Previous Thread
Index
Next Thread
Print Thread
Go To
Page 3 of 5 1 2 3 4 5
Songwriting
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,291
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Sep 2016
Posts: 2,291
Hi David,

If that's the case i come over, although I heard from all sources it's better being in Haarlem. Houses are very expensive, so nice if you own one (and I do).
And thinking about your and my music we get superrich. Now we only have Hiphop/rap, but are in desperate need of something more intellectual.
And we all speak some sort of English if you want. But for you Dutch won't be any problem. We have a former soccerplayer with your name. We like that!

But if you hesitate leaving Virginia because of the weather, I can tell you within some time climatechange makes the Netherlands have the ideal subtropic climate, while you all have a problem...

Let's make music!
Hans


Hans Berkhout
(Birchwood)
https://soundcloud.com/user-296497130
Songwriting
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,301
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 9,301
Originally Posted By: eddie1261
Originally Posted By: Charlie Fogle


Her goal was to reach one thousand people that will purchase her album of the Micro Niche genre along with some other accessory such as a T-Shirt or Coffee Cup. The Album and souvenir will sell for $25.

Her goal is to sell 1000 of these units over the next year.

1,000 X $25 = $25,000 yearly income.



Did she have production costs, printing the CDs through a service or are they home computer burns? Are there CD sleeves with art work? How much does each mug and shirt cost to produce?

The first 2 questions are variables, but home burned CDs vs CDBaby burned with artwork sounds kind of cheesy to me. And those mugs and shorts aren't $0 to her unless she also does ceramics and screen printing.

Only point being that it isn't 1000 x $25. Reality is $25 less expenses. So it's likely more like 1000 X $13-$15.

Wish her well with her dream though.


With a Tshirt, mug, and CD.... after costs to produce them.... you end up with a net profit. That is taxable income and is subject to the income tax laws of the state and the nation... so.... 8% or so to the state out of the net.... 15% to 30% to the feds depending on your income tax bracket, and SS/MC at 15.2% if you are self employed which a musician would be considered to be self employed.... leaves you with a few dollars at best per unit..... and don't forget the postage if it's mailed..... and state sales taxes.....

It's down right depressing.


You can find my music at:
www.herbhartley.com
Add nothing that adds nothing to the music.
You can make excuses or you can make progress but not both.

The magic you are looking for is in the work you are avoiding.
Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Quote:
With a Tshirt, mug, and CD.... after costs to produce them.... you end up with a net profit. That is taxable income and is subject to the income tax laws of the state and the nation... so.... 8% or so to the state out of the net.... 15% to 30% to the feds depending on your income tax bracket, and SS/MC at 15.2% if you are self employed which a musician would be considered to be self employed.... leaves you with a few dollars at best per unit..... and don't forget the postage if it's mailed..... and state sales taxes.....

It's down right depressing.


I'm not sure if you understand business. You are talking as though this person is an employee and has no tax advantages associate with owning a business. There are tons of tax incentives associated with owning a business. If you were to pay the way you outlined; you should not be in business; should learn more about it or hire someone with that skill set.

"The reason more people don't swing for the fences is because they aren't on the field or even in the dugout. They are in the stands; or at home watching it on TV."

Last edited by HearToLearn; 03/18/19 04:34 AM.

Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
Songwriting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
<<< musician would be considered to be self employed >>>

Not necessarily. This is where a good knowledge of business is beneficial. It's never how many dollars you make, it's how many dollars you keep. The tax system favors those who know the multitude of ways engineered for the knowledgeable to keep the most possible of the money they garner from all the available methods to bring in income. One can become a millionaire walking dogs if they understand business and work toward the goal of earning a million dollars. So can the average musician. The product is irrelevant if one can figure out how to sell it. It can be a product or service. The relevant point is to retain received income and to generate multiple streams of income.


BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
We should band together and write a book,

"How To Make Big Money In Music"
by a bunch of guys in a forum who have never done it

laugh laugh laugh

Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
We should band together and write a book,

"How To Make Big Money In Music"
by a bunch of guys in a forum who have never done it

laugh laugh laugh


I don't think $20k a year for salary/income is "big money." I also think it is extremely achievable.

Then again, you never see someone who says "it can't be done", do it.


