If you’re a school teacher or part of an orchestra, you have stability, a contract, and a clear structure. But the moment you step into the freelance world, expectations suddenly change — as if this is just your hobby, and you should be happy to play for free.
Another common myth is that musicians earn huge amounts of money for one hour on stage. People see a full hall and expensive tickets, but rarely think about what stands behind it: organization, venue rental, management, marketing, technical staff, taxes. And most importantly — years of work no one sees.
Because that “one concert” is never just one hour. It’s years of training from early childhood, investment in education, instruments, constant practice, and preparation for every single performance.
And yes, in Europe there are many amateur ensembles who perform beautifully for free. But when professional work starts being perceived the same way, it’s no longer normal — it’s a problem of the market.
Music is not just inspiration. It’s a profession.\
And like any profession, it has its price.