Anyone here make a career from music after starting later in life?

[helliF]

Apologies in advance for the wall of text.

My mother made me play piano for 5/6 years in elementary school before I switched to trumpet in Jr. High, eventually quitting both in 10th grade. Focused on hip hop after high school/college (was writing rhymes for fun since elementary-boom bap is still my first love), rapped at some house shows and had a few cool moments, but nothing took off. Realized I just pissed away my 20s making poor decisions and hanging with fair weathered “friends”. Arrested multiple times, got into a gang of fights, burned bridges with good people and really just piled out.

Few years ago I was still working jobs I hated, and my cousin/best friend passed away during the pandemic (not due to COVID). So I said *******, auditioned to a pretty high caliber jazz program in Manhattan and got in with a small but meaningful scholarship. Did not expect that. Why pick me out of any 18 year old wiz kid? I was 30 at the time I felt old and washed and figured they’d take who can pay. Born and raised in LA county-one area code my whole life, my wife was pregnant at the time and she asked me if this is what I wanted. We both quit our jobs (she didn’t hate hers), drove from LA to NYC over 5 days in my Honda civic with her in the front seat and our dog and cat in the back seats.

First two years here were a weird but necessary combination of facing my own bullshit coupled with starting my family (my wife is the reason I’m still around-been going steady since we were 19 and she’s a lifesaver). I wanted and needed both to happen. Now I’m 33, just had my second daughter, and got two years left in the program. Sounds corny but NYC has really made me a man in more ways than one.

It’s halftime now, going to shed these next two years and see where it takes me. 10,000 hour rule. 6 hours a day, minimum. This music I can play forever. Not uncommon to see a 45 year old monster at a jazz jam/gig. I know a ton of cats on the scene here that are 40+, and those are the dudes that play on broadway and have the dopest gigs. Who wants to hear an 18 year old kid play the blues anyway. I can hear it but I can’t feel it.

We live pretty frugally and get by with what we got saved along with my side hustles for a few small businesses I work for out here. I got something lined up with family in LA that I will return to as it will be the most financially rewarding situation that is malleable enough for me to continue my pursuit of jazz piano. I know I could continue to hustle side gigs and find a higher paying regular job here after the programs done, but I want my girls to know and be around my family who are all back home in LA. Either way, I’m excited to see what happens here in NYC over the next two years, and definitely looking forward to solidifying this foundation.

Sorry for the block of text but I love music. I’m a firm believer that you get what you put into life. Some people aren’t lucky enough to choose what they want to do. But since I have the chance, I’m not letting it pass me by and I’m going for it. Only you can define what success in music is. You can make beats and get some placements, work on audio engineering and mix and master at a studio. There’s no rules, and there are ways.

Hope my story helps.

Good luck and Godspeed my friend.

 

[dog129]

I've a friend who did, who does rather well/successful - at least for a non-super famous musician - but it's quite the rarity.

 

[outofstyles]

"I’m a firm believer that you get what you put into life. Some people aren’t lucky enough to choose what they want to do. But since I have the chance, I’m not letting it pass me by and I’m going for it." I really like this. Like is taking risk and grabbing what makes you happy!

 

[Josephprice]

I decided to take the practical route, and train in computer science / software engineering. But just recently started learning music theory, how to play piano, daw tools like logic pro, and I'm pretty hooked.
I wish I started earlier in life instead of 29, and it seems that every person I've googled who became great at music production or made careers off of music started in their early 20s at the latest.
I know it's never too late to learn something new, but I do wonder if it's too late to become great at it.
I am curious if anyone here has started at a later age or knows an example of someone who has, and actually made a career off of music?

I am 49. Born and raised just outside London, UK. I started playing guitar aged 13 and by 15 was playing 2-3 nights a week in a small cover band with my older brother who could drive and play drums. We played pubs and I made 50-60UKPounds per night which is worth PPP today around $400USD. I started teaching guitar part time, and then went to UNI in Scotland and worked 4 nights a week until November the 1st and then it was 6 nights every week until NYE. For 3 years I kept this up. It was a pretty good living.

At 27 I moved into full time Pharmaceutical Hospital sales for 7 years.

