Why some performers rarely get paid

Some musicians – and many scientists – don’t get paid to entertain you. Here’s why.

Irish Folk Session, The Old Dubliner Hamburg. By Hinnerk R (Hinnerk Rümenapf) [CC BY-SA 3.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0)], from Wikimedia Commons

I’ve played in orchestras for about twenty years, have performed alongside professional musicians, and for sold out crowds. If you look closely you can see me playing violin in a BBC documentary. As part of larger music ensembles I’ve played for audiences that included Lily Allen, Kate Winslet, and members of the…