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 7,663
Veteran
OP Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2014
Posts: 7,663
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
We should band together and write a book,

"How To Make Big Money In Music"
by a bunch of guys in a forum who have never done it

laugh laugh laugh


I don't think $20k a year for salary/income is "big money." I also think it is extremely achievable.

Then again, you never see someone who says "it can't be done", do it.


HTL:

Man, on the 20K, I hear ya. By the way man, that 250K you let me borrow last week, can I pay you back in April? I just dropped 300K on my Amex black and that's due this week. Thanks man. Let's do that thing in Peru in May if you still can. Should be a nice weekend.

J3,

Man, brilliant as always. Only problem I see is there are 50 million people on You Tube already doing that. I get 100 emails a day.

Can we find a new angle, something fresh?

Hey, I have an idea. How to raise 6 billion in venture capital for a med tech company without actually having a product.*

Should be fun.

Just let me know man!!!

*Maybe say we are doing blood tests or something???

Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Originally Posted By: David Snyder
[quote=HearToLearn]

HTL:

Man, on the 20K, I hear ya.


Well if the median household income is around $60k, I would say if you are at $20k isn't exactly being in the 1%. So, at 1/3, or even 2/3rds as a couple of median, I wouldn't exactly consider"big money."

I'm not saying it's nothing or being snobby. I don't see anything wrong with people earning whatever they want.

Quote:
By the way man, that 250K you let me borrow last week, can I pay you back in April? I just dropped 300K on my Amex black and that's due this week. Thanks man. Let's do that thing in Peru in May if you still can. Should be a nice weekend.


Peru? Drats! Lovey and I were jetting to the Poconos to purchase a village as a gift for an upcoming 1/2 year birthday party. Perhaps next year if I have a work day that year?

As for the money, I had already forgotten about the $250k. The next time you steal one of our "Benjamins" toilet paper rolls please have the decency to ask Jeeves to replace it with one of the many from the supply room.

Ta Ta for now.


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
you never see someone who says "it can't be done", do it.

Same logic used by every conman since Methuselah!

Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
you never see someone who says "it can't be done", do it.

Same logic used by every conman since Methuselah!


You love your absolutes, which are not even true. If you said every con man breathed air, that would be true. But what you've stated is not truth. And I don't appreciate the ad hominem attack. Don't that again and I will report you.

Well, I've made my living in the music industry for 25 years supporting a wife and 6 children. That's where my belief comes from.

I know plenty of others who have as well. Not everyone, and not no one.


Last edited by HearToLearn; 03/18/19 05:31 PM.

Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
you never see someone who says "it can't be done", do it.

Same logic used by every conman since Methuselah!


You love your absolutes, which are not even true. If you did every con man breathed air, that would be true. But what you've stated is not.

Well, I've made my living in the music industry for 25 years supporting a wife and 6 children. That's where my belief comes from.

I know plenty of others who have as well. Not everyone, and not no one.


There are always plenty of exceptions to the rule BUT many times more than that on the other side of the equation! While there is truth in your platitude it is also true that such are often used to sell shovels. I cannot even remember how many "you can do it too"/Tony Robbins type of seminars I have attended and watched 99.9% of the people walk out momentarily motivated only to fail altogether shortly thereafter. Does it mean no one can achieve the promised results? Of course not! But this is probably one of the very worst times to consider a career in music so when someone says it is easy to earn a decent living I call BS!

Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,254
I don't think it's easy. Then again, I haven't seen many things that are.


Chad (Hope that makes it easier)

TEMPO TANTRUM: What a lead singer has when they can't stay in time.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Originally Posted By: David Snyder
Only problem I see is there are 50 million people on You Tube already doing that. I get 100 emails a day.

Yeah except, not! To quote one of the sources, "You should probably buy lottery tickets instead."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2018/03/02/why-almost-no-one-is-making-a-living-on-youtube/

http://fortune.com/2018/02/27/youtube-success-poverty-wages/

https://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/even-youtube-stars-with-14-million-monthly-viewers-earn-less-than-17000-a-year-research-shows.html

Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Also, with all of the email offers I receive certainly one of them must be a real Nigerian prince with $25 million to share, right? (Hint: the answer is NO!)

Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Originally Posted By: HearToLearn
I don't think it's easy. Then again, I haven't seen many things that are.

