We all get into this whole music thing because we love it, right?

There are just a couple details they don't emphasize in music school while you're working hard, practicing around the clock, and safely hidden away, nurturing your hard earned talents. Then BAM! welcome to the real world where you realize being good at your instrument is only a teeny tiny bit of what it takes to succeed in this business.

Here are 10 lessons I learned in the real world of music making, playing, and teaching.

1.     Kiss your nights and weekends goodbye.

2.     You’ll be ready for dinner at 9:30 or 10 when rehearsals/performances are over and most normal people are getting ready to call it a night.

3.     Those people who wave a stick around, make no actual sound, and are always begging you to play on their recitals end up making the most money. Be nice to them.

4.     Taxes are a mess. Seriously. Good Luck and Save Your Receipts.

5.     Have you seen this meme? 100% accurate.

6.     You will get just as much work being nice, fun, and social as you will practicing your butt off.

7.     Black clothes. Forever. You will never have enough.

8.     When you’re a teacher you will hear the same terrible excuses from your students that you used to use. And you will cringe with embarrassment for them…and also for yourself.

9.     But first Coffee! A personal mantra that also functions as an excuse to delay practicing for just a few more minutes.

10. Practicing is probably only 15% of what you actually need to be doing in order to make money. Don’t forget about juggling rehearsals, getting to the gig, teaching, shameless self promotion, “networking”, organizing, planning, prepping parts, doing your markings, emailing (forever), watching hilarious youtube videos….and more coffee.

If someone had told me any of this when I was younger I may never have believed them. Ignorance is bliss, as they say.

But seriously.....What did I miss?