Hhow good do you have to be to "make it" in the pro world

[Elow]

If you’re good enough to go pro, why not move somewhere where you can. I’m not you but if your only limiting factor is your location, then i think the sensible thing would be to go where you can play full time. But maybe youre as passionate for aviation as you are for trombone

[JCBone]

If you’re good enough to go pro, why not move somewhere where you can. I’m not you but if your only limiting factor is your location, then i think the sensible thing would be to go where you can play full time. But maybe youre as passionate for aviation as you are for trombone

My point is that from what I have heard, classical music isn't really doing great anywhere. Anyways, as I mentioned, I don't care much for teaching or freelancing and my chances of getting into a good orchestra is slim. I would rather do something I enjoy most of the time instead of something I only enjoy part of the time.

[VJOFan]

• Tenacity

• Patience

• Marketing

But if one of your main concerns is already how well the job pays you will probably leave the profession sooner than later.

I know that was the end for me. (And I should have known before because I was always worried about having enough money to be secure from the time I knew what money was.)

I was making a living but was never going to have a house or be able to support a family in the foreseeable future. It was not very hard at that point to decide to shift into a line of work that had more guaranteed financial upside.

[imsevimse]

If you want to be a full time pro in Stockholm you need to get a job in one of the orchestras here. There are two symphony orchestras and one opera orchestra and three windorchestras. I guess they employ 3-5 trombone players each so I guess tha make about 25 full time tromboneplayers in the Stockholm area. You can have one of their jobs when they retire if you are the best tromboneplayer when the audition shows up. Its pretty tough to be a full time professional. To be a freelancer is the choice. You need to be a nice smooth, guy if you want to be a freelancer. Then you need to do the gigs in a way you get the second call

/Tom

Tom,
The wind orchestras are also professionals?

One of them is all brass and on horseback. One is a marching band and one is in association with commuter services. They work in the orchestra half time and can drive a bus, drive a train or sell tickets for commuter trains in a combination with the work as a musician. Not all choose to do this.

/Tom

[Savio]

So I'm seriously considering studying music in college and going pro. Of course I don't want to waste money and time on education if i'm not going to get any real return on the investment and now with covid, the future landscape of the performing arts industry is very unclear. I know that it's not a very lucrative industry and I'm frankly ok with that. But my question is, how good do you really have to be? For those who have gone down this path, do you have any regrets?

It's a big question. It all depends on you.. There is many questions you have to ask yourself before you go that route. The obvious is do you love music? Do you have a burning love for music? I think nearly all depends of that question. I did go that route and did many mistakes. But I still hold the trombone every day and look forward to each day I can blow it. I don't regret!

Leif

[Macbone1]

I stubbornly chose the performance route for my college education and was good enough to get into a military band, where I chose it as a career. If it wasn't for that I would like not have had much of a career of any kind unless I worked my way up to Burger King shift manager or something. For anyone who cannot or is not willing to go the military band route (the entrance physical alone is pretty strict), the big wide music world can be very intimidating. Since I retired from the military, I realized that NETWORKING and contacts are almost as important as talent itself. While on active duty I did not network, so felt high and dry after leaving the service. Fortunately, I had planned out a career change, which kicked in at just the right time. I now really enjoy playing as a "hobby"; no longer told what to play and how, "or else"; don't have to depend on my playing skills to make money to live. I even think I play better in some ways now.

[2bobone]

When playing in a ballet orchestra for several years, I saw one of the dancers wearing a sweatshirt for her warmup routine. It pictured "Snoopy", the delightful Peanuts Beagle, spinning in an obviously enjoyable pirouette. Underneath was written : "To Dance is to Live ---- To Live is to Dance" ! It made me realize how essential it was for me to be able to play music --- any music --- anywhere --- every day --- to be truly happy. It was my guiding principle then, as it is to this very day. If you think being a musician is a "tough row to hoe", try being a ballet dancer !

[brassmedic]

You need to be able to sight read pretty much anything that's put in front of you. You need to play in tune. You need to have a good sound. You need to not miss notes. You need to be able to count rests and come in at the right time. You need to have an understanding of the style of music that you are playing. If you have those minimum playing abilities, then you need to show up on time (which means early), get along with other musicians, not be a difficult person, live somewhere where there is work, be respectful to everyone else, especially your employer, and establish relationships with others in the field. That last thing is maybe the most important, but rarely taught in school.

