
I also understand that most people think that a musician’s life is an easy one, full of free booze and easy sex and making lots of money off of fun work. I know that’s the picture, because I know how shocked people outside the music industry are when they find out how much musicians are typically paid, or even how much I, as a promoter or festival coordinator, have been paid. ((Musicians are also generally gobsmacked by the latter revelation, honestly.)) If it’s anything, it’s not a lot; yes, some artists make more than my annual salary at one show, but most won’t make my annual salary at 50 or a hundred gigs. And if they do, they’ll spend much of it in travel – gas money, hotels, food, all while paying the rent back home.
