Jeremy Monteiro, Singapore’s king of swing, fleshed out the financial realities of being a musician in Singapore in a lengthy Facebook post on Sunday (Jun 23). For one, many musicians are still making S$150 a night for a live club gig in 2024, according to him.
That is the same amount that the veteran jazz pianist once saw musicians earning in the mid-1970s when he first became a professional musician. “Some things never change,” he lamented.
How much can musicians expect to earn these days then? Someone with freelance club gigs, the occasional corporate gig, and a regular or freelance teaching stint can earn S$4,000 to S$8,000 a month, said Monteiro, who turned 64 earlier this month.
But that figure represents “maybe the top 20 to 30 per cent”, he added. In reality, “it’s more like S$2,000 to S$5,000 a month”.
“So this is not a lucrative living. It’s a vocation. We do this because we love this and are passionate about it. This is not a luxurious profession,” said Monteiro, who has been in the industry for 48 years. “But yet, we always look well, dress well and present our best front to the public we serve.”
In his Facebook post, Monteiro also acknowledged the “certain level of recognition” he’s gained over the decades that allows him to ask for large fees to play in corporate events “because corporations find resonance with me”. He expressed gratitude for his various long-time supporters, who have given him moral and financial support, allowing him to sustain his career.