[imsevimse]

... and you need to be hip, but not too hip. You also need to smell good, but not too good. You need to dress well but not too well. You need to be a good and easy person to be around that everybody likes. You need to talk to everyone but not to much. You need to tell a joke sometimes but not always. That's about it, except from what's said before.

I always fail....

/Tom

[harrisonreed]

... and you need to be hip, but not too hip. You also need to smell good, but not too good. You need to dress well but not too well. You need to be a good and easy person to be around that everybody likes. You need to talk to everyone but not to much. You need to tell a joke sometimes but not always. That's about it, except from what's said before.

I always fail....

/Tom

Oh man but Nils is too hip, and we all love it. I think you can hit a point where you become so "too hip" that you actually are genuinely just hip.

[PaulTdot]

You need to be able to sight read pretty much anything that's put in front of you. You need to play in tune. You need to have a good sound. You need to not miss notes. You need to be able to count rests and come in at the right time. You need to have an understanding of the style of music that you are playing. If you have those minimum playing abilities, then you need to show up on time (which means early), get along with other musicians, not be a difficult person, live somewhere where there is work, be respectful to everyone else, especially your employer, and establish relationships with others in the field. That last thing is maybe the most important, but rarely taught in school.

This is a remarkably good, short list! Nicely done. It covers a LOT, and accurately.

[urbie5]

I'm late to the party here (used to frequent the old trombone forums etc., migrated to FB, but recently fired Zuck and his evil empire, so I'm back to non-Zucky sources of discussion)... but just to add: the finest trombone soloist I have ever heard, does not even work as a musician anymore. (No, I'm not going to say who it is, but no one who's heard this individual play would disagree.) It's not a matter of "being good enough" -- you can be the baddest monster player in the universe, but there are other "people skills" attributes, business acumen, and generally getting your face in front of people, to make a successful career. Trombone is not a great instrument for business, either. As for what I do, I'm a technical writer, and have been for 35 years. The work is exceedingly dreary, but it pays better than all but the top-echelon symphony orchestras, and way more than most freelancers can dream of making. That's just the reality of it. The other thing is that I don't have to play music I don't want to play, just for the money. If I'd had absolutely no source of income besides music, and had made up my mind to grind out a living as a musician by hook or by crook, I could probably have eked out a modest living and not starved -- but I'd have hated it. I'll take a boring job that pays enough for a new Edwards, over that!

[Edited to add] But just to get back to the OP's question: majoring in music is not a waste of time and money, regardless of whether or not you become a professional trombonist. If I had it to do over again, I'd major in music -- and then have gone on to have exactly the same career I've had! That's OK -- if you go to a good school and take a spectrum of courses, you'll have a great experience, and no one's going to look down on you for having majored in music -- performance, history, or anything else. Basically, undergrad is just about getting a good degree from a good school, and then going out and starting your career. If you want to major in music, go for it. ROI is not the name of the game!

[timbone]

There is a lot of variety of work for the aspiring trombonist. Study all styles and don’t limit yourself. Play the right horn for the gig. Your sound and ability to play in tune are the first two things that those that hire will notice. Look appropriate for the gig, show up early and warm up to be prepared. Get in the circle of players- most bone groups are friendly. Listen to other players and encourage them. Have all your mutes on hand and know how to use them. Always work on your sightreading, also on c and Bb/ tenor clef. Do your daily calisthenics. Simple stuff right?

[Ozzlefinch]

The other option is to make your own opportunities. For example: start a Punk/Ska band and that way you only need to be as "good" as you are because you won't be comparing yourself to anybody else. Or start a 40's homage big band tribute, something like that. Make your own rules and forge your own path. If the establishment isn't working out for you, then do something different.

Truth is, there are a lot of wealthy and famous music acts out there that aren't virtuoso players (some are really only barely competent), but they have determination and fresh ideas. Hate to break it to you, but if you want to "make it' in the music industry, then you had better think of some good marketing angles to promote yourself or you will just be another faceless Average Joe in the background.

