r/nashville • u/IllustriousElk8436 • 2d ago
What are some realities about being a musician in nashville ? Help | Advice
Hi all im from asia singapore and i have a dad that has been a musician all his life. He didnt make good financial decisions so he does not have any savings and has to work in his 70s partially disabled. A gig here you get around 150 to 200 dollars but the music scene is very small we dont have a strong arts scene and so i know people that are being paid 50 to 100 dollars for a gig sadly. It is very hard for artist to make it beyond my small country unless they go abroad
I have never been to the usa although i have family members who have moved there and i use to hear of nashville and texas being quite famous for country music . I like to listen to dolly parton, carrie underwood , ella langley , taylor swift although she is in pop now, pistol annies and for rock and pop three days grace , seether, Evanescence, fleetwoodmac, alice in chains, skillet and a lot of others which is too long to list.
- What are some realities you can tell me about the music scene in nashville ?
- How much do musicians get paid whether its for gigs, touring and being able to make a living out of music.
- What is talent pool like - do you get musicians from all over the world trying to make it or mostly americans? How talented are they ?
- Is everyone hoping to get noticed by a record label or a publisher ?
- Are those guitarist or sound engineers hired to work for major label or big tour musicians more talented or knowledgeable vs those who work for independant artist ?
- Is the music dream still alive ?
Sorry for so many questions im just really curious about the music scene and i hope to visit some cities in the usa and nashvile someday .
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u/33ascend 2d ago
Most of the successful ones also have their real estate licenses
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u/Top-Comfortable601 1d ago
Every other person here has a real estate license & musicians are no exception.
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u/MayorMcBussin 1d ago
ha I was just about to come in here and say that.
Music and real estate are very similar industries in a lot of ways. Except you can actually make money in real estate.
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u/Snoopy363 2d ago
This can’t be for real 🤣
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u/Richardisco 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's not... My buddy is the lead guitarist in his band that plays Friday and Saturday afternoons and nights at Garth Brooks Friends in low places. They all live in a house that they rent together. Most of the musicians in Nashville are in the same position. Most musicians aren't "successful" in terms of record contracts, but they make a very lucrative living playing music a few nights a week. They're Halloween party this year was fantastic! Everybody there but me played in a band on a main stage somewhere downtown. Lots of really talented people. Live in the dream!
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u/SupraMario (MASKED UP) 1d ago
Rent's a house together....and lucrative? What?
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u/Richardisco 1d ago
These people are young! They've got their whole life ahead of them. It's not a bunch of 50-year-old dudes out there playing in the main stages at places like garth's or like kid Rock's... These people are in their twenties. And they're doing really well! I hope you can be happy for them
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u/SupraMario (MASKED UP) 1d ago
Uhh ok? that's fine? I also did the roommate thing in college, it's financially smart...but I didn't ever use the word lucrative in my vocabulary.
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u/iUsedtoHadHerpes 1d ago
Lucrative
The band lives in a house they rent together
Choose one. These are not compatible unless it's some weird hippie commune, which seems a poor example for its own reasons.
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u/lasers8oclockdayone 1d ago
Young people paying less for their living situation and putting the balance in savings and investments can in fact be very lucrative. Not everyone making $100k has the same need for a status property and a mortgage.
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u/DerElrkonig 1d ago
Are we sure that they're actually able to do this saving thing though? Everyone I know in Nash who rents does so cus they're too poor to buy, and certainly they aren't saving much when a one bed is $1600.
I am genuinely asking, not trying to be a rude contrarian. How much does one actually make per week playing live down there?
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u/lasers8oclockdayone 1d ago
Yes. Every "band house" situation that I have seen has been a financial boon for the residents. They are young and they work and play together, anyway. They absolutely love it. It's up to them what they do with the money they save.
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u/IDontHaveToDoShit 1d ago
Although I agree with you I was kinda in this situation in my early 20s. 3 coworkers, under 25, traveling a lot, making more than most our age, maxing out retirements, etc.
Our landlord told us he thought we were scammers when we first applied until we sent pay stubs. It only worked because we were in and out a lot though but damn the COL was low.
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u/Temporary_Nebula_295 1d ago edited 1d ago
Harmoni Kelley who is the bass player for Kenny Chesney's tours is a real estate agent when she isn't on the road. Read an interview awhile back and was surprised that even at that level, it doesn't pay enough. Now the current economy is ridiculous so a second job probably helps pay the mortgage, bulk up the retirement accounts, elderly parents need medical care, whatever but if someone who is consistently booked with A list talent playing stadiums and has locked in work from March to August every year for the past decade has to have second job, it doesn't bode well for those touring with other acts in arenas, amphitheatres or in local venues. Chesney only plays 2 nights a week so the income issue might be that rather than other acts that play 5-6 nights a week. I don't know enough about musicians salaries and benefits to know how / if that dramatically impacts anything.
Update - found the comment
“When I got the gig, people said, ‘You have no idea what an amazing goldmine you’ve stepped into’ – not from a financial perspective, necessarily, but from a family perspective: just having a boss like Kenny, the road family and the camp that we have. It’s unlike anybody else.”
Harmoni Kelley on why five-strings rule for modern country players
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u/MayorMcBussin 1d ago
OP asked "what are some realities about being a musician" not "what makes a successful musician."
Unfortunately the market for musicians in Nashville is really, really tough. A vast majority of people do not make it and have to go find success on another career path. Real estate and adjacent fields (handymen, carpenters, builders, lenders, inspectors, photographers, etc) are filled with former musicians.
It just tends to be a career similar to music. Lots of social aspects, loose structure that rewards people who are self-guided, and room for creativity. Also if you're a former musician or industry guy, you know how to handle a party and people tend to find you alluring and interesting. Good leg up.
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u/pineappleshnapps 1d ago
I dunno, I don’t know many people who make decent money on music and do real estate.
