For most of us, being a musician seems like a very romantic idea. When we think of musicians, glamorous visions of screaming fans, flashing lights, orchestras playing in perfect harmony, rock stars with crazy sex appeal, and lavish lifestyles often come to mind. But what are the real pros and cons of living day to day as a practicing musician? In this article we will discuss the various benefits and drawbacks of being a musician.
Benefits
1. Playing music fills the soul
Playing music is cheaper than therapy and a hell of a lot more fun. An emotional release and means of self-expression like no other. Playing music can take you to places in your own heart and mind that you may never have known were there. It can cheer you up and help you escape when you’re feeling down, or give you a fun way to spread cheer when you’re feeling good.
2. Sex appeal
Although this is definitely one of the worst reasons to become a musician, being a good musician definitely has its perks when it comes to the opposite sex. Musicians arguably have more sex appeal than any other type of artist. You may be an ugly dog, but if you can put on a song and nail it for a few people, chances are you’ll catch someone’s eye and you won’t have much trouble finding a date.
3. Connect with an audience
The feeling of connection from playing music to a receptive audience is like no other experience on earth. Having people cheer you on as you do what you love not only feels absolutely amazing, it pushes you to do your best and push the limits of what you even thought you could do. There is no place like the stage.
4. Meet new people
As a musician, you will meet and befriend people you may not have anything in common with, both fans and fellow musicians. Music, like other art forms, can bring people from all walks of life together, no matter their differences, because it reaches people on an emotional level. Emotions go beyond speaking the same language or not, having the same skin color or living in the same neighborhood. Everyone knows what it’s like to feel and as a musician you have the gift of being able to help complete strangers overcome and understand their own feelings and problems through your music. And one way or another, they will thank you.
5. A focused and active mind
Being a musician will sharpen your mind and sharpen your focus. The intense mental stimulation and concentration that playing music requires will activate and exercise your mind. It has been scientifically proven that playing music can enhance the brain and sharpen listening abilities to pick up the subtle nuances of speech and other sounds. Playing music keeps your mind sharp. A strong and active mind will help you live a richer, happier and more fulfilling life. Playing music makes you smarter!
drawbacks
1. Your work is subjective
One of the hardest aspects of being a musician (or artist of any kind) is that what makes some people love you and shout your praises from the rooftops will make others hate you to the core. Music, like other forms of art, is subject to the opinions of the people who experience it. It can be hard to accept when you work really hard at something and put your heart and soul into it, only to be judged, criticized, and found wanting. If you want to be a musician, it’s important to develop a tough skin and learn to take criticism along with praise.
2.Training
There is simply no way around it. Being a musician takes hours and hours of training and practice to become proficient and years to become really good. Great musicians make it look easy, but behind the glamor and romance are years of practice and hard work. If you want to be a good musician, it takes more than just a burning desire. You’ll have to take action and put in the time. But make no mistake, if you really want it bad enough, you can do anything.
3. Loneliness
As with many other art forms, writing and learning to play music requires a lot of time alone. For some, it can be difficult to find the balance between making time for your passion and keeping up with your friends and family. For others, this can actually be seen as a benefit. Not everything is sad and dark loneliness, of course. You can take lessons, play in a band, find a writing partner, or go out and play for people. But if you want to become proficient on your instrument or learn to write a good tune, you’ll need to sit down and figure it out on your own.
4. Lack of financial stability
More often than not, life as a professional musician is fraught with financial instability. Going back to handicap #1, the problem lies in the fact that your job is subject to the opinions of others and if you think it’s just about being a good player, you might be in for a rude awakening. It takes tons of promotion, hard work, social skills, and business sense to succeed as a professional musician. But there is no doubt that it can be done if you play your cards right. For those of us just for fun, there’s no need to worry about this one.
5. Irregular hours
Going out and gigging at night, promoting during the day, and long trips away from home on tour don’t necessarily leave much room for a normal, stable home life. It’s a far cry from the 9-5 hours many of us are used to. This may sound like a dream come true depending on your priorities, but for anyone hoping to have some semblance of normalcy or routine in their lives, being a musician can be a rocky road. There are many ups and downs and it can be hard to deal with the changes. Again, if you’re playing music just for fun, you don’t have to worry about this.
Can you think of any other advantages or disadvantages of being a musician that you think belong in the top 5? Leave a comment and tell me! I would love to hear from you.