Going Professional

Abstract

Abstract ‘Going professional’ is commonly held to mean making a living from music, giving up other, non-musical, careers or jobs in order to devote oneself solely to performing. Becoming a professional involves making a substantial commitment to music and it typically necessitates making considerable sacrifices in other areas of life. The most immediate one is often financial. For Shareen (ofMs45), it was law school. A woman may leave a secure non-musical career in the certain knowledge that it would be difficult, or impossible, to return should her musical venture fail. Judy Parsons (of the Belle Stars) relinquished a ‘marvellous career’ in civil engineering. ‘I decided that that’s what I wanted to do with my life ... So I’ve lost lots of money by being in a band ... I think it’s wrong if you think, “I want to be a millionaire. I’ll play in a rock band”. It’s not the same. You think, “I don’t care if I’m starving. I’m gonna play in a rock and roll band”.’ Making a living from music is quite an achievement, for it is the unrealized goal of innu¬ merable local bands. Judy was lucky in that her job had given her the means to purchase high-quality musical equipment. The irony here is that it is often only by having a well-paid non-musical career that a woman can get the necessary equipment in order to launch herself.