Being a musical entrepreneur

Interesting article recently on a new seminar for performers at Eastman School.

The School is setting up a three-day workshop on Preparing the Generation-E Musician.

Heidi Neck, professor of entrepreneurship at Babson College, is facilitating the workshop at the end of January. As far as I am concerned, she has got it spot-on.

Ms Neck is concerned that sometimes these [music] schools "are saying they're adopting entrepreneurship but are really adopting business basics, such as how to write grants and how to file taxes."

I feel very strongly about this subject. When I was at music college (way back in the 1880s) money, income and earning were dirty subjects and were never discussed. The emphasis was on performing to the best of your ability, but exactly how you were going to do that when you left college was shrouded in mystery. Only after I left was a lecture instituted that even covered tax basics.

As you might see if you visit the site, I've left a comment on the article to the effect that I've been earning a living solely connected with music for 24 years, and a good deal of that is due to knowing where the work is and being flexible enough to tackle it.

Entrepreneurship includes creating or finding work for yourself, rather than waiting for someone to employ you!

Click here to read the article:
http://www.insidehighered.com/news/2009/01/12/music

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