church choir and learn to work with others. You sing in front of people at parties or senior living facilities. You visit clubs and bars that feature live music and ask to set in. You network with other musicians to build up your confidence, gain experience and build up a reputation.

I'd suggest that a career in singing isn't for you. It's a super-competitive field, and you have to really hustle to make things happen. If you were going to be a singer, you'd be networking, joining bands, and looking for every opportunity to sing.

That doesn't sound like where you're at.
Well, forgery isn't a traditional job career.

I'd suggest considering a vocational school and getting a two-year certificate. Look to see if student loans are available. Pick something where there's a high demand for the work.
Talent and voice are just a starting point.

You need to have drive, connections, and the determination, even in the face of insurmountable odds.You'll need to adapt to a field where there are less and less opportunities, less and less pay, and more highly skilled people you'll have to compete against for work.
Studios are happy to take your money, no matter how skilled or unskilled you are. They're there to take your money, not judge you.

Unless you mean will someone let me use their studio for free, in which the case is No.

@dcuny
I don't want to do music to become rich,I want to do music because it is my passion.Unfortunately I don't live in the USA and I live in Romania where most jobs are in IT...
I want to try a guitar instrument and become like the Blaxy Girls. I like rock but I don't know where to find producers,the band had a producer who was also a dentist,Costi Ionita.
Is that how music works in general?You need to have more jobs to cover you financial plans?

No, that is how life works. Music is secondary to surviving. If you love music as you say, you will find a way to kindle the fire, but it may not be how you are expecting it. But don't let that stop you.

Well, you're safe with "I don't want to do music to become rich."

If music is your passion, then that's what you'll end up doing - even if that means playing on the street.

Not everyone can make their passion their job. Sometimes, it's best not to make it your job. There are plenty of opportunities to sing that don't require you to work at it full time. Join a band, sing in a church choir, whatever. If you're good and you make connections, you'll find opportunities and jobs.

Since they were the biggest group in Romania, that's not exactly a modest goal.

The first step might be to learn to play a guitar.

Although he studied to be a dentist, I don't think he ever became one. It seems Ioniţă was busy with other things:

If the producer is the one who makes the group successful, they're the one who gets all the money. Even successful bands don't make that much money after all the expenses.

Yes, that's how it works for most jobs related to the arts (acting, writing, etc.). And there's no guarantee that you'll ever make it big in the business. Most people don't, and even people you probably think of as very successful aren't making that much money.

You are getting good advice!

Get a degree or vocational training and secure a career you enjoy working in that is in high demand so you have job security. Enjoy your music as a side gig. Begin networking with others and see where that takes you. All the while living a comfortable life.

Cinderella stories where a fantastic singer-songwriter is "discovered" and then featured/produced/managed to success are pretty much just fairy tales. Yeah, it could possibly happen but you have about as much chance of winning the lottery.

You go gal!

I live in the United States. I have played in the Tubes in London and France. I have been to Bucharest.
It is a bit easier if you are younger. It is very easy to get to know musicians in Italy who play in the streets. There are a lot of English guys and girls who play with the Italians. There is money to be made. It is difficult to learn your way around but it can be done.

There are kids and older people who are making enough money to support themselves all over Europe busking.

They know how to play the guitar or piano generally and a few other instruments. They are as much entertainers as musicians.

There are a few people like myself who would love to have a vocalist who knows how to sing.
I am pretty sure I am not the only one. I assume you live in or near Bucharest. Romania is not the best area in Eastern Europe to play on the street.

Until you learn to play some instrument well enough to accompany your voice you will have to team up with someone who plays.

Playing in the street in Europe is actually a good way to become a professional musician in Europe.
People will listen to you and if you are any good it will lead to other jobs.

There are many things you don't need, like a car. It is winter so more clothes are needed. If I were you I would try to get a job where you live this winter and save up some money, buy a cheap playable acoustic guitar, and play it till your fingers bled this winter. There are more tourists in the summer and it is a hell of a lot easier to deal with the weather conditions in the summer.