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u/33ascend 1d ago
I've known a few who have played Red Rocks on a Saturday and are showing houses the following Tuesday
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u/s_l_e_e_p_y_g_a_l 2d ago
do NOT do Honky Tonk School, avoid steve smith (tootsies, honky tonk, rippy’s) https://www.reddit.com/r/nashville/s/Ort6RNAoFs
nashville used to be amazing for singer songwriters, but a lot of the venues for writers rounds are gone now. it is a lot of “who you know” so tons of networking and meeting people is the first step. i would find success in writing while playing out, NSAI is a great organization to join that offers those opportunities!
i lived with maren morris before she made it big and it was just a lot of playing and meeting people until the right opportunity comes along (granted, maren already had albums out and was successful in texas)
my ex is in a pretty successful touring band and says most of their money is made on merch these days. venues take a huge portion and streaming services like spotify pay a small percentage of a penny per stream.
it ain’t what it used to be 😭
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u/Full-Commission4643 2d ago
It's all corporate now. Broadway is like City Walk at Universal Studios or Downtown Disney at Disney world....but country themed.
They don't REALLY care about the things they say they do. It's all about extracting as much money out of tourists through the current mainstream popularity of country music.
Nashville hasn't had its magic since 2013ish. It went downhill fast after the flood.
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u/danceswithshibe 1d ago
It’s like this with literally everything. Everything just gets bought out and turns corporate as fuck and we all have to endure everything being unauthentic garbage.
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u/XenuWorldOrder 1d ago
I miss the good ‘ol days of the music industry when the labels were all a 501c3 and the artists played music simply for the joy it brought to others.
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u/s_l_e_e_p_y_g_a_l 1d ago
absolutely. peak nashville for songwriters was like 2010/11. i say the same thing, nashville is all corporate rat race now. ITS NOT FUN ANYMORE!
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u/Living-Prune8881 1d ago
Yes it's absolutely awful. Same bar same building own by the same 2 people playing the same goddamn songs. 😭
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u/Full-Commission4643 1d ago
The city wouldn't save RCA Studio B where Johnny Cash recorded and Ben Folds of all people had to buy it and save it from becoming a condo.
Didn't the city allow for Earnest Tubbs Record Shop to be torn down and turned replaced with Kid Rocks All American Circle Jerk or some stupid shit?
They don't give a fuck about their history at all! Not unless it's at the Opry or the Ryman! Real talk, since I don't live there anymore, when's the last time you heard of ANYONE big having some kind of secret set at Blue Bird Cafe? There used to be stuff like that ALL THE TIME with lines going down the block.
Nashville blows. Republicans blow. The state government has sucked everything good out of that town possible.
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u/iUsedtoHadHerpes 1d ago
The fact that I had to expand your comment to see it tells me that the socialites don't like your valid testimony here and have downvoted you out of sight.
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u/ThickBeardSanchez 1d ago
Steve Smith also owns Kid Rocks and the Diner. AVOID!
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u/Top_Sherbet_8524 1d ago
That must be why they kept selling Bud Light even after Mr. Rock was supposedly boycotting it
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u/janonb TheBoro™ 1d ago
This. This. This. It is who you know, not what you know or how good you are. There are guaranteed to be hundreds of people as or more talented than you here, so the only way to get to the top of the pile is to kiss as much ass as possible. Even then it may not be enough, the music industry is very incestuous.
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u/TacoBellFourthMeal Dinos Animal Fries & Fernet 1d ago
I want to make a documentary about honky tonk school. They seem so predatory on new comers and take advantage of naive and ambitious young folks. I wouldn’t be surprised if some weird shit gets exposed about them at some point.
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u/s_l_e_e_p_y_g_a_l 1d ago
lol i would just stay away from anything involving steve smith 🫶🏼
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u/pingle1 1d ago
What city would you say is now what Nashville used to be?
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u/s_l_e_e_p_y_g_a_l 1d ago
i am not well traveled, so i’m sure someone else could chime in with a more effective answer, but I feel like St. louis still has the small town / big city feel that Nashville used to have. Lots of free things to do, good music scene, good food. Traffic isn’t bad either.
But as far as “music city” songwriter hub … i just think the art of from-scratch music is dying. It seems tik tock is how people get their songs heard now (and i’m not on the apps so i literally did not recognize most of the award winning artists this last season) and if your song doesn’t work in the ten second clips, it doesn’t get heard - people don’t listen to radio stations, artists just cross sample everything and use computers instead of instruments in a recording studio … i feel old now i’ll step down 😭
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u/iUsedtoHadHerpes 1d ago
Most of what you say is pretty accurate, but for some reason genuine instrumentation has made a pretty strong comeback even in pop music, which is appreciable enough when most pop acts don't even really sing live these days. And just to highlight that it's not just "kids these days," look at how phony an Eagles concert is.
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u/MayorMcBussin 1d ago
And just to highlight that it's not just "kids these days,"
90% of the internet is just complaining about how bad things are. This sub seems to have that disease in particular.
People have been complaining about how art is dying, kid's brains are rotting, everything use to be better etc etc since the dawn of time.
https://historyhustle.com/2500-years-of-people-complaining-about-the-younger-generation/
If anything I'd push back on OPs assertion that no one listens to the radio any more. Country and pop are the two most popular forms of music in the united states and it's largely because country is super manufactured and plays for the radio. We live in Disneyland. It's kind of always been the way it is - songwriters writing for artists who pick up the songs and make them popular.
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u/tenjed35 1d ago
None. Anything cool has been turned into a profit making venture. It’s not just here.
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u/Aggravating_Tear7414 1d ago
Maren also had tons of family money behind her in Tx. She’s got the same story as Taylor.
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u/s_l_e_e_p_y_g_a_l 1d ago
yes and grew up w kacey. also think her relationship w ryan is kinda what pushed her into the spotlight, but i didn’t follow her career close. writing for yellow dog is where she took off from and that’s when we lost touch.
