Hi Tom Hess! I've got one question that is haunting me for several years now: I started to play the guitar some years ago and do want to become a musician to earn my money with. Unfortunately, I did not receive any musical training when I was a child, I did not enroll in a music university at age 19 after college, I'm a late bloomer so to say. I feel that I started to play the guitar way too late and the question is: When are you too old to actually be able to make it and be as good as people who started playing much earlier? I somehow think it's too late already but I cannot help it. I'm considering enrolling in a junior college and getting a degree. My question is am I too old to start a music career? Is still possible at my age (38)?

Tom Hess's Answer:

Becoming a professional musician (and making a great living from it) has virtually nothing to do with age, or the number of years you have been playing, or going to school for music. These things are among the biggest myths regarding the industry that you should forget about.

When music business companies seek out artists to sign to a record deal or to work with in some capacity (and invest their money and resources into), the 2 most important questions they ask themselves are: “

1. How much value can this artist/band add to me or my company?

2. How much risk does this person/investment/project pose to me or my company?

They will never ask you about how long you have been playing guitar or if you have ever gone to music school etc… (these qualifications are not directly significant in the grand scheme of things from their point of view.)

So in addition to continuing to grow as a musician, my advice to you is to focus heavily on learning how the music industry (record companies, promotion, artists management, etc.) works and always search for ways you can increase the value you can offer to music business powers that be (and minimize their risk in all possible/practical ways). They will be much more willing to work with you, pay you money and help you build the music career you want in the process.

To learn more about what I mean by the terms “value and risk” (as they apply to the music industry), read this article about the first steps toward getting a record deal.
 

If you are serious about starting or expanding your music career, learn more about how to become a professional musician.