Insecurity, professional sociability, and alcohol: Young freelance musicians’ perspectives on work and life in the music profession

Abstract

Research addressing a link between musical creativity and mental disorder has predominantly considered composers rather than performers, and has been dominated by the questionable use of retrospective biographical research methods. This article calls for research to explore more widely the stressors and challenges that living musicians face in their work and lives. Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with 18 young musicians (nine freelance classical string players and nine jazz musicians). The participants expressed concern over their lack of job and financial security, and stressed the importance of reputations in the networks of musicians in which they operate. Socializing professionally was identified as a key means of advancing work prospects, in which alcohol consumption often played a strong role. Drinking patterns were also associated with the demands of performance, with alcohol consumption arising either as a consequence of pressure or boredom. These results are discussed in light of the limited existing research investigating musicians’ uses of alcohol.