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, he claims that many players still earn around S$ 150 per night for life club shows in 2024.
The veteran jazz pianist again saw musicians making in the middle of the 1970s when he first started playing the instrument professionally. ” Some items never change”, he lamented.  ,
How much money is musicians now expect to make? People with independent club gigs, the occasional business gig, and a standard or professional teaching stint can make S$ 4, 000 to S$ 8, 000 a month, said Jeremy, who turned 64 earlier this month.
But that number represents “maybe the top 20 to 30 per cent”, he added.  , In fact, “it’s more like S$ 2, 000 to S$ 5, 000 a month”.  ,
” So this is not a lucrative living. It’s a profession. We do this because we are excited about it and appreciate this. This is not a beautiful profession”, said Monteiro, who has been in the market for 48 times. ” But however, we often look well, dress nicely and current our best front to the community we serve”.
Monteiro acknowledged in his Instagram post that” a certain level of recognition” he’s gained over the years that makes him want to play for a lot of money at business events “because companies find resonance with me.” He expressed love for his numerous extended- time supporters, who have given him moral and financial support, allowing him to support his career.  ,