An even note takes care of lean times

Acclaimed jazz musician Marcus Wyatt talks to Thekiso Anthony Lefifi about investing in music , playing a trumpet for R240 a month and the fear of bankruptcy among musicians.

What is more important to you, fame or fortune?

Let's just qualify all this talk of fame and fortune - I'm a musician primarily involved on the jazz side of life and, as has mostly been the case worldwide, us jazzers tend to reach more of an underground type of "fame".

So for me, whether it's fame or fortune, the benefits of either would be simply to be able to travel more and get the music to as many different ears as possible.

Do jazz musicians make money?

We do [make money]. Otherwise, no one would survive playing this music.

What is the one important thing you wish you learned early in your career?

These days it's so important to get your name, product and brand out on social media and the web. When I was starting out in this game, there was no social media. So, although it's kind of impossible, I wish I'd learnt how to use those tools more effectively.

What is the dumbest thing you have ever done for money?

A voice-over for dog food - though, when times are tough, we do what we have to in order to survive. There is nothing dumb about that.

And the worst thing you have done with money?

Joined a gym.

How responsible are you with money?

The less money I have, the more responsible I am with it - but I can be fairly conservative sometimes. You have to always make sure that you're covered for the lean months when work is scarce. On the flip side, when times are good, I like to spend a bit and can be a little careless.

What are your pet peeves about fame and fortune?

I'll let you know as soon as I achieve both those things.

What are you thoughts on musicians who go bankrupt?

Surviving as a working musician is not easy, especially if there are people depending on you, so it is very sad to see this kind of musician penniless. I know a lot of musicians for whom bankruptcy is a constant looming possibility. However, I'm not too sympathetic when I hear about pop musicians who have become famous and loaded too quickly and then end up throwing it all away.

What is the biggest amount of money you have ever spent in a single day?

Does buying a house count?

How many trumpets do you have? Do you give them names?

I have four - two trumpets, one flugelhorn and one cornet.

They don't have names. Actually, I don't know any musician who has given his instrument a name.

How do you tip? Are you an easy tipper or do they have to work hard for it?

I normally tip. I have waited tables before and I know how little waiters earn. So unless the service is super-bad, I'll usually tip.

What are your thoughts on the wage gap in South Africa?

The wage gap is unfair all around the world - the people who do the work on the ground never get paid enough and the top executives earn way too much. South Africa is no different. In Jozi, there are still people offering some of our world-class musicians R500 to play a gig.

What is the "nastiest" job you have ever done? How much did it pay?

I have played many nasty gigs over the years, especially when I was in the South African Navy Band - that paid about R240 a month. Or perhaps collecting trolleys from the Greenacres parking lot in Port Elizabeth. That was a peach! Being a waiter at Spur was also not for the faint-hearted.

How many sources of income do you have?

Mainly from music - playing and writing - but also from the occasional voice-over, and the even more occasional photoshoot.

How do you invest your money?

I don't really have money to invest, but I try to put what I can into the two properties I own. I have also bought a number of instruments over the years - they are always valuable investments.

Should you be given R5-million now, in what will you invest each million?

I'd gig until the money runs out. No, OK, that's a jazz joke. I'm not sure - it's not something I think about. I have a dream to buy the plot next to mine in Sophiatown and build a music centre with an underground venue and teaching facilities above.