I'm a "veteran" muso, originally from London, but now like you in the west country, although a bit further south I think. Getting gigs (especially paid gigs) playing your own original music has always been difficult. But I do love the fact that I can now record and release my music without gatekeepers or record contracts, and it's out there and available to anyone to listen anytime, anywhere in the world - I have my own UA-cam (with tiny subs and views!) but also Spotify, Apple Music, and all the other streaming services via online distributors. My way of looking at it is that at least I've got my music out there now so people can find it, when I rattle the cage loud enough. Back in the day, it just languished on CD or cassette, gathering dust on record company desks. I do a bunch of open mics etc, showcases, network a lot - it is so very hard to be heard, true, but I genuinely think it's a better time to be an independent musician than it ever was.
I think geography has a lot to do with it. There are pockets of culture and art that support good live music but you have to relocate to them. It's also not going to make you rich more than likely. There's a couple who specialize in music from 1890 -1930 that busk from their apartment in San Francisco and claim they make the same money they made gigging in clubs before. I like internet busking...it's connected me with many like minded people all over the world and allowed me to live in the woods at the same time. Choices. The couple I discovered are Meredith Axelrod and Craig Ventresco....all acoustic with guitars, cello, vibrophone, uke, etc....Meredith is a multi instrumentalist. Craig is a ragtime guitarist. Their success seems to be that they perform 6 days a week on schedule live and stream to several platforms at once. ..good stuff if you like roots ragtime or swing. Meeredith sings like a vaudevillian singer from the roaring 20s
There is less money for entertainment and that means players and singers since folks need to buy food and heat and car gasoline, etc. It is true in the USA and in other countries as well.
I'm a "veteran" muso, originally from London, but now like you in the west country, although a bit further south I think.
Getting gigs (especially paid gigs) playing your own original music has always been difficult. But I do love the fact that I can now record and release my music without gatekeepers or record contracts, and it's out there and available to anyone to listen anytime, anywhere in the world - I have my own UA-cam (with tiny subs and views!) but also Spotify, Apple Music, and all the other streaming services via online distributors.
My way of looking at it is that at least I've got my music out there now so people can find it, when I rattle the cage loud enough. Back in the day, it just languished on CD or cassette, gathering dust on record company desks.
I do a bunch of open mics etc, showcases, network a lot - it is so very hard to be heard, true, but I genuinely think it's a better time to be an independent musician than it ever was.
Fantastic to hear from you - it sounds like we've done a lot of similar things. You're right to focus on the positive side of things.
I think geography has a lot to do with it. There are pockets of culture and art that support good live music but you have to relocate to them. It's also not going to make you rich more than likely. There's a couple who specialize in music from 1890 -1930 that busk from their apartment in San Francisco and claim they make the same money they made gigging in clubs before. I like internet busking...it's connected me with many like minded people all over the world and allowed me to live in the woods at the same time. Choices. The couple I discovered are Meredith Axelrod and Craig Ventresco....all acoustic with guitars, cello, vibrophone, uke, etc....Meredith is a multi instrumentalist. Craig is a ragtime guitarist. Their success seems to be that they perform 6 days a week on schedule live and stream to several platforms at once. ..good stuff if you like roots ragtime or swing. Meeredith sings like a vaudevillian singer from the roaring 20s
Great comment - good to hear about thriving musicians that do it for the love of it!
There is less money for entertainment and that means players and singers since folks need to buy food and heat and car gasoline, etc. It is true in the USA and in other countries as well.
Very true!
Seems depressing.
It can be!