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By 2012, Eighth Blackbird had been performing collectively for 16 years. We had secured two Grammys, had ongoing residencies on the College of Richmond and the College of Chicago, and have been about to embark on a three-year residency at Curtis. Our excursions took us to famend venues just like the Sydney Opera Home and Carnegie Corridor. After commissioning a bit from Steve Reich that earned him a Pulitzer, we had undeniably “made it” by chamber music requirements, proving our resilience.
But, regardless of these accomplishments, I felt financially pinched, dwelling paycheck to paycheck. If Eighth Blackbird had achieved success, why did it not really feel that means?
Beginnings
For brand spanking new chamber teams, there is not any definitive information on managing funds. Many ensembles sometimes subtract bills and divide the rest equally amongst members. Eighth Blackbird took a unique method from the very starting. After we received the Fischoff Award in 1996, we determined to allocate half of that prize to a gaggle checking account and shared the opposite half amongst ourselves, every taking dwelling $208.33. This observe carried over to our early gigs.
With six musicians within the group, we rapidly discovered that the prices incurred throughout excursions have been far higher than anticipated. Simply the value of seven airplane tickets (together with the cello) consumed a considerable portion of our charges. Journey bills resembling fuel and tolls compounded this challenge, notably when flying wasn’t an possibility. In our early days, we maintained a spreadsheet to trace particular person fuel bills, as we struggled to even reimburse members promptly. We hoped, in due time, we might settle these bills, which finally occurred.
Lastly, we reached some extent the place we might pay ourselves a modest wage: $90 a month, again in 1999. This was monumental not for the quantity however for the truth that we had regular work and a steady monetary outlook, enabling us to plan forward. Optimistically, we hoped our salaries might solely improve from there.
The Prices of a Touring Profession
Touring is dear—this isn’t information to most. Eating out constitutes a big drain on our funds, whereas the variations between brewing espresso at dwelling and indulging at Starbucks can accumulate rapidly. The post-concert hangout and bar tabs that don’t fairly stability add up, together with the occasional forgotten pc charger in Europe or the necessity to purchase substitute garments or sneakers proper earlier than a present. The price of a number of Ubers to the airport and spontaneous instrument repairs can pile up, too.
Finally, the take-home pay is commonly far lower than one may assume. A hanging instance occurred when a cellist subbed for me whereas I used to be on paternity depart in 2012. Only a week earlier than the tour, this sub demanded a considerably greater price or would refuse to go. We laid out the monetary realities of the contract, exhibiting the bills we incurred: seven airplane tickets, taxis, motels, rehearsal area overhead, and so on. It turned out the sub mistakenly believed we have been undercutting their price as a result of misguided recommendation from a former trainer. However the numbers inform the true story: touring doesn’t yield substantial earnings for anybody.
Actual Wages
Throughout my discussions and lectures at music colleges, I emphasize that potential musicians can lookup wage data in our trade. If an ensemble operates as a nonprofit, they need to legally disclose their 990 varieties, which often embody wage particulars, particularly for smaller teams the place members are categorised as staff.
ProPublica’s web site (obtainable totally free with no signup) archives 990 varieties spanning years for many organizations. As an example, Eighth Blackbird’s data date again to 2003, revealing that every member earned $19,100 yearly on a income of $262,000. Our most profitable yr was 2016, the place we reported $1.3 million in income, with particular person salaries averaging $41,306.
Latest critiques of 990s from varied distinguished new music teams reveal a spectrum of musician salaries for W2 staff. Alarm Will Sound, as an illustration, reported $787,000 in whole income in 2024, with musician salaries of $20,790. Compared, the Worldwide Modern Ensemble had a income of $1.4 million in 2023, with musician salaries starting from $5,400 to $51,137.
However, Third Coast Percussion reported $1.1 million in income in 2024, with musician salaries from $75,500 to $77,500, whereas the Ethel String Quartet reported $476,000 in income in 2023, with musician salaries between $62,000 and $65,250.
Kronos Quartet, usually considered one of many prime ensembles in new music, reported $2.9 million in income in 2023, with particular person salaries of $131,000. Whereas this will likely appear interesting, a 2024 Client Affairs article signifies {that a} single grownup in San Francisco would require an annual wage of $131,050.81 to take care of an affordable lifestyle, not together with their intensive international touring bills. Each meal and low bought worldwide provides up.
And this displays the top of our trade—what “making it” actually seems to be like.
The Inevitability of Establishments
At this juncture, you might be questioning: if touring prices a lot, how do musicians handle to maintain all of it?
The reply usually lies in institutional help. Whereas just a few ensembles, like Kronos and the Worldwide Modern Ensemble, operate with out such backing, many rely closely on long-term residencies, which offer important revenue for his or her survival. Teams like Sō Percussion have partnerships with Princeton, Alarm Will Sound has ties to the College of Missouri, and Third Coast Percussion and Ethel String Quartet are supported by Denison College.
Eighth Blackbird’s journey adopted an identical path. Our first residency was at Northwestern College, the place we provided our providers because the ensemble-in-residence in change for tuition-free grasp’s levels. Our presence finally led to a constant partnership with the College of Chicago for his or her composers live performance, transitioning right into a long-standing ensemble-in-residence place. Following our grasp’s, we secured a residency on the College of Richmond, a job we held till 2020. This place afforded us a steady revenue together with well being and retirement advantages—an unprecedented benefit for the group. With out that help, I query how lengthy we might have persevered with out spreading ourselves skinny with different work commitments.
Now, post-residency, Eighth Blackbird’s monetary mannequin has tailored. 4 of the six members now function as contractors with 1099 revenue, whereas founding members Lisa Kaplan and Matthew Duvall obtain W2 salaries as directors and performers, a mannequin just like what different ensembles just like the Worldwide Modern Ensemble make use of. Nonetheless, for greater than half of my time with Eighth Blackbird, the revenue generated from the College residencies constituted a good portion of our monetary backing.
The Delusion of Making It
Some readers might aspire to forge careers in new music, even when their ardour would not stem from a need for wealth. This dialogue is just not meant to dissuade anybody from pursuing a profession on this subject. In truth, I imagine we’re in a golden age of latest music, with extra teams thriving than ever—think about the rise of profitable percussion and sax ensembles over the past twenty years.
What I want to convey is that “making it” is much less a tangible vacation spot and extra an ongoing journey. There isn’t a second of arrival the place you’ll be able to chill out and coast. This understanding holds true for these on the prime and people beginning out. People I do know who’re thriving within the new music panorama are perpetually hustling for alternatives and planning their subsequent transfer. Whereas this hustle tradition might be taxing, it might additionally sharpen your abilities and resilience.
By inserting extra emphasis on the craft of making distinctive artwork—pursuing it in probably the most artistically and financially prudent methods—reasonably than fixating on exterior markers of success resembling fame or wealth, artists can uncover a extra genuine path ahead of their careers.
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