The debate on how jazz musicians do or do not manage to earn a living from their music continues. And I’m most grateful to Billy Jenkins for the openness and frankness of what he has to say on the subject:

Having been aware of the marginalisation of musicians for the last 25 years (yes – I’ve been noting this since the 1980s when living in Wood Wharf Studios where, for ten years, I welcomed 26.6 a day through my door – so I was in a unique position to listen and hear from many types of musicians). Indeed, two  articles I had published in the Musician Union magazine – one in 1981 raised the long term folly of reliance on technology and one in 1988 appealing to ‘serious’ musicians to raise their marketing game before they become a footnote in history (well that is happening…)…. the Noughties’ perfect storm of downloading, banning of smoking – v.good but impacted on public houses, together with…. the 2003 Entertainment Licence, arts money reduced for Olympic funding, local government cuts from central government, two many academic music courses producing too many keen ‘hoping to be professional’ musicians, even the Met Police and their form 696 played its part, the dilution of social networking rendering vaporisation of USP targets – these I discuss herehttp://www.billyjenkinswebzine.com/interview10.html.
Also, various issues addressed in various news items on http://www.billyjenkins.com/archive.html

So five years ago, having taken 14 months to do six dates for a six piece band working with the ‘matched funding’ initiative via Yorkshire Arts and various run ins with security at airports and musical instruments and noting that the recording industry as a revenue source was dying, I stopped gigs that involved flying and followed the smart money, went one step on from the blues and trained to create and conduct humanist funerals. See http://humanist.org.uk/billyjenkins/

Three years on, I am now on an extended sabbatical from live  performing, as I find the resonance in dealing with bereaved families clashes with the hedonistic joy of music making. Writing an average of 4.500 perfect, emphatic words every single week fulfils my creative urge. Conducting ceremonies sates my performance ego.

Kind words of appreciation from grieving families mean far more than any national rave review….

It took about 26 bodies (give an arm or a leg) to pay for the musicians, manufacturing, marketing and PR of my last CD release, ‘Jazz Gives Me The Blues’. That’s about 4K…..I think I’ve recouped about £300 of that…

Despite positive media interest, I do not know whether it is economical to make another album.

Forty years a musician and bandleader. If I stop breathing tomorrow, I would be replete and totally fulfilled!

Downloading and the ‘click’ click micro second culture has rendered the symphonic and album form redundant.

But I am not at all downhearted. Life evolves. How can I not occasionally teach my music and methods at august institutions like the Royal Academy of Music without wishing my students success and their turn in the market place?

Writers, visual artists, actors, directors, creative folks across all areas – we’re all in the merde.

So let us splash about and smile!
‘Roof over our head, maybe a guaranteed parking space and a nice cuppa tea’
(taken from ‘I Want My Tea’ – CD Blues Zero Two 2002)

Life (and death) is good!

For the rest of the debate, together with all the comments, see here and here