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Electrical Engineer with IBM.
I guess you could say I chickened out of being a full time guy, when I saw Ted Reinhardt, the drummer for a local Buffalo Fusion band, Gamalon, setting up his own drums out of an old, rusted Cadillac. Ted told me he had platinum records on his wall, from playing on Spyro Gyra's Morning Dance album, which sold 10M copies.
I certainly respect those who devote their lives to music, since sometimes I feel like a square peg in a round hole doing this technical shit, when everything feels so natural and right when I pick up a pair of sticks and sit behind the kit.
Who knows, maybe I'll retire early, and do music full time?
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I'm a whore, most of my time is spent walkin the streets. If i'm not walkin then i'm either havin my shoes reheeled, shoppin for short tight clothin or being beaten by my pimp for stashin cash from him.
Apart from that regular check ups at the urinary clinic just for the sake of my health.
(Some nights you just dont know where they've been before) [img]tongue.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 02, 2003 01:02 PM: Message edited by: Me2 ]</font>
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I'm just a peon at hotels.com here in Dallas, Tx. It pays the bills, but it could always be better. I'm just waiting for our stock to go through the roof so I can get some new drums! [img]wink.gif[/img] As with Derek's company, mine is very cool about gigs and music related stuff.
I'm very lucky in that I get to practice drums in my bedroom at our townhouse. We're only attached on one side, and there are currently no neighbors in that place, so I can play whenever!
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Im finding your replies most inspiring. So some of you are human after all!!!
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I'm IT Director for a large advertising agency. I've been in advertising for 14 years and, like Disney, is very flexible. Outside of work, I spend my time being a family man, and then music. I have a home studio so I can practice/play whenever I want, which in reality is about 3 hours a week. I wish it was 3 hours a day. I'm sure if I REALLY wanted to, I could make the time.
Danny
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I'm just a drummer... sorry kinda boring.,:-)
There are days that I wish I had the security of a day gig like some of you have such as Derek! My wife works also.
I just started a new gig actually, working with an old friend whom was in Ace Frehley's Comet band. we are starting a rock project and are doing an acoustic performance next Friday in San Diego, a benefit for the Veterans of war. We are also doing a more pop rock side gig behind a disc he did last year, not as edgy as his previous stuff.
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porn stunt double....other than that just sponging off the wife right now(bad for the self esteem but good for the chops [img]wink.gif[/img] . the job market in my area is horrible!!...you hiring? [img]redface.gif[/img]
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I work for Identech, basically we install stuff related to SECURITY , camera's , fingerprint identification systems for Door-Access, Time-Attendance and Employee Management, and besides the hardware itself, testing the Ethernet Cables, installing the software itself and hooking up everything [img]smile.gif[/img]
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Gamalon... there's a CD out of my past. I think I still have it around. I liked that slow song dedicated to Robert Plant (!). Some really tasty cymbal work on that.
I'm still trying to live the dream. I gig semi-professionally and also write freelance for magazines and a software company here and there. Starting this fall I go back to school to get an MA in audio/video production. Maybe then I'll get a real job so I can support a family and all that.
At some point I have to realize that I'm probably not *uniquely qualified* enough to play the drums and that the dream will have to be set aside so reality can take over. Then maybe gigs will all be purely for the fun of it. Until then, I work hard trying to keep my chops in shape and chasing down interesting looking gigs.
I'm 34. I'm still in the denial stage. [img]smile.gif[/img]
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US Navy, Baby!!! As a Gas Turbine Systems (Mechanical) Engineer... in layman's terms, a jet-engine mechanic.
And I thought I was the only one that got a promo copy of that Gamalon disc.
There was one track that stood out, cuz it was ripped straight from Rush's La Villa Strangiato... If I can dig the disc up, I'll mp3 it for ya'll interesteded fokes.
[img]biggrin.gif[/img]
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 02, 2003 08:56 PM: Message edited by: numeroUnoHODfan ]</font>
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I work for the local Government (Jefferson County) here in Alabama. I'm 34 and will soon be back in school to complete my business degree. I too have held a disparate 'collage' of jobs ranging from Naval Intelligence to building waterheaters all the while being mainly a self-guided student of the drums and music, playing in the odd band here or there. Having the greatest wife in world, who is also the main bread winner, doesn't hurt. She indulges me in just about every music related whim I can propose (money permitting). Music has also been part of my life for as long as I can remember. I got my formal start by playing saxophone(quite poorly) many many years ago in school all the while longing to play the drums.(parental interference) When you love something as much as I love music and drums I don't really consider it suffering.
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what do you chaps do for a living outside of drumming? Im assuming not all of the forum members are professional musicians, and I was just curious as to how you pay your bills/rent/keeping woman happy etc.