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u/luvitis 1d ago
When you’re the smartest kid at your high-school and you get a good scholarship and go to a top 20 university only find out you were special because you were the best in your little town and now you’re just barely making it compared the type of talent that also got into that school
It’s like that
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u/Better-Profile2666 1d ago
This is so true and this is predominantly who lives in Nashville these days. The circle of real talent in town is small but if you’re actually good you’ll make it if you don’t quit or get drunk every night.
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u/Mydogfartsconstantly West Meade 2d ago
I work with a handful of musicians who have either played broadway for years, had a major record deal or were semi-famous. They dont make their living from music if that tells you anything.
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u/demonkidz 2d ago
The bus boy and waitress can play better than you, sing better and are jealous you got the gig.
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u/mam88k 1d ago
There's also at least 5,000 people willing to work your gig (for free) once (if) you finally get one. So don't fuck it up.
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u/DrummerDKS Hermitage 1d ago
Yep. Everyone is replaceable, no one is special, no amount of hard work is going to guarantee anyone a roof over their head.
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u/Improvcommodore 2d ago
A singer-songwriter at the Nashville airport bar is better than most performers people pay to see live at venues in other cities.
Nashville has some of the best musicians in the world. It’s very competitive.
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u/PyramidSchemePA 2d ago
well that's depressing to hear because the singer-songwriters that I sometimes hear at BNA are horrible usually
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u/Mydogfartsconstantly West Meade 2d ago
Ya ive seen the same guy twice at the tootsies and could hear his guitar was plenty out of tune
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u/kirradoodle 2d ago
I wandered into my local hardware store only to find that they have a stage and table seating. There was a guy noodling on the piano, and a guy playing guitar along with him. They were just having fun together, but were clearly talented - some of the best music I've heard in a while. In Nashville, music is everywhere.
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u/Clovis_Winslow Kool Sprangs 2d ago
Joelton?
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u/kirradoodle 1d ago
Yep. Joelton Hardware. So much more than hardware. Good music, good burgers, good reuben sandwich, really nice people. What a great place!
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u/Clovis_Winslow Kool Sprangs 1d ago
I love playing there. Love eating there. Love buying a pair of needle-nose there. It’s great!
(Also the house kit is a beautiful red&black vintage Rogers.)
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u/Snoopy363 2d ago
This. And because of it, you’ll hear world class music of all genres at venues all over the city, big and small. There are a ridiculous amount of badass musicians that you’ve likely never heard of and odds are will never know. But you just may stuble upon them in Nashville at _______.
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u/HibiscusBlades 1d ago
The Nashville Predators get some decent intermission acts! I have no clue how they’re selected though.
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u/DairyKing28 1d ago
This. I've seen so many amazing local artists since I've moved here a year ago my dreams of becoming one went up in smoke.
Now I play strictly for fun.
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u/Separate_Business_86 1d ago
I live in Nashville and I am not professional or anything, but I have played guitar for 20 years. I am good enough that people who aren't professional assume I might be is the easiest way to explain it.
I have passed people on the street that appear to be homeless (not just street performers) on multiple occasions that are far better than I will likely ever be here. The level of talent here makes venues treat exceptional people as expendable often. My former neighbor toured worldwide in his 20's and got into the bar scene here. He Had a gig as the house band at a known spot and was doing conferences.
He moved back to Florida to do weddings and corporate gigs there because the pay was so subpar in Nashville that he and his wife (who has a full-time job) were barely scraping by for years. Financially he is doing much better and claims he is happier. I can't speak to the happiness part, but it is cutthroat here for sure and the bar is quite high.
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u/I_deleted EDGEHILL REPRESENT 1d ago
Shit, karaoke night is way different here than anywhere else… all these people can actually fucking sing
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u/caserock 2d ago
The good/bad ratio is still about the same as the rest of the world, there's just a much bigger number of them all.
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u/Deadrubbertreeplant 1d ago
Absolutely. The nice part about it too is that you're surrounded by people at, above, and below your ability. That did wonders for me mentally after moving to town because the ladder up feels very achievable once you finally start getting work.
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u/Quagmire_gigity 1d ago
Please tell us all what time of day to book our next flights, because most times I am traveling through BNA, the singer songwriters n the airport are fucking awful, confirming why they play an airport gig instead of on Broadway.
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u/ItsJoanNotJoAnn 1d ago
"What are some realities about being a musician in nashville ?"
You're one of 50,000 already living here.
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u/imadestarwars 1d ago
One of the harsh realities of being a musician in Nashville, especially in the touring industry, is the complete lack of oversight or accountability. There’s no HR department or structure to protect individuals, and the culture often rewards toxic behavior while penalizing those who don’t conform.
For instance, I was let go from a gig because I didn’t participate in the “after-show culture”—essentially getting intoxicated with the artist and helping lure people, mostly young women, to after-parties. On one weekend tour, the artist, who was very publicly married, instructed members of the crew, including me, to go into a fair and find attractive women to give after-show passes to. It was surreal and deeply uncomfortable. I ultimately stepped away from the group after seeing them asking for IDs to ensure everyone was of age. I remember sitting in my bunk later that night, eating a deep-fried Oreo, and wondering, Is this what life out here is like?
That same artist orchestrated a makeshift “party zone” after the show by using the buses and a semi-truck to form an enclosed area. He then demanded that every crew member, all men, remove their wedding rings and place them in a solo cup. Everyone complied with a smile. What followed crossed so many ethical and moral boundaries that I can’t share specifics due to an NDA, but suffice it to say, it involved substance misuse, intimidation, and blatant disregard for consent. On one occasion, when a young woman had a panic attack after being pressured into smoking, the artist blamed her, accused her of lying about her tolerance, and forcibly removed her from the bus—right in front of a state trooper, who helped her back to her car without intervening. This pattern of behavior continued for the three shows I was with them, and because I chose to stay in my bunk and avoid participating, I was labeled “not a good hang.”
