Money or music...great question, Diki. Sadly, those are the choices working musicians face. I'm convinced that the reason so many great players had major personal problems (drugs, poverty, etc.) is that they had a choice to make. More money to play crap or starvation to play what they considered worthwhile stuff.

What happens is, as you progress, you play yourself out of a job. As the music gets more sophisticated the audience gets smaller.

Some players blame the public, which is wrong. The public doesn't spend every waking hour learning, appreciating, playig and living jazz, classics..whatever. Some players resent the showmen of the world, considering them all fluff and no substance. Often, the showmen make all the bread, or at least more than the musician.

It all comes down to what each individual can live with. We have folks from both camps here, and I sometimes think these differences are ther root of some of the problems.

For me, balancing the integrity of the music with compensation and venue choices is a constant battle.

Best of luck, everyone, with the choices you make!


Russ