Beginner (playing) How to become "pro" player?

[drien]

Hi all,
I am interested in what are your stories about becoming a "pro" and making living with sax playing/teaching. I guess most of you started playing when young and naturally evolved into the professional players/teachers. Are there any people who decided to change a career later on in life and made it happen?
Cheers.

 

[Nick Wyver]

making living with sax playing/teaching.

I have (or rather had - she's just been made redundant) a wife to support me. I suggest you try something similar.

 

[jbtsax]

I followed my love of playing the saxophone into a career in music education, teaching band in public schools as well as private lessons. This provided job security and benefits while leaving time to play gigs on weekends. So in a way, I had the best of both worlds. Even today where I live the top players in the area all have "day jobs" to support their families. There are only a few places in the U.S. where there is enough work to make a living playing full time a possibility.

 

[drien]

Wow, and now Imagine I will have to make it in the UK. Will have to go to X-factor!
Anybody from the UK to give us an insight from here?
And I got an impression that in the US everybody plays for living🙂

 

[ArtyLady]

Hi, I got into jazz and consequently sax playing, gigging and teaching quite late on in life (I was past 40!) , although I've played flute and piano since childhood, so had a bit of advantage there. 🙂

 

[aldevis]

I do not mind struggling with money. A lot of people have a mortgage to repay and have to work five days a week for the same boss.
At least I tend to have different bandleaders to choose from, if I am not leading myself.
Starting a career from scratch in the UK hasn't been easy and still isn't, but it is much better than somewhere else. At least there are more and different working opportunity here.

I have (or rather had - she's just been made redundant) a wife to support me. I suggest you try something similar.

Are suitable wives commonly available here? I often wondered about this option.

 

[Nick Wyver]

Are suitable wives commonly available here? I often wondered about this option.

Dunno. Once I found one I've stuck with her - for 32 years now. Can't believe she's the only one though.

 

[aldevis]

Dunno. Once I found one I've stuck with her - for 32 years now. Can't believe she's the only one though.

A new saxophone is usually cheaper than a divorce.
And cheaper than a wedding, for what concerns my personal lifestyle.

Note to self: marry a pianist

 

[drien]

Hi, I got into jazz and consequently sax playing, gigging and teaching quite late on in life (I was past 40!) , although I've played flute and piano since childhood, so had a bit of advantage there. 🙂

Nice one, I needed to know that it is doable🙂 Eventhough I knew that everything is possible before. I guess I keep working hard and in 5-10 years time I'll be ready😉

 

[Merryfisher]

Hi all,
I am interested in what are your stories about becoming a "pro" and making living with sax playing/teaching. I guess most of you started playing when young and naturally evolved into the professional players/teachers. Are there any people who decided to change a career later on in life and made it happen?
Cheers.

reckon it best to play for enjoyment and earn a living doing something more lucrative. the 'pro' players i have known over the years all seem to be skint and would let your tyres down to beat you to a fifty quid gig

 

[Juju]

My husband is a professional saxophonist and he is doing alright. Things have become a lot more difficult though. Fees are about the same as back in the 90ies (or worse), opportunities to play live gigs or work as a session musician are getting less and less. Jobs in higher music education are very much sought after.
I think if I had to make a living from playing music, too, we would be struggling. I'm quite lucky to be able to play with great musicians but I can choose which gigs I want to play. I think that's quite a luxury!

the 'pro' players i have known over the years all seem to be skint and would let your tyres down to beat you to a fifty quid gig

Hmm, I can't confirm this, and I know plenty of them...

 

[aldevis]

the 'pro' players i have known over the years all seem to be skint and would let your tyres down to beat you to a fifty quid gig

I never let anybody's tyres down for a gig. Not even for a well paid one.
Being skint for the last 45 years actually is a good price to pay to have an interesting (in my terms) life.
Being a full time musician is a different frame of mind, compared with having a job to support it. In my recent years of sales assistant I froze my musical skills to revive them when I resigned.

 

[kevgermany]

A new saxophone is usually cheaper than a divorce.
And cheaper than a wedding, for what concerns my personal lifestyle.

Not if the new sax causes a divorce, cos then you end up with sax, dovorce and follow up costs...

Note to self: marry a pianist

I did, she say's the sax is too loud. No wonder you were hiding at the end of the grand.

 

[Ivan]

Dunno. Once I found one I've stuck with her - for 32 years now. Can't believe she's the only one though.

Oh

When you said she was made redundant I thought it was a euphemism for divorce

 

[old git]

Become a banker, make your millions, retire and then do something useful to society like being a ProMuso.

 

[Jeanette]

Are suitable wives commonly available here? I often wondered about this option.

They are but you have to treat them right if you want them to stay🙂

Jx

 

[aldevis]

They are but you have to treat them right if you want them to stay🙂

Jx

Well, I probably cook better than the average British wife and love cooking.
Here, it must be a plus.
Maybe not.

 

[Jeanette]

Well, I probably cook better than the average British wife and love cooking.
Here, it must be a plus.
Maybe not.

So you don't think we British Ladies can cook

We are all just average wives😱

Since it is nearly Christmas I will forgive you your insults😉

Not sure about the other Lady forum members, you do know some have connections with CaSLM don't you!!

Jx

 

[aldevis]

I volunteer to review forum members' cooking skills and post full reviews 🙂
Old Git cannot apply, though.

 

[Sue]

I love how this thread about becoming a pro player has evolved into a debate about cooking and wives. One of the reasons this forum just keeps giving - for me anyway as I love distractions.

Hey Jeanette I'm with you - I can cook very well but I agree with Al about some cooks, my mother and sister are both terrible and I'm brave enough to write that cos I know they will need read this!!

Anyway to OP I know nothing about being a pro player (some would say I know nothing about being an amateur either) but I know some folk who have to supplement their earnings from playing by teaching. I'd say it takes a lot of commitment, hard work and determination along with a willingness to take almost any job offered.

Good luck if that's the direction you wish to take 🙂