Unfortunately, stories like this aren’t unique. I’ve heard accounts of artists throwing objects at their bandmates, pouring bottles of urine on sleeping crew members, or engaging in predatory behavior. One well-known figure even took advantage of a recovering alcoholic’s widowed mother in a green room after deliberately getting her drunk.
The consequences are rarely, if ever, borne by the offenders. Instead, it’s the people who speak out or refuse to participate who lose their jobs. NDAs often silence victims, who either don’t have the financial resources to fight back or are afraid of being blackballed in an industry where relationships mean everything.
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u/poetaftersunset 1d ago
Sounds like Midland… I’m sorry you had to experience that.
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u/ElMangosto 20h ago
Are they known for being pretty gross?
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u/poetaftersunset 18h ago
Very. I have a friend who toured with them and he was appalled by their behavior.
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u/Commercial_Honey6178 1d ago
Having been in a very similar situation, this is so true. Especially having no HR for band/crew to be supported and stood up for as well as having any sort of connection/help with management. You are a number in a book, easily replaceable, and 99% of the time musicians learn that the hard way. Desperation gets people willing to take lower pay and longer days with somewhat awful conditions and scheduling, and when they get burnt out, they're replaced instantly with someone just as willing.
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u/kindquail502 2d ago
I've always thought and said (without any real proof) that for anyone who made it the music business there was a hundred who were just as talented that failed.
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u/SeminaryStudentARH 2d ago
I’ve worked in hotels here for almost 15 years. Seen my share of talent come and go. There were maybe two people I’ve worked with who I thought had a chance. One moved back home to care for her parents. The other moved to LA. She was the one I thought had the most potential, but last I heard she was dropped by her manager and publicist and still trying to make it on her own.
I worked with one guy who “made it”. He quit to join Carrie Underwood’s band. Not sure if he still plays with her or not.
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u/Deadrubbertreeplant 1d ago
In my experience of being here for three years, there are many talented musicians that can play circles around everyone else but don't prepare for the gig they're on. A big part of working around here is literally just preparation, showing up to rehearsal and the gig early, and not being difficult.
Pride seems to get in the way of a lot of people succeeding: I've struggled with feeling like a hack when I show up to a gig with an ipad until I guy that had been here much longer than me said, "would you rather play with charts and sound good or without charts and sound bad?"
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u/Hwmix 2d ago
Vast and competitive
Very few make a living at music - you can make enough to survive but saving for your future may be tough.
Talent here is off the charts. Having lived and worked in LA, UK, and working in other cities, I would say it’s on par with those cities.
Not everyone is hoping for a label or publisher as some come here just to produce, engineer, or just be session musicians.
This varies - some are some aren’t. Being someone that is easy to get along with gets you a lot further than experience sometimes.
Depends on the dream. Nirvana and Taylor swift sales aren’t ever happening again. Streaming is the new model - being realistic about the new music economy makes more sense.
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u/BicycleIndividual353 2d ago
It's really hard and you have to be really extremely good at your instrument, a good/nice person that's easy to work with. You have to know or be able to play with a chart, hundreds of country songs.
The pay isn't great when you start out but as more people get your number your rate will go up. Touring makes you a lot more money than Broadway will but the top call session players make a lot as well. Lots of people make their living playing on Broadway but it isn't a huge amount of them and they all have other gigs as well.
Not as much musicians from around the world but there are some. You can figure out how talented they are yourself if you go on YouTube and watch any live video of any country artist. All of their band members probably have played on Broadway at least a couple times before they hit it big with that artist.
Not everyone is trying to get "noticed" by a label unless they're a songwriter or artist themselves. The band members are all trying to prove with their playing and good attitude that they are capable of going on the road with that major artist that their buddies buddy kind of knows.
It isn't a hard fast rule that guitarists and engineers are more knowledgeable if they're on big tours but usually if you aren't the best you will be replaced at a certain point because eventually you won't just be the guy that they know and they can afford to get someone who is actually the best.
The music dream is most definitely alive. It's more of a grind and you have to network more than you probably ever have because of how massive this city is as far as music goes but it's possible. You see people every single day get calls to go on tour but also you see others get stuck playing on Broadway for 14 hours a day making just as much as the touring people. It's all a major grind but if you're devoted, a good person that can leave their ego at the door, and a great player you can make whatever you want to happen, happen.
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u/le_shrimp_nipples Inglewood 1d ago
Growing up our neighbor and his wife ran a very successful management business in the Christian music space. The husband is well known and even taught expensive seminars on it. His wife would always say: "who do I have to screw to get out of this business."
The music business is treacherous and you better be prepared to get screwed over. It will happen one way or another. I've heard so many stories.
Also, if you're trying to make it then you need to realize that you have like 5 jobs that are just as important as your music. You're a promoter, business manager, social media manager etc etc. Plenty of people don't succeed in this town because they don't hustle. It is not an easy path.
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u/mmmatt50 1d ago
I worked really hard to get the gig that I have now. Been here for 10 years. Had many jobs and spent many nights out networking. Pretty much got my dream gig playing to large crowds and living on a tour bus.
The pandemic almost completely stifled the success that the artist I play for had just gotten in 2019. Only playing about 100 shows a year nowadays that over 80% of happen between May and October. No salary or retainer yet. Just about 35K in a 5 month period. Enough to stay afloat but really tough to save anything and then be pretty screwed come Nov-March. I can fill in on broadway here and there when needed but can’t get a full time position because they know you’re a road dog.
Friends say you ought to play with someone else and find a new gig or learn how to write a song, but it’s tough because you believe in the artist you play for, the band is locked in, and you know that you still have it better than a lot of other musicians in town.
I often question if I’m still supposed to be doing this and if I can survive at the current pace, but it’s honestly too late for me to turn back now. I’m a lifer and my greatest joy is playing music in front of people and seeing the joy on their face.
