Because I had responsibilities, home and children, I never relied on music for my living. It was musician and guitar teacher, or musician and piano tuner. I am not talking about dollars here, I am talking about having the freedom to pick and choose without worrying what I was being payed. In New York and Long Island musicians who used music to make money struggled. Those who did very well were better business men than musicians. Many them became booking agents.

This is not to discourage the N.H. player, but to bring reality to what the problems are. If you follow Gary’s system of getting jobs you will improve. BUT, because you are not Gary you will have much less success. Just look at what he has done in the Yamaha forums. And how many of us here are respected as much as Gary. He is a man that does not come around very often.

Stop blaming the N.H.s for what they are doing. And the musicians who play for the love of money. It will lead you to frustration.

I hope this helps:
1-How good of a musician are you?
2-How many dollars do you need to live on?
3-What are the musicians being paid in your area?
4-Do you enjoy poverty????
5-The answers that Don gives are mostly positive. There are more like him here.

I am trying to help guys. Your answer lies somewhere in the middle of who you are. John Maxwell, is a well-known in teaching in leadership in business worls, said, “If you feel that you are a good leader, look behind you. If no one is following you, you better think again”.

I’m doing my best here, John C.