Try to figure out something that sets you apart from the rest of the musicians. I am from Texas, so I can do that Texas cowboy accent, which serves me well in England, for example. I speak several languages well enough to make small talk. I speak Arabic which gives me an in with the North Africans. Those guys are supporting their kids with the money they make playing, so they have little interest in sharing any with you, but if you speak Arabic, you can sometimes get in.

Look, it is getting more difficult by the year to survive playing music and it is only something you should consider if you are willing to work very hard and smart and be willing to put up with a good bit of crap and disappointments. There are plenty of people out there on the street willing to take advantage of you in many different ways. I have seen drugs and alcohol kill several of my musician friends over the years.

You may struggle from time to time to make enough to survive. That is why the definition of a guitar player who has lost his girlfriend/boyfriend is considered homeless...lol

Have fun and be good, and if you can't be good, be careful...lol

Cheers,

Billy

EDIT: Go listen to Subterranean Homesick Blues, it is pretty close to what real life is...lol In fact, you should learn a few of Bob Dylan's songs if you play on the street.

Here is some good info on what to do if you want to make money busking. I expect to make at least 100 euros for every evening I work on the street. Big bucks? No, but you can live in a hostel, eat well, and have a lot of fun. One other thing, a good teacher is a really good thing, but there is everything you need to learn for free on the net.

9 Essential Busking Tips in Europe
If you like to show off, if you value freedom and spontaneity, street performance may provide the ideal short-term employment abroad. Set your own hours, work wherever you want, and meet a lot of interesting people along the way. In most of Europe you can finance your travel by making a scene in public. Here are nine tips to put in your hat.

Dare to be different. Guitarists strumming out pop songs sometimes outnumber the pigeons, as my friend and I discovered one evening in Florence. When I broke a guitar string, we were forced to sing acapella. So we dropped U2 and harmonized old spirituals instead. We got more cash in the next 20 minutes than we had earned in the previous two hours. Unique stunts, exceptional costumes and props, or a rare musical instrument will almost always bring good results. How can you make your act different from all — or even just most — of the others? People will pay for something new and unusual.

Timing is everything. In popular, centralized areas where the crowds gather you’ll always have competition. So where to go? Better to ask when. I prefer places where the throngs are temporary, such as lines to get into a cinema or museum. I provide entertainment while they wait and have a captive audience where everybody’s relaxed and in a good mood. An occasional performance for the locals in their neighborhood park goes over well. But keep in mind that frequent repeats may cause resentment.

Think like a professional entertainer. You’re live at the Acropolis, even if it’s just the sidewalk outside, so keep high standards for yourself. Develop a 5- to 10-minute act that attracts attention, draws people in, and rewards them for staying. Rehearse it to perfection. Wear a first-rate costume in excellent condition, or at least the best clothes you can get. Use your props, voice, etc. to gather a crowd and convince them this is a real show. Most Europeans value artistic talent. Your professionalism will inspire them to give you money out of admiration, not pity.

Break the "fourth wall." Overcome the invisible barrier between you and your audience. Talk to them, make fun of them, try to interact. Respond dramatically to what they do. At least acknowledge them when they give you money. Be personable.

Keep on rolling. Passersby might dump bills in your hat the first time, but not after they see you every day. It’s helpful to vary your act from time to time but even more important to change locations frequently. This becomes crucial if you’re working in the off-season and can’t rely on a steady stream of fresh tourists to finance you.

Rules of the trade. Make sure your audience knows you’re looking for cash. Keep your money receptacle visible, and put something in it (bills, not coins) to reinforce the idea.

Watch for thieves. If someone contributes a large bill, put it in your pocket so nobody can walk away with it.

Arm yourself with all kinds of papers and documents to ward off police. Almost anything is better than nothing. Use a student ID card, letters from organizations you belong to, etc. A passport from an English-speaking country almost always smoothes the way. The local address or phone number of a friend gives you legitimacy, and even a card or brochure from a hotel or youth hostel suggests you’re not homeless. Bus, train, and plane tickets imply that you’ll be leaving soon, and police may be happy to let you move on.