For the last 20 years I have made and repaired electric and acoustic guitars. 15 years ago when my son was born I went out on my own and built a rehearsal studio business with a cafe attached. Bad idea! Should have kept the investment property instead.

On Plus side my Guitar repair business has been very successful and allowed me a lot of freedom and power over my time. Stress is quite high due to my own exacting standards but this is more a reflection of my Neuroticism, rather than the job per se.

Over the last 35 years I have conservatively serviced and repaired over 7000 guitars.

I have done this in London, Scotland, Berlin and Melbourne, Australia

***TL/DR*** Professional musicianship requires:

3 income streams:

Teaching, Solo and duo gigs, "other"

Other is usually cover band or production work. Production work is hard to get paid for - and requires a **** tonne of networking. Bottom line is if you want to get paid to produce you have to be amazing at it. And I do mean superb. World class level.

FWIW Production in full size analog studio was fun and collaborative - today it is all done "in the Box" so you had better love staring at a screen for many hours.

As with all Arts connected with Money there is compromise and REPUTATION is EVERYTHING.
People have to believe you are worth what you say you are. It is doable though.

Again with all things $ and Art - NICHE is better than General.
Hope this helps;

Joe

 

[double00]

For the last 20 years I have made and repaired electric and acoustic guitars. 15 years ago when my son was born I went out on my own and built a rehearsal studio business with a cafe attached. Bad idea! Should have kept the investment property instead.

On Plus side my Guitar repair business has been very successful and allowed me a lot of freedom and power over my time. Stress is quite high due to my own exacting standards but this is more a reflection of my Neuroticism, rather than the job per se.

Over the last 35 years I have conservatively serviced and repaired over 7000 guitars.

I have done this in London, Scotland, Berlin and Melbourne, Australia

pure hobbyist here but lutherie seems like a really interesting / fun pursuit . i've got an itch to attempt a mandocello build . it would be interesting to see what my process yields .

 

[Josephprice]

pure hobbyist here but lutherie seems like a really interesting / fun pursuit . i've got an itch to attempt a mandocello build . it would be interesting to see what my process yields .

Go for it Double 00

There is a lot of good information out there - would recommend avoiding Forum posts/advice and going with plans from stewmac.com and a book:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Guitarmaking-Tradition-Technology-Construction-Steel-String/dp/0961873701

I have all of them. Stick with this one. Adapt to taste. Dont try to reinvent the wheel and Resist the urge for flame maple everywhere the first few times at least

 

[double00]

Go for it Double 00

There is a lot of good information out there - would recommend avoiding Forum posts/advice and going with plans from stewmac.com and a book:

https://www.amazon.com.au/Guitarmaking-Tradition-Technology-Construction-Steel-String/dp/0961873701

I have all of them. Stick with this one. Adapt to taste. Dont try to reinvent the wheel and Resist the urge for flame maple everywhere the first few times at least

per table of contents looks more like a reference for flattop builds ?

def planning to stick to carved top / back , not a lot of kits specifically for mandocellos but it is similar to a 24.75" scale archtop guitar .

( for the mando-uninitiated , flattops vs arch yield wildly different sounds :



)

anyway I'm probably gonna try to reinvent the wheel lol .

 

[Josephprice]

Yes you are right - but the information on planning and drawing out an instrument from a centre line/creating ones own designs is invaluable

WRT Carving - no one can teach that via a book or video - you just have to 'do it a lot and for this you want the Jazz Archtop book by Mr Bob Benedetto

 

[double00]

Yes you are right - but the information on planning and drawing out an instrument from a centre line/creating ones own designs is invaluable

WRT Carving - no one can teach that via a book or video - you just have to 'do it a lot and for this you want the Jazz Archtop book by Mr Bob Benedetto

aha got it . that sounds like a great reference to go through the drafting process .

oh and I can carve wood , i'm very comfy with chisels , hand-planes rasps files etc . I know my woods too !

i'll get the Benedetto book too , thank you ! it may be awhile until I get around to the project but it is I think officially on the back burner .

here's what a guitar-archtop mandocello build sounds like , amazing how distinct each version sounds :

 

[Josephprice]

Awesome - when you are ready - DM me and I will help you purchase the wood.