Quote:
Originally posted by Bernie9:
I made my living as a State Farm agent for years, supporting my family. During this time, I taught myself the organ and keyboard. Eventhough I was somewhat successful and retired in 2000 at age 59, I always wondered what kind of musician I could have been if I had devoted fulltime to music, instead of moonlighting at nights in retaurants and bars. After retirement I have endeavored to carry on with that quest.
I have no regrets as I needed steady income for my family and I venture to say, financially, I made the right decision.

At 69, I play out 3 or 4 times a week and can't wait to get started early in the morning to improve my acts. I have a studio full of TOTL keyboards,computers, Receptor, controllers, etc to keep me busy with many projects(some call them toys).

This is what keeps me going at 69, and I will never quit trying to be just a little better. I was told by an old pro, many years ago, that one should keep on performing until it becomes a job, then quit. Many have had no choice, as this is how they have fed the family. I may never be as good as they, but I love every minute of it and spend about 10 hrs a day doing it.


Bernie, I love your story.

You did make the right decision. It's a lot of fun for me doing music full time, but as my wife is a financial underachiever (with enough beauty to compensate), it is tough for me to make enough $$. I make more than the average US individual, but a little less than the average US family.

I'm hoping that by sprucing up my website with video and a CD for sale and targeting some of the higher paying gigs available for arranger keyboardists - that I can bump our family up income-wise.

At 47, I'm no spring chicken either. I'd love to be performing at 77, but not hauling equipment to two shows a day driving 23,000 miles a year. It's tiring for me now - but unless I build up more of a nest egg, I might have to be hustling when I'm older instead of kicking back.

I recall the saying, "It's better to live burgeois and think bohemian than to live bohemian and think burgeois" meaning it's better to live well materially and have artistic thoughts than to live like an artist and to be thinking of material comforts.

Beakybird