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u/SneakyCarl 1d ago
I moved here a few years ago and am a hobby musician, and was real surprised to find how corporate the whole music scene is around here. I thought there be tons of musicians around who might just wanna get together and jam on something now and then or play around, but I haven't found anyone. It's like anyone who is outgoing enough or whatever you call it to play music with others is also the type to do it with a goal of making it a career. Even buddies of mine who went through music school here turn their nose up at playing music with anyone they don't already know or if they don't think they can make some money from it.
What really surprises me is there's nowhere that's just a place to get together with musicians and play music together. A studio, a warehouse, a fucking drum circle... Anything???
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u/teachertraveler1 18h ago
I come from a large city that doesn't have a reputation for music or musicians and I think what shocked me is how Nashville has a "music scene" but not a real music culture. My city had so many feeder programs in schools and community organizations to grow talent in a wide range of areas from musical theater to classical and everything in between. Like you throw out an acronym and everyone's like "Oh yeah, my cousin was in that production with that group" or "We did a gig at that venue." My parents were music teachers but knew just about every music store and the employees were all super connected, helpful. This was in a county of 4 million people. I've got a friend who has been playing gigs in my home city for decades now and there's such a strong community connection, so many great talented people. But no one moves there to make it big in the music scene. It doesn't have that "glamor".
We've been shocked how little Nashville has of that actual music culture that isn't completely corporate. So many schools and organizations have closed. There's no feeder programs, no robust community theater. Everything's so anemic but often because people don't know better music programs and cultures exist. Even great school music programs just abruptly dead end. One of our neighbor's kids had to leave the state to find anything for university for his instrument and realized once he left how far behind his instructors here were.
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u/imadestarwars 9h ago
Sorry you feel this way. We’re a commercial town making commercial music to supply commercial outlets with commercial products. There is a scene and feeder programs, it’s just built on that principle. Yes, we’re still creating art but it’s a different approach. If we do it right, we might just find that life changing song that helps someone on a massive scale. Other times we’re chasing the idea of giving people an excuse to escape and let loose. We wouldn’t still be doing it if people stopped buying it.
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u/Cryp71c 2d ago
You'll need contacts, a significant amount of luck, or be more talented than 99.99999% of people to make a living off it here. Folks are just that good nowadays, and its not just country music, either. I'd go further than /u/Improvcommodore and say that the "bums" playing guitar on the corners off broad could make a living playing gigs anywhere else, but in Nashville they're the bottom of the barrel
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u/TangySword 1d ago
I mean, the story under the question makes me thinks it’s not a bot
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u/mooslan 1d ago
What story? I see nothing else in this thread from OP, just a text title and a picture.
Most of their posts are about Singapore, not one about country music and nashville until this one.
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u/TangySword 1d ago
The post might be bugged for you then. There are 3 paragraphs and questions about Nashville and being a musician here because their dad and them are thinking about visiting and trying to make some money or a career
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u/mooslan 1d ago
Yeah, I don't see that at all. RES maybe doing me dirty?
Looks like it, deleted my comment then. Thanks for letting me know.
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u/TangySword 1d ago
Yea I think so. I was like ok bots are good but I don’t think they can imitate broken Singaporean English and punctuation while crafting an elaborate story just yet lol
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u/IllustriousElk8436 1d ago
Not at all. I dont even plan to move to usa . Im just curious about the music scene in other parts of the world. Visiting for holiday? Maybe
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u/TangySword 1d ago
Yea sorry, was just trying to make the point that I didn’t think you were a bot lol
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u/CultureUnlucky5373 2d ago
I think it’s hilarious that talent is the third necessity.
Kind of shows what the industry is like.
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u/Cryp71c 1d ago
Well, its the third alternate necessity. Entertainment is one of the industries where luck is a pretty significant element of success. There have been artists more talented than some of the most talented artists of any given period, but they got unlucky in some way and just never made it. The more talent you have, the less luck required and fewer contacts necessary to reach the same level of success as someone else with less talent but more luck, or more connections to folks.
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u/PPLavagna NIMBY 1d ago
I’ve seen some elite talent completely squander it by making dumb decisions, fucking people over, not listening to good advice, trying to be something they think everybody wants instead of being themselves, etc… and I’ve seen some mid to low ass talent make it huge by doing all the right things.
It’s the way of the world. If you can’t network or deal with people, you’re gonna have a hard time anywhere. Especially in a role where communication is the whole point
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u/Deadrubbertreeplant 1d ago
It kind of is though. I'm right there with you that it's hilarious, but I've played with enough talented people that had no discipline and didn't prepare for a gig that I'd have to agree it's not the most important thing.
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u/XanderStopp 1d ago
It’s the third necessity because there’s so much talent here that in order to stick out you have to have other qualities. Networking is king.
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u/TheSxyCauc 1d ago
There’s no money, at all. The best deal would be play downtown but that ain’t the life for me. You’re better off staying in your small hometown and playing gigs, they’ll pay more. I tour with a small artist and we literally haven’t played a Nashville show even though we all live here because nobody will pay. Fairs a festivals in other states is where the moneys at
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u/Cultural-Task-1098 2d ago
You can go to any restaurant in town and talk to the staff about being a musician in Nashville!
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u/Legal-Use-6149 east side 1d ago
My best advice starting out and some might not find this to be good advice but if you’re looking to go original and not covers:
Focus on your social media following, learn how to edit videos, work on writing the best song you possibly can write, write with others, network, go to singer/songwriters nights whether you’re on stage or watching others, meet people, utilize algorithms, connect with the people who follow you. And you’ll be steps ahead of most others if you can learn the do that correctly.
It’s as much music as it is knowing marketing and business. Many in Nashville are good at music and not business. Very, very few are good at both.
Original bands mean investing into music, you may not get it back, you may make 100x what you put in, anywhere between that is that work you put into it to get to the next level and don’t be satisfied. Youll go into debt starting out as any business anywhere does. It’s asking yourself if it’s worth it after that.
