Dualities of Roles and Identity of Musicians in the 21st Century

Renowned Pianist Grigory Sokolov has a more traditional career. He only gives traditional concerts in certain parts of Europe and venues so that travel is light, and so that he can create work in the space where he is comfortable. On the other hand, legendary pianist Daniel Barenboim has a very multifaceted career. Not only does he give concerts, but he also manufactures pianos, started a music school and orchestra, and has a large online presence in classical content creation. 

In the 21st century, Sokolov’s career is more of the exception than the norm. It is almost impossible for even extremely talented artists to maintain a living simply performing full time. Many of my music students have been discouraged from studying music due to the uncertainty of the economy. In fact, most classical musicians have to teach or turn to other forms of work to supplement their performance income. Side hustles have become increasingly common with the rise of the gig economy, and many musicians make profitable side income taking on a variety of projects. Side hustles often evolve into full-time hustles depending on how diligent any musician applies themselves to their craft. 

This is where entrepreneurship comes in. Entrepreneurship is about doing something you love while making money from it. But what stops most artists from taking on entrepreneurship is fear of the unknown and lack of awareness about where to start. What many musicians don’t realize is that creativity isn’t just an asset to their art — it can be a huge asset to their business as well, as there are many people looking for examples of creativity in business. With the digital age and the rise of new technologies, imagination and creativity are very much in demand, should any potential entrepreneur know where to look. What circumstances factor into whether or not classical musicians take on the challenge of being an entrepreneur? How do the artist’s goals and priorities determine their path as they decide what type of musician they want to be?