IT’S A HOBBY IF…

• You Don’t See A Return: You’re spending money but you don’t ever get it back.  In other words, you may spend $5000 in the studio every year but only sell 50 albums a year.  That’s a hobby.
• It’s Your Retreat: You go to your art as a way to take a break from everyday life.  That’s a hobby.
• Nobody Knows About It: People are surprised when you tell them that you make music (or insert other art form here).

IT’S A JOB IF…

• It’s Time Consuming: Just like a 9-5, if music is your job, as an independent artist you will spend your day writing, making phone calls, sending alot of emails, and being attached at the hip to social media.
• ROI – Return on Investment: When you spend money you make it back. You are able to buy 1000 CDs in faith because you know that by the end of the year (or even sooner) you will have sold all of those CDs.
• You Are Handling Non-music Aspects of Your Music: In other words, you’re running your merch table, you’re designing the artwork, promoting gigs…etc.

See all of the points here.

Solid points except for the “You Don’t See A Return” and “ROI – Return on Investment” points.  I don’t agree with those in the sense that I know many successful artists who were NOT making much money or “seeing a return” in the beginning of their careers.  So, be aware of that so that you don’t think you should quit prematurely based on monetary figures.  Claude Kelly said it best in the advice he gave to me via his blog:

the only way to really succeed in the business of songwriting/artist is to devote yourself to the craft. tis a hard, hectic and demanding thing. with little to no reward for a long time…and sometimes never. but if you believe that you have what it takes you should go for it, so you dont live your life wondering what would’ve been.