Payment in kindness. Be open to receive offerings other than money. I’ve been pampered by an endless stream of pizza, coffee, gelato, free rides, and even job offers. Busking in out-of-the-way places can lead to interesting conversations that sometimes end in invitations. Be flexible. Not only will your talents keep your belly full, they’ll take you where tourists rarely get to go.

I can tell you that playing in the streets of Europe is a lot more fun than playing in a band in the United States.

Here is one of the ways I dress to get notised.
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Billy

I became a musician because of talent.

I've made a living as a musician since I was a young adult, from my talent, plus a lot of hard work, and constantly reacting to the changes in the music biz.

How?

First, you must work to be proficient on your instrument. Practice, practice, and then practice some more.

You must be versatile, and be able to play whatever style of music is in demand. And you must do it better or have another edge against your competition.

Learning more than one instrument is a plus. Learning to sing properly, sing well AND playing another musical instrument well is recommended.

Be versatile: My main instrument is voice and sax, also, by extension, wind synthesizer. I can double on drums, bass, guitar, and keyboards. Being able to double has landed gigs for me that another competing sax player didn't get.

Be versatile: Learn to express yourself authentically in different genres. I've played in rock, country, jazz, folk, blue, symphonic, easy listening, disco, and salsa bands. When opportunity knocks, be prepared.

Be versatile: I've been in a duo since 1985 http://www.s-cats.com - and we play music from the 1920s to the 2020s. With over 600 songs, mostly chosen by our audiences, other than during the COVID lockdown, we've never been out of work. Being a musical chameleon helps you stay booked. The gig wants dance music? We can do it. Dinner music? We can do it. Background music? Rock music? Disco music? Country music? We can do it. And so on.

If you want to become a professional musician, your occupation will dominate your life. If you aren't ready for that, pursue it as a sideline. You will practice a lot, constantly learn new songs, analyze the market and adjust your skills, develop enough business skills to keep yourself booked, and be prepared for the ups and downs of the business.

Don't expect to become filthy rich, 99% of us don't get there, but plenty of us are living a happy life. I almost 'made it' once, but the record company wanted to exploit us instead of pay us, so negotiations failed. But there is always a chance, so don't give up hope, either.

I had a day-job for 5 years, while gigging on the weekends. After a band breakup, I wanted to try out what being normal was, and for me, normal was overrated. My day-gig was a field engineer for a manufacturer of Cable TV electronic equipment. It paid well, but wasn't for me.

If I stayed at that job, I would have made a lot more money than I've made as a musician. On the other hand, I'm much happier being a musician. Even if I drive an older car, and don't have a lot of luxury items, I'm living a better life. I live simply, but I have zero debt, the house is paid off, and I take vacations.

I make my living doing what I would do for free if I didn't need money. Instead of saying, "I have to go to work today," I say, "Oh boy! I GET to go to work today!!!"

It's not a career for everyone, and with DJs, people singing to karaoke tracks, sports bars, and other diminishing opportunities, it's more difficult today than it was in the past. That doesn't mean it's impossible, but it will take work, dedication, and some business smarts.


Insights and incites by Notes ♫

I'm a boy not a girl! I'm also adult,I'm 25!

Hey Wolly

What city do you live in?

Billy

From Buzau but I moved to Constanta! Buzau was my childhood place!

What guitar would you recommend for me? Clasic,Acoustic? I'm a beginner and I don't know which one to pick!

I would go look at what these guys have and the prices. Tell the guy you want a cheap, playable acoustic guitar with a pickup. The guitar is a very personal thing, and you need to look around and try to find one that fits your hand. No guitar will feel comfortable to a beginner at first, and you will buy several over your lifetime. Have them put some light strings on the guitar. They will not sound as loud but be much easier to deal with as a beginner.

Address: Bulevardul Tomis 72-74, Constanța 900657, Romania
Hours:
Closed ⋅ Opens 10 AM Mon
Phone: +40 724 054 701

Good luck,

Billy