I agree with you! I just wish there was a better way to quantify odds of success IRL with these things.

Many years ago when I went to college you would sit with a counselor and try and match your interests, skills, potential, etc. with the projected job market. You could get an idea of how much you would need to invest in education and then how easy it would be to find a job in your chosen field.

So nowadays a conversation like that might go, "If you wanna work in the medical field without a doctor-level degree then a Dental Hygienist is a growing field that pays a median yearly salary of $74,070." If you train in that field you are almost certain to score a job and reach that level of pay in a fairly short/predictable time.

Maybe you are technical and find that a Web Developer median pay is $67,990; there are plenty of positions available. Or maybe you prefer a trade such as HVAC Technician with a median pay of $47,080 and these folks are always in demand. And so on.

But when someone chooses music as a career nowadays I have to believe this path is fraught with risks quite similar to those of wannabe actors out in Hollywood waiting tables for years waiting for that big break.

None of this means you shouldn't go for it if it is your dream and you are willing to put in the hard work. But it strikes me as sad not to prepare yourself for the odds before dedicating yourself to that path.

BTW, I also do not buy lottery tickets! laugh

Songwriting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
We should band together and write a book,

"How To Make Big Money In Music"
by a bunch of guys in a forum who have never done it

laugh laugh laugh


Or consider "Never be so sure of what you want that you wouldn't take something better" Chris Voss.


I'm in HearToLearn's corner on this one. In less than a minute I was able to come up with 5 names of people I know personally who self produced CD's/albums that sold in excess of 1,000 units in weeks not years. I will guess not another of the 27,000 plus forum members would have heard of more than one of these people; most forum members will not have heard of any of these folks and their music. JohnJohnJohn is right. Their dream may have started to be the next Rod Stewart, Bob Dylan or Blake Shelton. The bottom line is their dream was no impediment at all to their success in earning income from music. Dreams can stay in your head forever. Money goes into your pocket.


JohnJohnJohn is right again. If you think playing a 4 hour gig for $65 is all there is to be made in music, that's all he'll find. There are plenty of businessmen/women who will gladly accept your skills and pay you that $65 salary and gross $2,500 dollars off your 4 hour event.

I watched a DJ develop himself to the degree he had the confidence, skill and knowledge to charge $250 to shine a monogram on a wall at a wedding. To have 7 events on a weekend running consecutively each earning him in excess of $1,200 gross income all the while paying employees who were use to earning $300 to DJ an event, $350 to work his event.... To use his contacts, opportunity and sales acumen to book local bands into gigs paying them $3,500 when they had never earned $700 at a gig on their own. He didn't accomplish this because he thought of himself as a DJ but because he thought of DJ'ing as a business.


I'll skip participating in JohnJohnJohn's book.


BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
You seem to be saying a music career is easy to do if you only do the right things and buy the right shovels from the genius stay-at-home-mom. Of course it is possible to make a living in music but it is NOT easy or even likely for the vast majority of people! To suggest otherwise is just silly!

Songwriting
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,099
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 10,099
I'm not exactly sure if this has anything to do with the conversation about making a living with music but Roger Miller had an humorous take about "star power" with his song, +++ Kansas City Star +++.


Jim Fogle - 2024 BiaB (1109) RB (Build 3) Ultra+ PAK
Cakewalk - Zoom MRS-8 recorder
Desktop: i7 Win 10 build 2004, 12GB ram 256GB SSD, 4 TB HDD
Laptop: i3 64bit Win 10 build 21H2, 8GB ram 500GB HDD
Music at: https://fogle622.wix.com/fogle622-audio-home
Songwriting
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
C
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
C
Joined: Apr 2013
Posts: 8,056
Originally Posted By: JohnJohnJohn
You seem to be saying a music career is easy to do if you only do the right things and buy the right shovels from the genius stay-at-home-mom. Of course it is possible to make a living in music but it is NOT easy or even likely for the vast majority of people! To suggest otherwise is just silly!


For the sake of silliness, let's re-visit "Never be so sure of what you want that you wouldn't take something better" Chris Voss.

If I'm to guess, I'm speculating you think a music career is mainly performing. That not everyone can write a song, record a record, brand their self, market their material and so on. You're thinking you have to be discovered by some big record executive or win American Idol. If that's the case, you're confusing fame and fortune with making a living in music.

