Jeremy Monteiro, Singapore's king of swing, fleshed out the financial realities of being a musician in Singapore in a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday (Jun 23). For one, many musicians are still making S$150 a night for a live club gig in 2024, according to him.
That is the same amount that the veteran jazz pianist once saw musicians earning in the mid-1970s when he first became a professional musician. "Some things never change," he lamented.
How much can musicians expect to earn these days then? Someone with freelance club gigs, the occasional corporate gig, and a regular or freelance teaching stint can earn S$4,000 to S$8,000 a month, said Jeremy, who turned 64 earlier this month.
But that figure represents "maybe the top 20 to 30 per cent", he added. In reality, "it's more like S$2,000 to S$5,000 a month".
"So this is not a lucrative living. It's a vocation. We do this because we love this and are passionate about it. This is not a luxurious profession," said Monteiro, who has been in the industry for 48 years. "But yet, we always look well, dress well and present our best front to the public we serve."
In his Facebook post, Monteiro also acknowledged the "certain level of recognition" he's gained over the decades that allows him to ask for large fees to play in corporate events "because corporations find resonance with me". He expressed gratitude for his various long-time supporters, who have given him moral and financial support, allowing him to sustain his career.
While Monteiro harbours no ill feelings toward young musicians who come from rich and supportive families, he noted that those who do not might face an uphill battle. He listed five pointers for these aspiring musicians to bear in mind.
First, practise, practise, practise. "Get to be as good as you can be," he wrote. "As good as you think you are, there is no limit to how good we can become."
Second, be a "naturally" nice person - "not because you want something from people". Others will come to genuinely like you as a musician if they like you as a person, he said.
"Build community, build a legion of followers and supporters who will come see you when you play, making you an attraction that hirers will want to hire."
Third, embrace the art of self-promotion. Stop believing those who say putting yourself out there on social media is "obscene" and that "you should only concentrate on music", he said. "You have to do both. If you are only doing one, you are only doing half the work."
Fourth, look for collaborations with artists in other disciplines for long-term career sustainability.
These include people in different genres or languages of music, to film and TV producers, visual artists, dancers and choreographers, and theatre practitioners. "Especially those at your level of experience with whom you can build collaborations that may last many years," he advised.
Finally, save money - as much as you can, whenever you can.
Instead of spending on expensive goods, "buy a nice and functional home that will not make you suffer every month with huge mortgage payments that make you dread the end of the month or whenever you have to pay bills".
"Save as many months of your monthly income as you can to allow yourself time to rest, hideaway to compose if you need to, to survive through months where there is little or no work or when you are ill. Build towards at least a year of savings and then build some more," he added.
Most musicians are "workers in Singapore like everyone else", Monteiro wrote, "except without medical benefits and retirement funds, but we still pay tax."
As such, most "will not have enough savings for old age and the medical problems that eventually arrive", he said in his conclusion, adding that one should buy medical insurance at a young age when premiums are affordable.
"I have made many mistakes as a musician of 48 years and while I am still doing ok, I do not have the correct amount of savings for old age at this early old age age of 64," he added.
"I hopefully have some years to rectify these mistakes before I get too old."
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That is the same amount that the veteran jazz pianist once saw musicians earning in the mid-1970s when he first became a professional musician. "Some things never change," he lamented.
How much can musicians expect to earn these days then? Someone with freelance club gigs, the occasional corporate gig, and a regular or freelance teaching stint can earn S$4,000 to S$8,000 a month, said Jeremy, who turned 64 earlier this month.
But that figure represents "maybe the top 20 to 30 per cent", he added. In reality, "it's more like S$2,000 to S$5,000 a month".
"So this is not a lucrative living. It's a vocation. We do this because we love this and are passionate about it. This is not a luxurious profession," said Monteiro, who has been in the industry for 48 years. "But yet, we always look well, dress well and present our best front to the public we serve."
In his Facebook post, Monteiro also acknowledged the "certain level of recognition" he's gained over the decades that allows him to ask for large fees to play in corporate events "because corporations find resonance with me". He expressed gratitude for his various long-time supporters, who have given him moral and financial support, allowing him to sustain his career.
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While Monteiro harbours no ill feelings toward young musicians who come from rich and supportive families, he noted that those who do not might face an uphill battle. He listed five pointers for these aspiring musicians to bear in mind.
First, practise, practise, practise. "Get to be as good as you can be," he wrote. "As good as you think you are, there is no limit to how good we can become."
Second, be a "naturally" nice person - "not because you want something from people". Others will come to genuinely like you as a musician if they like you as a person, he said.
"Build community, build a legion of followers and supporters who will come see you when you play, making you an attraction that hirers will want to hire."
Third, embrace the art of self-promotion. Stop believing those who say putting yourself out there on social media is "obscene" and that "you should only concentrate on music", he said. "You have to do both. If you are only doing one, you are only doing half the work."
Fourth, look for collaborations with artists in other disciplines for long-term career sustainability.
These include people in different genres or languages of music, to film and TV producers, visual artists, dancers and choreographers, and theatre practitioners. "Especially those at your level of experience with whom you can build collaborations that may last many years," he advised.
Finally, save money - as much as you can, whenever you can.
Instead of spending on expensive goods, "buy a nice and functional home that will not make you suffer every month with huge mortgage payments that make you dread the end of the month or whenever you have to pay bills".
"Save as many months of your monthly income as you can to allow yourself time to rest, hideaway to compose if you need to, to survive through months where there is little or no work or when you are ill. Build towards at least a year of savings and then build some more," he added.
Most musicians are "workers in Singapore like everyone else", Monteiro wrote, "except without medical benefits and retirement funds, but we still pay tax."
As such, most "will not have enough savings for old age and the medical problems that eventually arrive", he said in his conclusion, adding that one should buy medical insurance at a young age when premiums are affordable.
"I have made many mistakes as a musician of 48 years and while I am still doing ok, I do not have the correct amount of savings for old age at this early old age age of 64," he added.
"I hopefully have some years to rectify these mistakes before I get too old."
Continue reading...