If you get a record deal or have labels coming after you, learn how to negotiate contracts and if they’re not negotiable, it’s not worth signing.
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u/seanlaw27 Former nashvillian 1d ago edited 1d ago
It's been over 15 years since I played drums downtown but I can tell you its not fun. Pay is nonexistent, every other musician is at least a tier better than you, and the afterparties get old fast.
But every once in a while, there is a bridesmaid...
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u/kerutland 1d ago
Plus the fact that you dare not shake a tree because several drummers will fall out of it… (my spouse is a drummer).
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u/Blueberry_Mancakes 1d ago
You're a very small fish in a very big pond.
It's not about talent, it's about who you know and how easy you are to work with.
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u/Dry_Standard_1064 1d ago
I've got a friend who plays better than me, he plays fiddle, mandolin, pedal steel, bass, rhythm guitar all very well.. several years ago I tried talking him to Nashville, and he said exactly what you said.. he'd rather be a big fish in a small pond than a tiny fish in a huge ocean
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u/unsound_sound 1d ago
I worked at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie bar back in the late nineties to the late 00s. So many ridiculous local players in there on a regular basis, plus the crazy celebrities that would shoot through at any given time. Hell, all of Printers Alley, for that matter, but the local greats inundated the venues there.
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u/BigCATtrades 1d ago
Most are delusional about their skills and moonlight as service industry workers until they age out or pivot to management.
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u/Fredneck_Chronicles 1d ago
Nashville is full of amazing musicians, so throw out any ego you have about being better than someone else. I promise the bar back cleaning up tables is probably a better song writer or better guitarist, and theirs a seemingly endless supply of them. I wouldn’t try to depend on music alone to make a living. It can be done but it’s a grind and you’ll run yourself ragged in no time. Everyone I know who’s successful has some kind of side gig, like sound engineering, merch sales or production, PA rental, etc. They said back in the gold rush days the people who got rich weren’t the minors, but the guys who sold the minors their tools. Look into sound, lighting, logistics, printing, teching…all of those things can be a great side gig for a musician.
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u/HootieWoo 2d ago
They’re people with regular jobs and music hobbies. Jobs pay the bills. Hobby gets to happen in the free time.
Most the people I’ve worked with (especially in bars & restaurants) have been musicians of some kind.
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u/mam88k 1d ago
Most of the county songs you hear on the radio are written by people sitting in cubicles. If you're really a creative writer/player go to a town with a vibrant live scene and get some regional success.
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u/imadestarwars 9h ago
Been doing this for over 20 years, met more writers than Jesus, and not once has anyone ever said they did a co-write in a cubicle 😂👍🏻
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u/PaintingDecent7243 1d ago
it's a lot of hard work and frankly extremely hard to become recognized in a town that is known for music because you're up against everyone else. Before coming to Nashville create a following wherever you are and build up a buzz - Instagram, TikTok, YouTube etc. Play locally and make music. Nashville is the place your dreams will come to die if you're not ready. I moved here for music in 1992 and had some moderate success as a session singer but it's glutted with people just as hungry and just as talented who are better at connecting with people or just a shade more lucky.
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u/I_deleted EDGEHILL REPRESENT 1d ago
Think about Willie Nelson being such a great songwriter but not finding his true success til he moved back to Texas
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u/Rhubarb-Juice 1d ago
150 - 200$ per gig sounds very familiar to me. Many people can make session musician work full time but it’s definitely tight financially and very unstable. It’s doable to make a decent living if you’re in the right crowd (weddings, work broadway 10+ a week, private events etc) but that’s definitely a minority of musicians. Most musicians here either have a day job or have some kind of financial support from someone else.
I personally have a music adjacent day job thats flexible enough for me to gig a fair amount and I’m happy with that lifestyle. Gigs are maybe %20-40 of my income depending on the month.
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u/malcolmbradley 1d ago
In the spirit of two things being true, you can be the best guitarist is a 5 mile radius as well as being responsible in telling the chef that the customer’s steak is overcooked and the old couple at table 12 need a martini refresh.
Someone could start a reality show called “Our Restaurant Staff could be Your Band,” and they wouldn’t go begging for talent.
At least that’s the way it was 30 years ago when I waited tables. The number of good, struggling musicians are legion. Don’t miss any opportunities to support them. If, as one Redditor said, “Nashville is where dreams come to die”, then its graveyards are brimming with genius and talent.
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u/TacoBellFourthMeal Dinos Animal Fries & Fernet 1d ago
On a positive note - it’s collaborative and not competitive like many people from out of town assume. Everybody wants to help everybody succeed and are genuinely happy for each others’ successes. I’ve been here 9 years and have never felt like I’m competing for a spot here. Everybody has room in this city and we all recognize that.
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u/creektn 1d ago
You might have been in the top 10% in the town you moved from, here you are in the top 70%. A majority of musicians in this town are very good. I it is harder to stand out and be discovered here because the bar is set very high. There is a history of local band becoming successful in Europe and have much less success locally, Kind of comical.
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u/johnnykellog 1d ago
Stop trying to be the next big thing and just make music with cool people and enjoy your time here. We’re all working class. That’s it
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u/missbethd 2d ago
I am not a musician and did not move here to be in that industry. But the most successful working musicians I know (session players, writers, publishers) are what the musicians call "a good hang" - that is, show up, do a good job, and don't be a jerk. That alone has been a successful formula to decades of work. And, work - yes, it's work. Not enough people treat it like the job it is. As an artist manager told me years ago "it's the music 'BUSINESS,' not 'music friends'."
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u/CoolWorldliness4664 1d ago
I doubt it's limited to Nashville but I would say it's more about image than talent. I've had friends with very little talent play semi professionally in bands based on their hair/clothes/appearance.
