We were lucky to catch up with Randy Hoexter recently and have shared our conversation below.
Randy, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen?
I have made my living as a professional musician since the mid 80s. I think one of the keys to making that happen was making an early commitment to doing whatever it took to be one of the “real” career survivors. I wasn’t interested in being a weekend warrior, rather I wanted to be one of those who actually knew what they were doing, and was in demand. I made several decisions in those days, some of which still apply all these years later: First, I was going to make a priority on learning my craft. This would mean I would choose opportunities based on what I could learn, and who I could learn from. This meant playing with musicians much better and more experienced than I was, and accepting guidance and criticism. It also meant a lot of practicing and study. Second, I mostly chose freelance work, rather than being locked-in to one performing situation, even if that meant less stability in my finances. This gave me experience in a variety of situations and styles. Third, I tried to keep my overhead low, and to save money, rather than upgrading my lifestyle. Somewhere in my early 20s I became very frugal. Fortunately, when I met my wife, she had similar values. Finally, I put enormous emphasis on building and maintaining a reputation, by behaving professionally, being easy-going, showing up early, helping others.
Randy, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
I am a composer and jazz pianist. I have made several recordings of my music that are still available, and I have participated as a session musician, arranger, composer and producer on many projects for other musicians. I am probably most proud of my original music, and the recordings I have done. I am also very honored to have helped facilitate others in their musical journeys, both as keyboard player and arranger/producer. In addition, I have spent many years teaching composition, piano, arranging and improvisation. It gives me great joy to pass on the things I have learned in my long career. I like to think I understand the art of music, what makes a good composition, what to listen for, how to practice to achieve your goals. I am forever trying to learn more about my craft and to find new ways to contribute to the world of music. It is a great honor to have earned the respect of my fellow musicians, and even a few of those I look up to as role models.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
I believe taking the arts seriously and educating ourselves about it is the key to keeping culture alive and growing. The modern world is very powerfully money-driven, and while that is understandable, the real value we bring to the world is our creativity and curiosity. While people who made huge amounts of money are not exactly forgotten, the people who made a cultural difference are the ones we admire the most. Nobody is concerned about the income earned by Beethoven or John Coltrane. We cherish the beauty and new understanding they brought to us.
On a practical note, the streaming platforms for music, which came into being due to loopholes in copyright law, have cheapened the musical experience. Because the cost is so low, music is essentially treated as a by-the-pound commodity, and the reverence we had for the artists is lost. It also deprives professionals from making a living, so it creates little incentive for people to enter the field, and to make the sacrifices it requires to master their craft. If there was a more fair way of distributing new music, perhaps that would re-ignite the music world.
Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?
Curiosity is what motivates me to create. As much as possible, I am on a journey of discovery. With each composition or performance, I want to find something new and pleasing, and to share that with my audience. My goal is to get myself out of the way, rather than necessarily express my own identity. To me, art is like math or science; it exists out there, and we have to find it. This doesn’t mean it is cold and robotic, either; the human experience is part of that. When I play, I intend it as an act of sharing, and the listeners are part of the experience. To make this happen, I believe a lot of study, listening, practicing, and trial-and-error are the ingredients, along with reverence for those who paved the way for us.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.randyhoexter.com
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/randyhoexter
- Twitter: @RandyHoexter
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCamfnomF6K7OVcHxGQYMrqQ
- Other: Record Label: https://www.bluecanoerecords.com/randyhoexter.html