Any Active Musicians Out There? Forum

[Anonymous User]

I was wondering how many of you out there are active musicians, particularly touring or at least performing once a month and recording. I wanted to get a sense from anyone who does it either "weekend warrior" style or as a side gig, how do you configure your legal career's schedule and your music schedule? Does your firm know you do it, or is it sort of a Bruce Wayne/Batman thing? Etc...

I'm a professional musician in a band that records, performs, and tours. We are about to drop an album on a major label a few months before I start as an associate in BigLaw. I recognize how utterly incompatible those paths sound, but I managed to stay active as a musician, tour, and snag a major label deal and kill it in school with extra curriculars to boot, despite many naysayers telling me that was impossible.

I was just wondering if anyone else is in a similar place. I'd love to be able to talk to people who can juggle a successful legal career and music career. Even anecdotally... something to relate to would be much appreciated.

[1styearlateral]

This might be a good way to get into music/copyright/entertainment law, which is pretty hard to get into. That is, if you want.

[deadpanic]

There is a lawyer with Ballard Spahr that was in Blind Melon. I'm pretty positive he joined (and even went to law school) after the band broke up from the lead singer's death. There are plenty of others that do it as a hobby on the side (weekend warriors as you say) but don't know of any that are active like you are speaking of.

I think it would be really hard, if not impossible, to tour while being a 1st year in BigLaw. A lot of folks are lucky to get a week's worth of vacation their first year. I guess it also depends on your department, firm and team, though.

Will you be litigation or corporate? And if litigation, what type? Not trying to out you, but certain litigation, like say bankruptcy lit, will require a lot of face time and fire drills where it will be virtually impossible to not be in the office.

How long are the tours and how far away?

[HobbitCat]

I remember there is an attorney at Hanson Bridgett who is also a Grammy award-winning violinist and recorded several albums or something like that.

[BeeTeeZ]

Working 70 hours a week in a white collar office is a great way to become a successful musician. Don't listen to the naysayers.

[Anonymous User]

I'm in the industry though not actively touring. I'm close with some folks who are, though, and they're killing themselves trying to make money. Album deals/sales are nonexistent/pay nothing, even on established labels, and touring and merch seems like a pretty tough deal when you need to be accessible to your office most of the time. I know guys based in NY who get by freelancing but they're basically on call to the tune of, "hey, I'm taking a month off and I need a replacement for my Phantom book for 8 shows a week." When they do tour as hire ons they make a bit of money if they're stupid frugal and make no money if they actually enjoy themselves. They, without question, do it because they love it, not for money.

All this to say is that, to me, it doesn't seem compatible with a law career. Nobody who isn't touring is making any money and most of the folks who are touring are making no money.

[AMilfordMan]

I was in an independent touring band for 5 years before undergrad/law school. I'm a 2nd year associate at a small/mid-size firm now, and even though my hours aren't big law crazy, it would still be impossible to tour like I used to (6-9 months a year). It was pretty easy to stay active in the band during law school, but unfortunately practicing law is a job that usually requires you to be in an office, at hearings, etc. I still play with my band--we record and do big shows when offered, but we turn down a lot more shows these days.

Definitely possible to keep playing music, and I've met a lot of other musician-lawyers when interviewing. People love to talk about being in a band. However, I don't think it's feasible to actively pursue both careers. You could go all-in with music and seek a non-traditional legal job like flex-time attorney or writing briefs remotely, but those positions seem to be hard to get as a junior or ill-advised early in your career. Or you can commit to law and try to keep playing music as much as possible, knowing that might be limited at times by your legal career.

No matter what you do, don't let law consume you completely. It's a career that will take as much as you're willing to give. I still try to play drums regularly, but it's hard when you're busy/tired/stressed.

[Anonymous User]

OP here. I appreciate the advice from everyone. I know I won't be able to commit to long tours (typically 2-3 months a leg, sometimes 1 month minimum). I do believe I'll be able to play bigger shows when time permits. I was thinking festival dates, bigger opener slots, and other similar things would probably be the best I could hope for. That said, those are great opportunities for ANY band, so it's not a downer to me.

I worked really hard to get this job, and I'll give it everything I've got. I also worked really hard to get to where I am musically, and I won't just give that up. I recently met a guy who is a mid-level, and has continued to stay as active as possible. His advice was to utilize vacation days when the timing was right. As a first year, I know I'll have to wait at least 9 months before I can really do that, but it's something to look forward to.

Also, I reached out to the Blind Melon guy. Haven't heard back, but I'm hopeful that he'll have advice as well! Thanks again for the responses.

[Civilservant]

I think Bobby Ingram from Molly Hatchet is an attorney, but I think he might be a solo. I'm a guitar player, played out a lot in law school, and I don't see how you can do both with the time constraints of a big firm. A 40 hour work week and a family, limits me to a few hours of playing a week, not nearly enough to keep my chops up where I want them to be. I wish you good luck.

[Anonymous User]

I'm a weekend warrior type. My firm knows about it and is supportive of it (e.g., ask questions when next gig is, stuff like that). I have not let it conflict with work and I am upfront with my band mates that work > music. Only real issue is having to cancel a rehearsal every now and then due to work which is no big deal since the other dudes in the band are professionals.

The longer you work at a firm the more flexibility you can expect to receive. You may have to sacrifice longer vacations for more Thurs/Friday day offs if you will tour. That said, I imagine it would be hard to constantly take off chunks of time as a first year regardless if you are big/mid/small law.

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