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u/Legal-Use-6149 east side 1d ago
True. I’ve heard many stories from musicians talking about how they got in the door from their look. This isn’t necessarily Nashville related but Jimi Hendrix liked Noel Redding cause he thought he had cool hair and thought he could play bass for him. Noel was a guitarist and had never played bass.
It can happen. If you think you can get by looking like shit there’s no way. Music is entertainment and you need a brand and being presentable is step 1 in most cases.
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u/unsound_sound 1d ago
I worked at Bourbon Street Blues and Boogie bar back in the late nineties to the late 00s. So many ridiculous local players in there on a regular basis, plus the crazy celebrities that would shoot through at any given time. Hell, all of Printers Alley, for that matter, but the local greats inundated the venues there.
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u/DiogenesXenos 1d ago
This video will tell you all you need to know…https://youtu.be/6zf60VoDiL0?si=TXEeICxu0N1Y4eZ4
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u/Ancient-Actuator7443 1d ago
Nashville is chock full of great musicians and singer songwriters. You have to be truly exceptional to get noticed and work regularly. Even then it’s hard.
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u/Tokyosmash_ Dodging potholes on Briley 1d ago
The reality is you need a real job to pay for the being a musician part
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u/TacoBellFourthMeal Dinos Animal Fries & Fernet 1d ago
Everybody who isn’t an A-B list level either has a part time or full time job or financial help from their parents. I know 40+ year olds living off their parents money while being signed, touring and working very hard. They are extremely professional, talented and hard working and do a good job at making it seem like they live a total rockstar lifestyle and have it all made. It’s quite the facade.
As an artist, I do the same shit lol I would never let people see when I’m struggling. I’m lucky enough my full time job is my own business at least!
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u/ThiqSaban 1d ago
Long story short, you're not gonna "make it" unless you're in the good ole boys club
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u/Legal-Use-6149 east side 1d ago
You can make it without being in any club. Grow those social media numbers and learn how to grow an audience and you absolutely can get there. Nashville is not a game of waiting in line anymore, people can do it on social media and bypass the woman on Broadway who can sing Carrie Underwood better than she can herself.
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u/Delicious-Network629 1d ago
Ran by big man’s money, it’s all shit til it’s more shit, Gaylord’s are god. John notso Rich is a prick and unless you play modern “country” you’re shit outta luck. Have fun!
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u/Substantial-Put1298 1d ago
It takes five people to rent a house here. Might as well call yourself a band.
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u/pineappleshnapps 1d ago
You can make a lot of money, or be really broke. Working your ass off isn’t a guarantee of success, but luck on its own will only get you so far.
I’ve been here a while and have seen plenty of people have various levels of success from record deals and gold records to steady well paid gigs, and I’ve seen probably more people pack up and go home, or get a decent job and let music take a back seat.
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u/drmamboscombo 1d ago
That Napster & Spotify ruined the business as we used to know it. It's over and one needs to learn another way to make a living.
One another note. If you wanna earn a small fortune in the music business you better start with a large one.
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u/imadestarwars 1d ago
Hey. My first comment was… and still is… exposing a rather dark aspect of being a musician in Nashville. Here are some actual responses to your questions.
Nashville’s music scene is vibrant, but it’s also incredibly competitive and not always as glamorous as it appears. On Broadway, many musicians play long hours for modest pay, with tips often making up a significant part of their income. The pay ranges for musicians on Broadway haven’t changed much in 15 years, and the Musicians Union hasn’t done much to improve conditions in recent years. Additionally, many bars are now adopting electronic setups like electronic drums, and it’s not far-fetched to think AI bands could replace live musicians in the near future. It’s a harsh reality, but the town still thrives on talent and hard work.
Pay varies depending on the gig. On Broadway, most musicians make about $125 per shift, though some well-negotiated gigs pay up to $250 per person. That’s for a 4-hour set with no breaks, playing around 68 songs.
Touring pay can vary widely depending on the artist and the level of the tour. Starting out, you’ll likely make $150–$225 per day, plus $25–$50 in per diem for food. Your flights and transportation are usually covered, but you may be expected to drive or handle additional tasks. That $150–$225 per day is for all 24 hours you’re away, breaking down to roughly $6.25–$9.37/hour. For international readers, converting to Singapore dollars (at an exchange rate of 1 USD = 0.73 SGD), that’s about $8.56–$12.83 SGD per hour.
Larger tours with well-established artists—like Taylor Swift, whom you mentioned—operate on a completely different level. Those musicians are often on retainer and likely earning six figures or more annually. However, Nashville-based artists are increasingly hiring musicians from Los Angeles, as they’re often seen as more polished and professional.
It’s also important to remember that touring isn’t year-round. Many artists take significant time off, so you’ll need a side hustle or additional source of income to make ends meet. For example, playing 60 shows a year at $150–$225 per show adds up to $9,000–$13,500 annually. Mid-level gigs paying $500–$750 per show could bring in $30,000–$45,000 per year, but even that isn’t guaranteed.
And don’t forget, touring income is rarely taxed upfront. You’re responsible for managing that yourself, and while some expenses might be deductible, most musicians simply take the standard deduction. Planning and budgeting are essential if you want to make touring work long-term.
The talent pool in Nashville is huge, and people come from all over the world to chase their dreams here. You’ll meet incredibly talented musicians from every background and genre. That said, talent alone isn’t enough. Success often depends on your ability to market yourself, network, and build relationships in the industry. It’s not uncommon for incredibly talented musicians to struggle if they don’t have the right connections or business savvy.
Not necessarily. While some people dream of landing a record deal, many musicians are more focused on finding a good manager or booking agent to help them secure gigs and navigate the industry. A record deal isn’t always the goal—it’s often more about building a sustainable career, whether through live performances, publishing deals, or other opportunities. In fact, many musicians learn quickly which labels and publishers are worth working with and which ones aren’t.
