Anyone who goes into music, or any creative art for that matter, where you are your own business…personal achievement careers as I call them, knows pretty much before they finish their training that their chosen profession will not pay the mortgage. Some perhaps but many…no. So why music or your chosen profession?
Well, I’ve always said we all have been given a gift. It’s instilled in us from birth. We absolutely must use this gift…follow our heart. If we don’t, I honestly believe we are baseline unhappy in this life. We choose jobs that are ok but we would really love to so something else…follow our heart. I did. I was a bit naive too but it did hit home at some point. I was a bit saddened but I still built a “business” for myself and became a seasoned expert at my art. I also learned a ton of office and computer skills whilst being a musician. In fact, those skills come in very handy when promoting yourself and networking with other musicians etc. At least I didn’t have to do waitressing like a lot of people do who don’t have other skills. A carillonneur I knew, who was the chief carillonneur of his well-known Church, was a computer software engineer. Hahahahaha! Ahhhh yes…we do what we have to do to stay afloat and still perform our heart’s desire,
Perhaps the title of this blog should be “why follow our dreams?” There are many dreams out there that people possess. And yes, I know it’s not always possible to do it for at least a partial living. My Dad (read about him in one of my previous blogs), had to work as a private delivery man and did part-time plastering to support our family, and after hours played clarinet like a seasoned pro! He always wanted to be a clarinet soloist. Well. He still learned to play it expertly and taught me to read music at age 4. So yes, there are real reasons seasoned musicians have to do other jobs. People do need to support families and pay for a house and, you know, eat etc.
As I grow older I do more and more appreciate the effort I put into becoming a professional musician even though I am not world-famous. I am happy with my decision. And yes, I’m still a “poor musician” but I am a happy one. And I have other talents I’ve entertained as well. Being creative I have 3 certificates in Makeup Artistry, I am a pretty much skilled artist, and I am now working on freelance digital marketing to help others get ahead and still help my own talents get ahead.
So this music thing I do led me to take on other “like” projects. I am proud of myself and that I have abilities that my music fortitude led me to apply to these other areas. They all feed each other.
So again, why music? Well, why not your talents as well? If you haven’t explored your talents in a serious way, now is the time. I’m telling you this is definitely the time. Don’t wait any longer. And you will also see where else in life it leads you.
Why Music? That’s me. That’s why!
Eve Sophia 