I am pretty bad at managing my money, I guess.
Frustrating, because I feel like I am relatively proactive about going after it... maybe not proactive enough, though. Proactive in Collegetown, KS is a lot different from proactive in Cincinnati, OH, and unfortunately my bank account is beginning to reflect my inability to recognize that difference up to this point.
UGH, money... it's always seemed more like a nuisance than a tool to me... my students pay me, sure, but I would do what I do without being paid if there was some way for me to not starve in the process. Being able to support yourself as a musician definitely means constant vigilance and self-promotion... you must keep your website clean and update it often to keep people coming back, you must send out e-mail asking for gigs on a weekly basis, you must advertise yourself as a teacher and always be prepared for someone to quit at a moment's notice, you must practice every single day so that your skills stay in tip-top shape, you must learn your music quickly and accurately, and even after all of that you are always always always expected to perform with passion, reaching out to the hearts of your audience members and allowing them to experience the emotions of the music you are playing...
Yeah, this is hard. But I love it. So I will just have to try harder. That's all there is.
