I’m a pretty good piano-player. Often the best in the room.
And I love to play. Every day, I play.
That’s been true since I was 8 or 9, and when I was 21 I decided to make a career of music.
I spent five years tramping the streets of London, hustling for gigs, hassling agents and hoping for a big breakthrough.
Not only did it never come – the breakthrough – but I started to hate playing.
The struggle around trying to earn a living from music was ripping the joy from my art.
Now, I’m enjoying a vocation – this – which isn’t playing music, but which gets close to art, sometimes. I’m changing lives, changing businesses and getting paid well.
That leaves me space to play what I want, when I want, and with whom I want.
The three gigs I do this year will net me £250, but honestly I’d pay to do them.
It’s my passion.
Jonny