Here's a "Never be so sure of what you want that you wouldn't take something better" scenario for you. There are likely many forum members who fit into this profile. Music is their hobby and over the years they've created a nice home studio, collected various instruments and equipment. Repurposed their garage for a 'home studio' and in short have $10,000 total invested in their hobby of music. A nice mixer, several amps, two Mackie subs, two tops, 6-8 dynamic mics and a 24 channel snake they got from their church when the Sanctuary was updated to digital three years ago. They have everything they need to set up a five piece band. They can't find reliable players and no club wants to pay any 'real' money to bands anymore. That's your world of music...

What you want is to perform playing music. What might be better? Your real job is working for a prominent fortune 500 company. You're at work and on break several of your co-workers are discussing the upcoming annual spring employee and family appreciation picnic day. Because you know it's hard to make it in a music career, and even more unlikely for someone like you, it never occurs to you to ask what the sound budget is for the day and to offer your services and equipment for the job. Later you learn the budget was $1,200. You've missed a great opportunity and excellent chance at repeat business. The same thing could happen at your children's school play, awards ceremony, athletic events. Same thing at the town festival, church festivals, Uncle Bob's and Aunt Mary's 50th anniversary. Most of these types of events are too small and won't have the budget or need for a professional sound crew and equipment and don't want to pay $700 or more for a DJ but would gladly pay you $350 for a two hour gig rather than pulling that 6 channel peavey mixer head and those old stereo speakers from the conference room and Ms. Betty from the kitchen crew to serve as MC. Corporate gigs can easily pull in over a thousand dollars for a half day and it's very likely you have better gear and skills than the Marriott offers in their conference room.

And another: Maybe cousin Larry talks you into going to hear a hot new Gospel group. While there, it's not your favorite type of music but you're impressed with the group's talent. Everything is tight but the whole performance it doesn't seem they every really get their sound dialed in. You tell yourself and cuz Larry you've got better equipment than they do and you certainly could improve their sound with what little you know about running sound. You mingle with the folks and group after the performance and during small talk learn they do over 100 shows a year - making their living performing. It never occurs to you to offer your services and equipment and become their sound engineer and pick up a gig of 100 shows.


Making a living in music is not hard. It is easy if you know what opportunities exist, where they are and have a willingness to work. You may think $350 is silly and beneath your musical talent but not me.


There are literally dozens of different ways to 'make a living' with music. Consider maybe part time teaching 40 students 30 minute lessons a week at $20 is $800 gross per week for 20 hours work... Offer a BIAB generated practice CD for $10 per student for an additional $400 and $1,200 per week career in music... I know, that sounds nearly impossible for an average person to do, silly me.

Last edited by Charlie Fogle; 03/19/19 12:36 PM.

BIAB Ultra Pak+ 2024:RB 2024, Latest builds: Dell Optiplex 7040 Desktop; Windows-10-64 bit, Intel Core i7-6700 3.4GHz CPU and 16 GB Ram Memory.
Songwriting
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
J
Veteran
Offline
Veteran
J
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 3,558
Well, we'll just have to agree to disagree! All of your examples are anecdotal and not based on actual overall market conditions one should assess before embarking on a career choice. Yes, I'm sure there are music biz opportunities out there but your odds of finding something steady that will consistently deliver a decent living are worse than ever before.

I understand there are even whole communities where a fellow can still make a living building horse-drawn buggies. He might need to convert to being Amish but it is possible! Now to be clear, those opportunities are far and few between. Mainly because society has mostly moved beyond horse-drawn buggies!

Last edited by JohnJohnJohn; 03/19/19 01:20 PM.
Previous Thread
Next Thread
Go To
Page 3 of 5 1 2 3 4 5

Link Copied to Clipboard
ChatPG

Ask sales and support questions about Band-in-a-Box using natural language.

ChatPG's knowledge base includes the full Band-in-a-Box User Manual and sales information from the website.

PG Music News
Convenient Ways to Listen to Band-in-a-Box® Songs Created by Program Users!

The User Showcase Forum is an excellent place to share your Band-in-a-Box® songs and listen to songs other program users are creating!

