[Harp-L] Can one make a living playing harp?

[Robert Bonfiglio <bon@xxxxxxxxxx>]

I make my living playing harmonica and only harmonica; I don't sing or  
front a band or play another instrument.   Mostly I perform Harmonica  
Concerti with orchestras for my money.  Occasionally I have given  
master classes and taught, but not really as a big source of income.   
I do have income from CD sales, mostly at the concerts.

I started making my living just performing in about 1986, before that  
I did studio work, but most of the extra sources of income -  jingles,  
phonograph records, ASCAP, movies, etc. has dried up.

With the economy hurting, symphonies are hurting right now, but since  
I never had a job, I never had a job to lose, so I will get by until  
things change.  My fees for concerti have come down to from $8000 for  
a concert in 2006 to about $6000 now.  Concerts are coming in last  
minute in a way they never used to as well.

No doubt, the business has changed now, but live music is still  
alive.  It's just getting to the stage to perform that's gotten more  
difficult.


Harmonically yours,

Robert Bonfiglio
http://www.robertbonfiglio.com