[kasey_junk]

I have a friend who has been a working musician with no side gig for over 20 years. He makes money in a wide variety of small band types (pipe & drums for funerals and parades, Jimmy Buffet cover bands for festivals, jazz groups for events, etc).

What I take from his experience is that the things that make him successful are the same as many other jobs. He’s dependable, competent, on time and has a large professional network.

[HPsquared]

It's kind of cruelly ironic that a jobber artist needs to be very strong on "business qualities", while the stereotype is that artists are bad at those things.

[merciBien]

that's good to hear! I always wonder when I see a band playing a live gig how they're doing. My friend's bandmates are very creative, but struggle with the professionalism part.