Question for DOD/Flat/BFBT...
What about people like Vinnie, Dave Weckl, Calvin Etc... Are they in the same boat as all these musicians that you're talking about? It seems like they are doing pretty well, but then again I don't know for sure... But if they are making it, what is the difference between them and anyone else? They started out as aspiring musicians just like everyone else. These are real question by the way, I'm not just trying to argue...
Go ahead and put Calvin and Vinnie in the same boat but you cant add Dave with them. Unlike Vinnie and Calvin, Dave is a solo artist. That means he is the CEO of his operations as well as a side man when needed, which in return, ups his worth. Calvin and Vinnie are great session cats but they are only paid 1 time for the session unless they have writing credits, in which most cases if not all of them, they dont. Dave makes money in his sleep. He wakes up, (like me but on a way smaller scale,) and discovers that he sold some records last night. Thats cash going directly to him. If Fred Hammond or Herbie Hancock sell records, Vinnie and Calvin dont see another dime. A musician in the shoes of Vinnie and Calvin have to work 3 times as hard in order to live a decent life and 6 times as hard to put any money up for retirement. Why do you think they are on so many records? Its not because no one else in Chicago can do the job. Its not because Vinnie is the best. Chick Corea and Fred Hammond have both replaced drummers in the past and soon they will do it again.
The more product that Dave puts out, the more money he earns every month. He has something like 9 solo albums and 5 dvds. Again, making money while he's on side gigs.
The key is to have multiple streams of income. Product. That is the only way to survive. I dont encorage touring as an easily replaceable musician, where if the budget is low, the artist can just sing or rap to tracks. Its a good start while youre 19 and 20, but at some time, you have to do something for yourself because that kind of money is low and unstable.
I wish I grabbed this concept a long time ago but no one ever wants to be real about anything so they let you drown in "hype."
Just think about it guys. If the game was so stable, then cats wouldnt have such long resumes lol. How many NBA teams has Kobe Bryant played for? Now thats stability. The cats who get traded here and there are not making big bucks. They are barely staying on a team. And in terms of money, I am quite generous to compare the NBA to pro musicians cause they are no where in the same tax brackets.
