“HOW DO YOU BALANCE YOUR MUSICAL CAREER WITH YOUR OTHER OBLIGATIONS?”

Alysia Kraft
Guitar, Lead Vocals
The Patti Fiasco
“For me, life has been less about finding balance and more about being fine with imbalance. I’m compelled above all else to write and play music, and fortunately the people I love in my life understand and support that. It’s my preference to take on side jobs in concentrated bursts so I can spend whole seasons traveling, touring, and working on music. I fell in love with a musician who understands that need, and knows that I’m a less joyful person when I’m not doing what I love. I’m extremely close with my family and spend as much time as possible on our ranch in Wyoming. I know I wouldn’t be doing what I’m doing now without their constant support and love.”
 
 
 
 
 

 

Trevor Mariotti
Drums – Something
Underground; Love Electric
and The Sound; The Color
“The balance depends greatly on having a spouse who understands that music is a large part of who I am. There is definitely more uncertainty money-wise with this career, but I’ve been able to stay home with our children. Our kids have grown up with music as a big part of their life. My sons have seen me play at Red Rocks, and are quite the ‘drum techs.’ Now that their sister is big enough, she’s joined in as well! I teach at several Denver metro area schools, and have four to five other music projects at any one time. As tricky as it can be to balance both aspects, I’m grateful to have the support system in place to do so.”

 
 
 
 

 
Carlos Newman
Drums – Angie Stevens & the Beautiful Wreck
“I am with Angie Stevens who I have played with for seven and a half years now. I learned quickly the need to lean on friends. I have two St. Bernard’s and a cat and it’s literally like having a family, so I had to find someone who can live at my house. This means sitting down and making a strategic plan ahead of time. Other work obligations also involve preplanning and anticipating any bumps in the road before I head out, that way I can be totally focused on going to play. I have been playing the drums since I was 10 and this is what you wait for your whole life, so it’s a treat to have these kinds of problems.”
 
 
 
 
 

 

Jess Parsons

Lead Vocals, Piano, Organ,
Accordion – Glowing House
“Steve and I are married and we have a daughter; she just turned one in October. It’s just something you have to do as a musician starting out now. You don’t really make enough money to not have another job. I am lucky because I have a job that is flexible. We went on a European tour with Gregory Allen Isakov this past fall. We were not able to bring our daughter, so my parents watched her. I feel lucky that I have that support; both my parents and Steve’s parents watch her. The times we don’t have anyone to watch her, we bring her with us and everybody helps out, so it’s kind of a juggling act, but it’s a fun one.