Thursday, August 21, 2008

Commercial Work

Commercial work is filled with adjustments. The musician interprets them as compromises, a term filled for the most part with negative implications. The music, atmosphere and audience are rarely to his choosing and still more rarely to his liking. The gap between what he has prepared for and what he finds is difficult to reconcile. The aspiring player begins a war within himself. Accepting work for the income it provides gives way to refusing work in order to preserve artistic integrity. Feeling financially pressured, he accepts work again only to be caught in the same dilemma and so the vicious circle continues.

Those who accept all commercial work to the exclusion of any other musical pursuits have usually made their decision in favor of income and a degree of stability. Those who turn down all commercial work in favor of artistic pursuits have made quite another decision. For some this decision has led to income and stability but only for very few. For the majority, the decision has prevented them from achieving financial rewards and those things which society equates with success. If the individual has made the decision that finances are unimportant to him and if he can remain immune to society's pressure, he will be free to pursue his art in peace.

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