How much of your time do you spend musically against working in the 'real' world? What is your degree of suffering for the art?
Speaking for myself... last 3 occupations, digging holes, delivering flowers, building BMW engine blocks. Oh the ball and chain of rhythm!!!
[img]graemlins/whatever.gif[/img]
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Systems Administrator at Disney in North Hollywood. Good money and they're cool with me bailing early for gigs or rehearsals. (or dragging in late after a late night)
the job rocks. [img]cool.gif[/img]
pretty much all my time outside of work is spent on music related activies. (gigs, practicing, rehearsals, practicing keys or bass, going to see gigs etc) Music's been an integral part of my life since I was about 5 when I started playing piano so I guess I'm used to working it in with school, work etc. (I'm 29 now)
<font color="#a62a2a" size="1">[ July 02, 2003 12:53 PM: Message edited by: Derek DeFields ]</font>
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Me I am currently doing the drumming thing full time.I've got two bands and I do lots of freelance stuff here in DC.. I'll pick up some stagehand work or a part time job when things are slow.....
Randy I know how you feel....Without drumming and my awesome girlfriend I'd be dead broke....I'd also love to have that cushy day job situation....But all I've been doing since high school is playing and studying the drums...So my legitamate job history is spotty but my drumming resume is pretty full...Needless to say, only musicians care if you play drums...In the regular job market the folks could care less.......
If any young drummers are reading this
"GO LEARN SOMETHING MARKETABLE!!"
I've gotten that funny look from interviewers when I say "Bettween 1993 and 2000,I played music for a living." That has just not cut it with most folks....
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I'm an engineer, who spends a lot of time at work in front of a computer. Music and drumming are my hobbies and joy.
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In response to ptrack's post:
".. If any young drummers are reading this"GO LEARN SOMETHING MARKETABLE!!"
I've gotten that funny look from interviewers when I say "Bettween 1993 and 2000,I played music for a living." That has just not cut it with most folks.... "
Yeah, I agree... If you keep an open mind about things you can really do ALOT with music, while at the same time fitting in a degree in "something to fall back on", like engineering, accounting, animal husbandry (kidding......). I know that since I've had the luxury of making drums my hobby /love, and not what puts food on my table/roof over my head, I've been able to approach it with a positive outlook, and not "...Shit, if I dont get this gig, I cant pay the rent..."
Be sensible, but keep an open mind. I made the STUPID mistake of landing a spot as a drumset student with Anthony Miranda (Yamaha endorser, does some session work, etc....), however, I didnt think I could fit that in with my classes, so I bagged the lessons. (Jesus, what stupid thing that was, looking back...) I EASILY could have taken lessons from him, stayed in school, gotten my degree, and then tried to make a go at drums full time, or part time, and had the day gig to pay bills, and let the drums take over as my income if/when they make enough money.
It's the law of supply and demand. There are a hell of alot more open spots for accountants, plumbers, and brick layers then there are for session drummers. It's such a game of luck, being in the right place in the right time, and having your chops together. If you have a day job, you can afford to do the music, and wait until that right situation comes around. For some people, they wait 20 - 30 years to make it big in music. Better to have a secondary career to pay bills, save for retirement,etc.. in the meantime...
Of course, I'm just a chicken, and it's only one person's perspective........
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i do digital imaging for an internet retailer. its the unfancy side of computer graphics. i get my photoshop jollies, but i dont really expend any creative energy. which was the idea. so id still have plenty left when i got home.
decent job, decent pay, flexable hours, friendly to the weekend warrior musician, hard to argue with.
since i started seriously playing music, i never wanted to do it for a living. sort of. i wanted (and still do) to be able to make a living with my music, but i wont allow that to be my goal. my chief goal/priority with music is that i create my music, on my own terms.
theres a compromise you (usually) have to make to make a living at music. either sacrafice your standard of living, along with other non-musical aspects of life, so you can survive those lean times, to play your own stuff your way. or be willing to create music on someone elses terms.
i chose the other route. sacrificing the idea of making a living on my music to take the day job which affords me a standard of living im happy with (not fancy, but i can buy a new gear often enough), and allows me total creative freedom with my music.
but dont think for a second that ill avoid success in music. i play, i write, i record. if i make anything off it, im happy. if i make a living off it ill be exstatic.
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After many horrible jobs, I went to law school for a while (Southwestern, then Pepperdine). I hated it. I recently got a job at a mortgage company, where I will hopefully make huge money. All the while, there sits a drum kit and a brand new Sensitone snare in my closet, just begging to be played...
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Fuck, I'm never gonna make it in music alone. I'm graduating college this spring. I'm one of these 22 year old idiots who thinks he'll take the world by storm. Haha.
