Driving for Dollars

To end I just wanted to make a few comments on some other topics and thank you for asking me to participate.

I belong to 4 locals but I don’t mind the structure as each local has such individualized issues. They understand on a local level what our needs are. It is expensive, but we do get half back for each local over two.

I have been thinking this week a lot about my driving and it has made me very nervous. I drove my husband crazy being the driver this weekend as I was such a nervous passenger. I kept seeing potential accidents everywhere. I had not thought that much about the difference between a musician’s life on the road and other people’s.

The wear and tear on myself and my car is pretty bad. I can’t envision keeping this up into my sixties. I will have to transition into something less intense travel-wise. I see that I will have to give up some of my favorite and enjoyable gigs just because of the driving. It is really a shame. I hope I can cultivate more work closer to my home.

With the lack of medical insurance provided and no pension contributions, retirement is not something musicians can do early if at all. Stringing together a living from many smaller organizations of which none of mine have any benefits is a problem. You really have to take care financially and make sure you make saving something a priority. One illness or accident can be the ruin of many of my colleagues. This lack of security is something I live with in order to do what I love.
Thanks
Chris