Talent and knowledge aren’t exclusive to major label artists or tours. There are phenomenal musicians and engineers working with independent artists, just as there are with major acts. The difference often comes down to resources and opportunities rather than skill. Independent artists often rely on smaller budgets, which can limit what they can do, but that doesn’t mean their teams are any less talented.
Yes, the music dream is still alive, but it looks different for everyone. Some people are chasing stardom, while others are just trying to make a living doing what they love. The industry is tough, and it takes a lot of resilience to succeed. For some, the dream is playing Broadway shifts and earning enough to live comfortably. For others, it’s touring or releasing original music. Whatever the goal, success comes down to showing up, putting in the work, and making it happen for yourself—because there’s no single path to “making it.”
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u/infiniteStoogel 1d ago edited 1d ago
Playing as a "hired gun" downtown and occasionally going on the road with artists was a great supplementary source of income for me for a while. I know a bunch of people who do it regularly enough that they make the equivalent of a six figure salary in the busy season.
I stuck to being a weekend warrior because downtown is a mess, being on the road can get tiring when you're in your 30s, and most importantly there's really no job security. It can get rough in an instant. Maybe the bar you play at from 6-10 on Saturdays suddenly decides to book a different band, or some singer you work with finds it makes more sense to play solo instead. Or an artist who was riding a wave of popularity from being on The Voice starts losing steam, and the idea of doing one-offs in Mississippi for $200 isn't so appealing, etc. Tons of ways to lose a gig without doing anything wrong. You have to keep networking. Also a lot of people are hesitant about this but having a social media presence has become important too.
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u/RPorbust2012 1d ago
If you’re really good and can listen you can do pretty well. I play around 6 shifts a week downtown and make around 50-60k
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u/Silver_Objective7144 1d ago
I moved to TN in the late 90s, grinding while working at a record store, playing the Springwater a ton, then the End, then the Exit-Inn & eventually getting signed to an indie label, was a session bassist and got to tour the US a few times. I still would’ve made more money working at White Castle. Don’t get caught up in drinking there and play music for fun. The old system is gone, you don’t have to move to Nashville or LA, you can do your music wherever you’re from and release it yourself. I’ve since left there and the one thing I miss is being around other capable musicians. We’ve got great musicians where I’m from but not nearly as many. Music stores are better in Nashville too. Play music for fun, and who know? You may get lucky, but most likely you won’t.
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u/Silver_Objective7144 1d ago
Also I wanted to add, when I saw some homeless folks on Broadway who could play a billion times better than me, my heart sank for many reasons
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u/usingacane 1d ago
I know lots of musicians here, and there’s no middle ground. You play open mic nights based on few tips, or you’re super famous. The real gig here is in songwriting
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u/Plane_Mine_3641 23h ago
My husband is a recording engineer- he went to SAE- has lived here almost 30 years- it took him about 20 to find a stable position as home engineer in one of the studios on Music Row. Music industry is all about CONNECTIONS- it’s who you know.
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u/ernestthecowboy 22h ago
Hey! So I moved here in August 2017 and I’ve heard stories but I’m not entirely sure what it was like to work as a musician before that. Nashville is very competitive and there are a bunch of musicians here who will do whatever it takes to work. That part can be very intimidating. HOWEVER…. how you deal with the competition here is essentially going to make or break your time here. I’ve found people in Nashville to be very approachable and willing to help compared to other cities, and if you look for a gig here, you’ll probably find something. Go to shows/roundtables/writers rounds etc. Try to align yourself with like-minded people who are: 1. Your friends and 2. are going to push you to become better. Even though social media is huge the music industry is still very much a relationship based industry and that’s especially true here. Not to mention people are moving here everyday from all over. There’s plenty of venues that have closed but a lot of cool new ones/places that used to not have music that now do.
The other cool thing about Nashville is that there are so many different avenues you can take. Broadway is only one of them. The session scene isn’t what it used to be but it still exists and is strong. It’s a touring hub. There are a lot of corporate bands here. Live sound/engineering is huge here. There are a ton of different viable ways to make a decent living. Each gig varies in pay, so it’s kind of up to you in a lot of circumstances to decide what your time/effort is worth, but I will say to put money away if you can at the end of every gig. I can’t tell you how many gigs I’ve been on where someone has had 7-10 drinks and wonders where all their money goes/why they’re struggling.
Overall if you’re trying to work as a musician in 2025 I think that Nashville is definitely the place to be.
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u/Competitive_Reviewer 21h ago
One of my friends Tana Matz (tanamatzofficial.com) has always said that labels look for followers before they even talk music. So sad. Honestly should be backwards!
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u/Nearby_Rush9204 11h ago
Everyone’s a “musician” or “working in the music industry” but also no they’re not - they’re your coworker at whatever hourly job you’re working
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u/Clovis_Winslow Kool Sprangs 1d ago edited 1d ago
If you’re looking to become a hired gun, the universal truths of the music business are this:
There is far, FAR less money in it than you’d think. Many of my friends play stadiums in bands you know, and you’d be shocked how little it pays.
Many of my friends have Grammys from writing songs you know. Most of them also have real estate licenses and day jobs, despite their success.
If you want to make money on a big tour, go into production. My friends who do video, lighting, sound, etc make a far better living than anyone who sings or plays an instrument.
The vast majority of “full time musicians” you meet in town are already financially independent. Trust fund babies, investment bankers’ kids, nepos, etc.
We have a saying in Nashville: if you want to make $100K in the music business, you must spend a million.
And another: if you’re a session player clearing $60K a year… congratulations, you’re in the top 1%.
I’ve been playing downtown on Broadway/2nd (before it blew up)/Printer’s Alley, etc for over 20 years and I absolutely love it, but unless you want to grind yourself into paste, you can’t live on that. It’s a great night job though.
On the plus side: if you just love music in all its forms, and you have no aspirations for fame and fortune, Nashville is paradise. Everybody is SO good. Endless resources, collaborators, gear, gigs, opportunities and camaraderie… that is if you’re a good hang.