Full-Time Musician? I Failed. Happy That I Did!

I really did fail to become a full-time musician per my hopes and dreams. The irony is that I am OK with it. Let me tell you why and encourage you on your musical journey.

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Some of the gear used in this video (with Amazon and Sweetwater Affiliate links, see disclaimers below):

TC Electronic PolyTune Tuner

PedalTrain Classic PRO pedalboard

Strymon Compadre Compressor

Strymon Riverside Overdrive

Strymon Iridium

Morley Volume Pedal

Focusrite Clarett 8Pre USB

iZotope Ozone 9 Advanced

Chords of Orion - Ambient guitar music for the mind and heart.

Bill Vencil - Guitars

Amazon Affiliate Disclosure:

[AntoineMichaudGuitarLooping]

I'm full-time as an internet musician; part-time as a ''real'' touring musician. That's the reality today! As someone whose dream was to play in a progressive rock band for a living, I'm so thankful to even be able to do it part-time. Even big bands are not doing it for a living anymore. I mean... our singer was fronting lengendary prog rock band ''Yes'' as well as ours at the same time. The notoriety wasn't even enough for us. We weren't even close to earn enough money with that. And guess what? The singer burned out, and we had to find a new one. After seeing all of these harsh realities at a young age, I knew that being an internet musician was the best way to go forward in order to have the best quality of life possible without abandoning my dreams and my art. And I'm really at peace with that. Thanks for this, Bill, I love your ''challenges musicians face'' type of videos!

[ShaneKeenMusic]

You’ve got a family, security, and over 100k subscribers on YouTube based on something you love. I think you’ve made it.

[markwischkaemper]

I'm a full-time musician, but I'm very lucky because it comes with a schedule, benefits, and a salary. Are you a coward? No. You're a grown up. Thanks for all the inspiration.

[ronnieferguson]

"It's not the money, it's the Art".... I can relate to that sentiment. The process of creating something original has always driven me in both my Artwork & music.
Making money from it will never happen for me but as long as I'm alive I will create. It's a blessing having a gift & to me that's payment enough..love your style. Keep on keeping on. :-)

[jazzcat]

What a wonderful story. Enjoyed every minute of this.

[MartinBaldock]

At 72, I'm a very happy part time musician, part time visual artist, part time poet, have been all my life. It wasn't until 2012 that I joined my first band, The Godmonkey Skyhook Amalgamation, a sort of progressive art/rock ensemble/project, playing synthesizers. That only lasted about 9 months, but it opened up so many opportunities, The Mighty Pandl, the Corby International Orchestra, The Slackstring Band, me as "martRox", or "martinRoxArt", or "the mythical DJ". I should really call myself a synthbasher, guitarmauler, as I'm not particularly accomplished, but I get by, and most importantly, I love it.

[jimBobuu]

"Then I got married."

..Jimmy quit, Jody got married..

[paubass]

I am 100% computer engeneer and part time musician with no family. I LOVE MUSIC it's my main motivation in life even if it's just for me. U R NOT COWARD. U SHARE MUSIC WITH THE WORLD. U GOT LOVE AND YOUR FAMILY. U R LUCKY. B HAPPY AS U R NOW AND FLOW WITHOUT RISKS...

[theelectricvoyage]

Pleased I stopped by man, respect to started playing "electric" guitar mid seventies..did the rock band thing, then diverged into "electronic" learning continued at the unserviceable studio, tried rearranging a cover..getting a record deal and classically dumped with product left in warehouse. Gave up got a proper job etc saw a lot of problems on the horizon but kept noodling on an acoustic guitar (kept me sane) and now I am learning a bit of music theory and realizing that electricity opens up a whole new world as you show with the ambient sounds. Same as you I enjoy searching for sound. All the best.

[mateusz_bricks]

I'm a full-time father, husband, and teacher. I'm a part time creative person.

[jamesmurff]

Very similar parallels to my existence. I played with different bands in the late 90s, but noticed no one took it as seriously as I was. Had a very expensive electric guitar or 2, and sold my gear, but kept my acoustic and hit the road, to go door to door. Got to see some sights, drifting. Came home and got married to a great lady with a beautiful little girl. The world fell away. They were all that was important. Now she’s grown, and I have been recording for about 15 years. I put my tunes out on the internet and I am not burned out. So I appreciate your journey. You have a lot of wisdom. Thank you.

[NEONNOONE]

Great story and thank you for sharing Bill! I'm in the middle of my 40s, had my ups and downs along the way as a part-time band leader and Rocket Silence is still going strong after all these years. What helped me to get to terms with realization that full time music career might never happen is what I learned form Japanese experimental and ambient guitarists and my mentors here in NYC. All of them are really accomplished musicians with a huge back catalogues, pretty well known throughout the world and still releasing new music in their 70s and 80s. It's pretty simple: you get rid of your ego that eagers for success and recognition and concentrate on music. And you never stop. Remember: WHEN YOU RELEASE NEW MUSIC IN THIS WORLD IT'S SUCCESS REGARDLESS OF HOW WELL IT WILL BE RECEIVED.

[andyryder]

Very good and real episode. I am 62 and was a successful musician in my 20 and 30’s decades. Having a child at 57 changed everything. But now I carve out an hour a day for music and am thankful. My 5 year old is so musical, with no prompting from me. The circle may be completed by Maybe she will sing about us?

[thejontao]

There are so many different ways enjoy music… listening to it, dancing to it, making it as a hobby, doing it as a job… not everyone can be a rock star… not everyone wants to be a rock star…

[TheMujiFuji]

3 views. 3 likes! Love these little chats with guitar Bill!! BTW, the prog rock band is killer!

[hailmaryrecordings]

Some people are great musicians at 16, but not artists until much later.

Thanks for the inspiration & honesty

[SidBarnhoorn]

I'm 40 and a full time composer, composing music mostly for film and video games and I did ambient guitar before in the past. One of the video game projects I did this on is called Antichamber (2013). It has been a long time since I did ambient guitar playing and I'm very happy to have stumbled upon your videos which have given me a lot of inspiration to get back to it. Last week I started again but I'm very rusty in my playing but that's okay, I'm happy I started. Thank you!

[jameskowalkowski]

SAME HERE = so glad I have a wife (40yrs now) that wants me to keep playing - I know it's what keeps me sane.

[francho]

You are doing fine! Don’t be frustrated, enjoy the moment and keep doing your regular job with joy.

[GenTal]

Your not a coward your on your own path. I really enjoy your videos