The Thinking Drummer: Be Wary of Musical Co-Horts with Financial Problems

I know this sounds harsh. But it is solid advice.

When you consider the possibility of collaborating with musicians, managers, agents, producers or others who have impact on your career, think about their financials. You may want to think twice before working with those who are broke. Read on for why. Just like on “Law and Order,” the names have been changed to protect the innocent. The stories are true.

Musicians

A friend of mine met a great musician, one with extraordinary talent. She is a drummer and she wanted to put together a band with this person because she thought the music would be amazing.

A problem was soon revealed: her choice in a potential band mate was flawed. This great musician and potential partner was always struggling to pay his rent.

Because of this, he could never commit to anything.

Sometimes you have to play gigs that don’t pay that well. Sometimes you should play for free if it means getting to play with someone you really want to play with. Sometimes you should play a club that might not pay well but will help you build an audience.

This guy could not do any of these things to forward his career because of money. Since he struggled to pay his rent, he couldn’t do gigs that didn’t pay enough. He could not pay for new equipment he needed to keep his sound at the proper professional level. He couldn’t rehearse because he couldn’t afford the rehearsal studio.

Eventually she had to give up; he was wasting her time because his financial situation was so shaky. He was so good on his instrument that she hung in there for a while; eventually she realized he was a time waster. It was a tough decision.

Producers

Another friend of mine hired a producer who was strapped for cash. He liked the sound of the albums the producer had made. He was a good producer. Unfortunately, the producer had money problems.

A good producer is supposed to get a great performance out of his musicians and help them craft a great recording. This guy was always trying to get things done quickly because he needed to get to the next record so he could make more money.

Rushing through a session was not going to get my friend the record he wanted, but he was stuck in that position because he didn’t realize that he was hiring a guy with financial troubles.

Desperation Forces Short Term Thinking

I have more examples that I could give, but I think the point has been made. In creative endeavors, people who are overly motivated by financials can cause you serious problems.

Please don’t misunderstand me. I am not saying that there is anything wrong with wanting money or being motivated by finances. However, desperation is different and it forces those in that position to make purely short term decisions. That is the problem with these people.

You’ve been warned. Watch out for them.