Music - go from passion to hobby?

[TrueDefiance]

I've been struggling with this lately. I'm a musician that has been doing electronic music since I was a kid - just beating on the keyboard. But over time, I got better. I released my first projects around 2005. And then I entered the digital era around 2009, and my music sounded great. This made it fun for me to do remixes.

But the thing is... I look back on my music history and realized I do have some popular tracks here and there. But I'm not making any royalties off of the stuff. And this is what came to mind: It's 2013, and I'm still don't have a presence locally or on the Internet. Should I just shrink it into a hobby, or just get rid of it completely?

I remember struggling with the same thing in 2011. I decided to let go of music, but my GF at the time was concerned about me when I decided that. I closed down my studio and put it under a drape. I felt the urge to write lyrics, sing notes, and make some beats. But I kept telling myself: "Stop that. That is in the past. You need to kill those thoughts of music in your head if you ever want to succeed and get an office job."

Currently, I could still put music together on my laptop if I sold my studio. I currently have a 12-channel mixer, some keyboards and synthesizers, and speakers I could sell and make a few grands off of. Why am I thinking of selling? Well... I could use that money to pay off some outstanding debts, we could have extra space in the house, and I'll be able to focus on God more.

Idk. I need help thinking about this.

[nealmorsefan]

Shalom, TD!  It's a tough decision, to be sure.  I think we all struggle with it as musicians...responsibility to finances vs. responsibility to our art.  In my experience, there's nothing I can do to turn off the passion I have for music, which, in my case, happens to be worship music.  I will forever be involved in not only performing but writing and promoting worship music until I die.  Our passions only die, when we die, as far as I understand it.  It's best to surround ourselves with wise fellow believers, who have similar experiences that can help direct us, though.  At times our passions will drive us into neglect of other important areas of life, leaving us exposed to attack by the enemy.  I guess my advice to you then would be, seek out a couple of other Christian musicians and clergy or whatever to share your struggle with and ask them to keep you accountable.  Then listen to their advice.  You probably already have someone or a couple of somebodys in mind... which is good.  Godspeed as you move forward, friend!