Time... Time is the balance point.

I'm often asked 'How can you stand playing those Buffett tunes, day after day?'. My answer is usually 'Firstly, most of those Buffett tunes are no worse than most other pop tunes, except for repetition. And repetition is what I am getting payed for. But primarily, I am playing for tops about eight hours a day (and often less!) in a commercial venue. That's at least sixteen hours a day left for me. I can play what I want to, write what I want to, record what I want to in that time.'

Now, others with legit day gigs away from music still have at least SOME time each day...

How much of that you want to dedicate to projects that are less guaranteed commercial is up to you. But not putting out a jazz album because it won't make any significant money is an indicator of where your priorities lie, NOT an actual indicator of whether you could do it or not.

How much do YOU want to do it is the question, not how much will it make....

Music can be art and/or business. It doesn't always HAVE to be both.