There are other places you can listen to these songs too! Visit our User Showcase page to sort by genre, artist (forum name), song title, and date - each listing will direct you to the forum post for that song.

If you'd rather listen to these songs in one place, head to our Band-in-a-Box® Radio, where you'll have the option to select the genre playlist for your listening pleasure. This page has SoundCloud built in, so it won't redirect you. We've also added the link to the Artists SoundCloud page here, and a link to their forum post.

We hope you find some inspiration from this amazing collection of User Showcase Songs!

Congratulations to the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

We've just announced the 2023 User Showcase Award Winners!

There are 45 winners, each receiving a Band-in-a-Box 2024 UltraPAK! Read the official announcement to see if you've won.

Our User Showcase Forum receives more than 50 posts per day, with people sharing their Band-in-a-Box songs and providing feedback for other songs posted.

Thank you to everyone who has contributed!

Video: Volume Automation in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created a video to help you learn more about the Volume Automation options in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows.

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Volume Automation

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#volume-automation

Video: Audio Input Monitoring with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®

We've created this short video to explain Audio Input Monitoring within Band-in-a-Box® 2024, and included some tips & troubleshooting details too!

Band-in-a-Box® 2024: Audio Input Monitoring

3:17: Tips
5:10: Troubleshooting

www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024full/chapter11.htm#audio-input-monitoring

Video: Enhanced Melodists in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows®!

We've enhanced the Melodists feature included in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows!

Access the Melodist feature by pressing F7 in the program to open the new MultiPicker Library and locate the [Melodist] tab.

You can now generate a melody on any track in the program - very handy! Plus, you select how much of the melody you want generated - specify a range, or apply it to the whole track.

See the Melodist in action with our video, Band-in-a-Box® 2024: The Melodist Window.

Learn even more about the enhancements to the Melodist feature in Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows at www.pgmusic.com/manuals/bbw2024upgrade/chapter3.htm#enhanced-melodist

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

New with the DAW Plugin Version 6.0, released with Band-in-a-Box® 2024 for Windows: the Reaper® Panel!

This new panel offers built-in specific support for the Reaper® DAW API allowing direct transfer of Band-in-a-Box® files to/from Reaper® tracks!

When you run the Plugin from Reaper®, there is a panel to set the following options:
-BB Track(s) to send: This allows you to select the Plugin tracks that will be sent Reaper.
-Destination Reaper Track: This lets you select the destination Reaper track to receive media content from the Plugin.
-At Bar: You can select a bar in Reaper where the Plugin tracks should be placed.
-Start Below Selected Track: This allows you to place the Plugin tracks below the destination Reaper track.
-Overwrite Reaper Track: You can overwrite previous content on the destination Reaper track.
-Move to Project Folder: With this option, you can move the Plugin tracks to the Reaper project folder.
-Send Reaper Instructions Enable this option to send the Reaper Instructions instead of rendering audio tracks, which is faster.
-Render Audio & Instructions: Enable this option to generate audio files and the Reaper instructions.
-Send Tracks After Generating: This allows the Plugin to automatically send tracks to Reaper after generating.
-Send Audio for MIDI Track: Enable this option to send rendered audio for MIDI tracks.
-Send RealCharts with Audio: If this option is enabled, Enable this option to send RealCharts with audio.

Check out this video highlighting the new Reaper®-specific features: Band-in-a-Box® DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Specifically for Reaper®

Band-in-a-Box® 2024 DAW Plugin Version 6: New Features Video

The new Band-in-a-Box VST DAW Plugin Verion 6 adds over 20 new features!

Watch the new features video to learn more: Video: Band-in-a-Box® 2024 - DAW Plugin Version 6 New Features

We also list these new features at www.pgmusic.com/bbwin.plugin.htm.

Forum Statistics
Forums66
Topics81,394
Posts732,478
Members38,441
Most Online2,537
Jan 19th, 2020
Newest Members
zagrajbarke, Ernest J, Izzy, BenChaz, Csofi
38,440 Registered Users
Top Posters(30 Days)
MarioD 195
Al-David 124
DC Ron 113
dcuny 87
rsdean 83
Today's Birthdays
CeeDee, SethMould
Powered by UBB.threads™ PHP Forum Software 7.7.5