It should always be about the fun, even if you do end up making some money.
Likewise, if it ever stops being fun, no amount of money will change that.
Bermuda
Agreed! I don't think you could ever play & succeed if you didn't enjoy it. Back in the day, I reached a stage where I lost my love of playing. The playing work itself was tedious, & I also got shit on by two people I thought I could trust. They were industry "friends", so that hurt. I walked away for a very long time. If I'd still enjoyed it, despite the struggles & treachery, I would have continued.
Then fast forward to today. Trust me, if I didn't immensely enjoy partnering in a drum company, there's no way I'd do it. As a straight forward commercial opportunity, it must be almost the last business you'd consider investing time & money into. I've run a few companies, so I should know.
Then there's my band work. It's purely an enjoyment based deal, even though we do quite well out of it. If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be doing that either. First off, I'd be too disappointed in my own standard of playing. It's my own fault, I don't practice, & that tells me that despite my enjoyment, I don't take it or myself too seriously. Second, if I factor in all the costs & hours worked, it's hardly an attractive rate of pay, even on a part time basis.
So yes, enjoyment is absolutely at the root of everything I do in drumming & drum business. Without it, I would just walk away, exactly as I did over 25 years ago. You're on this rock once!