Luke Marshall, 24, independent musician currently on tour
I started playing music around age 15 or 16. At the time, my musical path was heading downhill, but I was gigging around town regularly. I realized, “Hey, making this my full-time gig is realistic—and I can’t imagine doing anything else.” From the start, I aimed to be an independent musician, steering clear of traditional bands or solo artist fame.
If I weren’t playing music…
I’d likely pursue a military career, medical field, or both. As a kid, I dreamed of becoming a Green Beret doctor.
Playing music for a living is like…
Running my own small business. Discipline is key—I set my schedule for networking, content creation, and gigs, even without bookings. Touring structures my days, but off-road flexibility lets me juggle projects and family time effectively.
I’m fueled by…
The raw, instinctive rush from thinking about or playing music—it’s addictive, soul-satisfying, yet insatiable. On a practical note, hitting career milestones, like those I’ve set, keeps me driven to level up.
Related: Introducing YouEconomy
This article originally appeared in the May 2017 issue of SUCCESS magazine.
