Meaningful Work, Luck, and Resilience: How Gig Workers Navigate the Undervaluing of Their Careers

Professional musicians, the original gig workers, are often not fairly compensated or recognized for the time and effort put into their craft. The current study identifies ways in which musicians make sense of this difficult reality. Some accept the undervaluing of their work and frame their successes as luck to ensure their expectations align with the reality of their careers. Furthermore, musicians find meaning in their work and create an idealized reality of music to endure the undervaluing of their craft. It is these opposing forces, a personal detachment from success and a personal connection to music, which ultimately allow musicians to persevere in their careers. Those who challenge this reality have trouble coming to terms with the undervaluing of their work and attempt to make changes to their careers or to their career expectations. Through this study, we explain how musicians’ experiences shape three interconnected realities of being a professional musician.