[imsevimse]

You need to "sell" on stage and you need to be professionally nice. Make everyone love your sound. You need to survive on a budget until you make it and it helps if you have nerves of steel and if you are the best trombone player every day. If you are not the best then you need to be the nicest.

/Tom

[jorymil]

I really love Randy Halberstadt's book _Metaphors_for_the_Musician_. If you haven't already, check it out.

[BillO]

So I'm seriously considering studying music in college and going pro. Of course I don't want to waste money and time on education if i'm not going to get any real return on the investment and now with covid, the future landscape of the performing arts industry is very unclear. I know that it's not a very lucrative industry and I'm frankly ok with that. But my question is, how good do you really have to be? For those who have gone down this path, do you have any regrets?

1) I think you need loftier goals and/or a more precise approach/or a plan of execution. Let me explain .. If you just want to make a meager living at music it's not that hard. I'm not a great trombonist, but I can "make a living" at it. I have several times. Whilst going to university, while unemployed in the late 80's and between late 2018 and early 2020. So, being mediocre on the horn what do I do? I do the things others won't. I look for gigs, create contracts, hire musicians, find venues and most importantly find someone with the talent to lead the band musically. So, I play trombone well enough not to get kicked off the band I create and manage.

2) if #1 is not your thing, then work your way up to practicing at least 10 hours a day, be appalled with your on-going progress, beat yourself senseless until you can present every passage better than everyone you have heard so far (Christian Lindberg, Joseph Alessie, Bill Watrous, etc..) and never think you are good enough.

Hint: There is both a difference in salary between the two scenarios and a difference in approach. I'm not sure there is a difference in effort though, so you may need to asses your aptitude to suit.

[musicofnote]

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[mcphatty00]

It's pretty much all been said here. Unless you're a music teacher, be prepared to do other jobs while you try to get a gig. Auditions can be brutal. You can't get defeated. Always be on time and friendly. That's half the battle.

[dukesboneman]

One of my Trombone Teachers in undergrad and I had this conversation .
He imparted some great advice
1) If you`re told to wear a Tux, Wear it. If you`re asked to wear all yellow , wear it.
2) Know your styles. If it`s a 1940`s Big Band gig, Don`t play like Coltrane
3) Have the mutes needed
4) Always, Always, Always arrive early
5) And most important - Don`t be an A*+hole. No matter where you live the Music Community is small
word will get out that So and so is incredibly difficult to work with. So "DON`T BE THAT GUY".

[bigbandbone]

One of my Trombone Teachers in undergrad and I had this conversation .
He imparted some great advice
1) If you`re told to wear a Tux, Wear it. If you`re asked to wear all yellow , wear it.
2) Know your styles. If it`s a 1940`s Big Band gig, Don`t play like Coltrane
3) Have the mutes needed
4) Always, Always, Always arrive early
5) And most important - Don`t be an A*+hole. No matter where you live the Music Community is small
word will get out that So and so is incredibly difficult to work with. So "DON`T BE THAT GUY".

The only things I would add to this are:
1) Be a good sight reader
2) Be able to sight transpose
3) Learn how to play when mic'ed as apposed to "clean". Two very different techniques

[LeTromboniste]

Aidan's (burgerbob) video from last month really sums it all up nicely

[bassboneman69]

This thread has a ton of input.
The thing I find interesting is…
Those who we admire most may not have added their info here.
Will Lang had many pertinent points!
BurgerBob and Fossil too.
Playing professionally is a “way of life”! No days off, you can’t be sick, heaven forbid you get injured or require dental surgery!
If you don’t play - you don’t get paid! It is a very long and difficult “row to hoe”! Perhaps lonely too…
I am NOT at all a pro player! However I have been fortunate to know a few VERY good players. None complain, none compare themselves to others, they seem to exist in another realm. They can see out, but most of us mere mortals cannot see in.
I am ok with it. I love music, the trombone and the amazing connections I have been fortunate to make along the way. Perhaps that is enough?

[michaelpilley]

I've found that if you'd like to play for a living, but aren't at the "top of the tree" you have to rely on the hustle. Book your own gigs, write your own music, busk, go to jams, play with any and every band you can find, no matter the genre or style. Don't expect to get great paid gigs straight away, instead work on your technique and musicianship hard, and find musicians that you love playing with. A great attitude and easy demeanour go a long way in the freelance world.