Financial Planning for Jazz Musicians

One of the biggest lies ever told is that you need to have money to invest money. Musicians and particularly Jazz Musicians are not always on the right end of money making or money earning. If I don’t make a lot of money from my talent, what does my financial future look like? Do I even have one?

Making a living as a jazz musician requires more than talent, creativity, and a passion for music. It also requires thoughtful planning, financial discipline, and the ability to navigate a career that often looks very different from a traditional 9-to-5 profession. Between performing, teaching, touring, recording, freelancing, and managing multiple income streams, musicians face unique financial challenges that can make long-term financial security seem difficult to achieve.

Join Eric Byrd’s financial planner, Michael Livingston from Livingston Financial Group for an engaging and informative discussion designed specifically for jazz musicians, music educators, independent artists, and those working in the music industry. This presentation will address the financial realities of a career in music and explore practical strategies for managing irregular income, establishing a budget, planning for taxes, building emergency savings, investing for the future, and preparing for retirement.

We'll also consider how musicians can balance the demands of sustaining an active creative career with the importance of building financial stability. Whether you're just beginning your professional journey, balancing a full-time teaching position with performing, or enjoying an established career as a working musician, there are important steps you can take today to strengthen your financial future.

The goal is simple: to help musicians think beyond the next gig, the next recording, or the next paycheck and begin building a financial foundation that supports both their livelihood and their love of music.

Because a successful career in jazz isn't just about playing the right notes. It's also about making the right moves with your money.