By Bert Stratton | The New York Times
(Editor’s notes: Stratton is Jordan Rose’s uncle. Opinion pieces are published for discussions purposes only.)
How many bands are there? Almost 7,000 musical acts entered NPR’s recent Tiny Desk Concert Contest, vying for a slot on national radio. Nobody knows the exact number of professional musicians. The Bureau of Labor Statistics says there are about 68,000 musicians, but that’s “employees,” like orchestra musicians. Most musicians I know are self-employed.
I’ve played in bands for decades, and always with self-employed independent contractors — hyphenated guys (landlord-musician, schoolteacher-musician, warehouse worker-musician). I know few full-time musicians. “Full time” is the highest status — and often the lowest pay.
