To a large degree, it's all about money. If salaries for musicians were higher, there would be more competition for gigs, and the quality of the product would improve significantly. The average top flite jazz professional has had more training than the average neurosurgeon but gets paid like a fast food worker. Hard to blame them for not wearing an Armani suit to the gig.

Except for the 1/10th of 1% at the top, musicians are the most underpaid skilled workers on the planet.

chas