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Nikk,
It doesnt sound like you're too much of an idiot, if you're graduating from college, and who knows? You may fall into a great situation, where you're in Brittany Spear's band, you get to stare at her ass, and make $2K a gig...........
good luck.....
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No dayjob, just a drummer. Manage to do ok between gigging, recording and teaching. I have a very cool wife who understands what music is to me, and who makes more money than me. (Score)
I'm in the process of finishing my little home studio which hopefully I can turn into a decent business. (Thanks to Randy Walker for the recent tips...) My plan is to continue playing as much as possible, but to try and steer more towards the studio, both playing and eventually producing.
Nikk - I think you can have aspirations - that's one thing that will push you to work hard - but I also think it's important to be realistic. You have to start somewhere - you'll be doing a lot more than most people if you graduate college and are able to land yourself a gig that pays you some money.
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Work for the Seattle Parks Department. I get to practice on the pad and the double bass practice pad while i am working so it is cool... get paid to practice! Sometimes i even bring in a little set and play on the job. So maybe i am not a professional drummer yet but i get paid to practice on the job... does that make me a professional practicer then???
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I am a high school English teacher. I often help out the band director, and I get lots of time off (such as all summer... right NOW!). So it fits my drumming thing pretty well. Peace.
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I am a full time Pastor. I work with College age students, teach, counsel, marry and bury. Additionally, I am the Worship leader at the church. (I play guitar as a second instrument.) What is cool is that I was at one time a very busy drummer alone, so I have lived on both sides of the tracks. About 5 or so years ago, I sort of burned out and put the drums down (divinely inspired may I add.). I did not really drum at all for about 4 years. And then, all of a sudden, all of these people that remembered my playing days, began asking me to sub in on their gigs and do "some" recording. Since then I have experienced a great rebirth in the drum department. I started buying Modern Drummer again, found the HOD forum, and began studying more intensely. Now I feel that I am playing more musically than ever due to having been a leader, forced to hear what things are supposed to sound like. In addition, I now have the opportunity to pass it on to our very drum oriented church music faculty, training more drummers than ever before.
Actually, an ironic sort of thing happened recently. When I first started to play the drums, people would say something like, "Well, you play ok, but you are really a drummer." Just the other day, after I played drums, a woman came up to me and said, "Well, keep it up I suppose, but I really love your guitar playing!" God has a great sense of humor!
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Nice replys and very interesting too. I'm a full time drummer and teacher. I teach at two private schools as well as a jazz summer school every year, but my main income is from gigging and sessions. I regard myself as being very lucky as I really do get paid for indulging my passion. I get called to play in lots of varied and diverse musical situations from Big Bands to straight ahead groups, pop and Brazilian bands as well as the usual functions.
Recently I have been doing a few sessions which is something that I've always wanted to get into. I have recorded music for the film The life and Death of Peter Sellers which is going to be shown on HBO over in the US before it (hopefully) gets released in cinemas ovr there and here in the UK and a Miramax film called Ella Enchanted. I have also been recording music for various British TV programmes. Although this is something that I have recently been getting into, I hope it continues. Being in the studio is an incredible experience and I have found it to be a great way to focus and to really concentrate. I'm learning all the time as I'm relatively new to this environment, but am enjoying the different challenges that I face.
Playing jazz is another incredible outlet where you can really get creative, throw caution to the wind and react with your fellow musicians, this too is another fantastic facet of music and drumming that I hope continues.
Whether I'm playing reggae, free music or top 40 gigs, music is music is music and I feel privilidged to be able play in different styles, with different musicians creating something that people will enjoy listening to.
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I am a UNIX Systems Administrator for the nations largest grocer. I have played music most of my life never being very good at it but I continue the quest of self-gratification!
My music goal is to make a CD of my own writings someday?
Cheers
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hi,
I'm a french pro drummer, and in France when u play 43 official gigs, the governement give u money. It's a very good system, exicting since 20 years. 43 gigs is the minimun that u must play in 1 year to touch money during 1 year. But, in this moment, the governement change, and want to stop that, and the musicien's and all the artists (cinema, theater...) are on strike...
Bye
stephane boutinaud
za cresse st martin
34 660 cournonsec
site internet : http://pageperso.aol.fr/Boutinaud/steph/accueil.htm
e-mail : [email protected]
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I am a Software Specialist (Technical Assistant, Beta Coordinator, Marketing Manager etc...) for a software company in Carlsbad CA.
I work from my home in Lakewood (suburb of Cleveland) Ohio.
This gives me the freedom to play at night and get to work in the morning.
Currently in several bands and recording situations.
