Violinist Shares the BEST Way to Succeed as a Musician

Have you ever wondered what it's really like to work as a professional violinist? Is a music degree required? How do professional musicians find gigs? And can you actually earn a living performing music?In this episode of Time We Discuss, I sit down with professional violinist Wendy Provencher to explore what life is really like as a full time musician. Wendy shares how she built a career performing at weddings, corporate events, private parties, and with orchestras while also running a successful music school. We discuss the daily life of a professional musician, how networking leads to more opportunities, why continuous practice is essential, and what aspiring musicians should know before pursuing this career.Whether you're considering a career in music, already studying an instrument, or simply curious about the business side of professional performance, this conversation offers practical advice and firsthand insight from someone living the career every day.In this episode we discuss:What a typical day looks like for a professional violinistWhether you need a music degree to become a professional musicianHow musicians find paying performance opportunitiesThe importance of networking and building professional relationshipsMarketing yourself as a musicianPerforming with orchestras, chamber groups, and at private eventsWhy learning multiple instruments can increase job opportunitiesRunning Allegro Event Music and Learning AllegroSalary expectations for professional musiciansAdvice for anyone considering a career in musicIf you've ever dreamed about performing music professionally, this episode provides an honest look at both the creative and business sides of the profession.Subscribe for more real career conversations with professionals from unique and interesting occupations.=================================================================Timestamp:0:00 - Intro0:46 - Typical day for a professional violinist1:43 - What violin practicing is like.2:49 - Opportunities to play music professionally4:14 - Getting a job as a musician5:18 - Importance of and how to network7:04 - Business to Business Networking8:59 - What successful marketing could look like11:37 - What Education Looks Like for a Musician16:11 - Insurance for Musicians18:27 - Learning Other Instruments and Genres20:23 - Busy Seasons and Quiet Seasons?22:02 - Allegro Event Music and Learning Allegro26:38 - A Business Lesson to Learn Sooner28:10 - Shout out to Tara Thistlethwaite29:03 - Conversation Highlights30:43 - Salary Information (see website for references)32:05 - Outro=================================================================Guest Information:Wendy ProvencherLearning AllegroAllegro Event MusicAlso Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:Musician and Audio Engineer with ChromesthesiaWhat It's Really Like to Be an Event Planner with Tara Thistlethwaite=================================================================Time We Discuss Links:Official Website: Time We Discuss WebsiteOriginal Music: Original Music furnished by Dan SwiftYouTube: Time We Discuss on YouTubeSpotify: Time We Discuss on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Time We Discuss on Apple PodcastsMore Podcast Platforms: Time We Discuss Podcast on Other PlatformsTwitter/X: Time We Discuss on Twitter/XBluesky: Time We Discuss on BlueskyInstagram: Time We Discuss on InstagramThreads: Time We Discuss on Threads