We are planning to move to Italy next year (2009). My husband is a musician - he plays all types of music (bluegrass, country, jazz, clasical, and rock). His major instrument is violin, he has a degree in jazz violin. He hold 4 state fiddle championships and 4 state banjo championships. He has a National Bluegrass fiddle title. He also plays mandolin, guitar and cello.

What is the musical scene like? Will he have problems finding work? Will he find the sophisticated and versatile listener and /or player that he has heard about?

Any comments or ideas are welcome. Thank you.

Depends a lot on the region you're going to stay... In this period is even harder to make money from music then before...My partner is also a musician (he plays guitar and drums) but he earns his money with another job.

Well imho you would need a lot of luck to find a good job. Probably little jobs are easy to find, but the jobs who can make you a living are harder to get in Italian musical scene.
There are many associations, but they're usually difficult to join if they're very good, otherwise they're for amateurs.
I try to make an example: we have lots of important happenings in the musical scene, especially for operatic music, but it's quite hard to join a major group playing at La Scala.

__________________

Well, this was an old question - from July last summer. I hope the poor person figured out what to do without our very late help!!! LOL

GOOD: Playing for Italian audiences is wonderful

BUT there are hundreds of excellent musicians out here: many of whom don't need to earn money from playing so, as in UK and US, lots of places don't have to pay very much at all for good music.

Are you hoping top earn a living from it?

What area are you heading for? They're all different in my experience

Rowland

__________________
www.rowlandjones.info

Hi Rowland (and others)

My other half plays covers in Dublin, whenever he gigs it is always the Italians that come up to him and tell him how much they enjoyed the gig.

Is there an equivalent of pub gigs in Italy witht he locals, or is it more the ex-pat scene of Australian, Irish, English pubs etc.

It would not be his main source of income, just some extra pocket money and because he loves doing it.

Is there this sort of scene over there and how healthy is it. Do you approach individually or is it done through agents?

thanks for your help

Michelle

There is a pub scene: though certainly around Umbria they bear no resemblance to any pub I've ever seen! They seem a little confused by the difference Ireland Scotland and Wales!

There are gigs around but in the winter it is very quiet outside of the main centres. In addition there are new laws which makes it less appealing for the owners to put on gigs, and will mean even less money for the musos.

So I wouldn't bank on getting work; but it certainly varies across the country: but mainly from bad to worse......

I didn't select Italy as a place to play: I love the country and so this is where I live ...and play, if you see what I mean

Rowland

__________________
www.rowlandjones.info

Hi Rowland

I do see what you mean. My OH and I know that it will not be easy to get jobs (we are going to do CELTA) before we come over but i think we are going to have to do a few part time jobs to begin with. He has always done gigs and knows that the pay can alright to not alot at all. We are thinking of going to Roma, but we have found out an older cousin has a flat in Pisa so we are going to look into that as well.

I suppose we would have to look at the ex-pat hangouts do you think they would be the best bet?

Also what is the busking scene like in Italy?

Thanks for your help