On the latest episode of the Profitable Musician Show, Bree Noble and Tara Brueske dove deep into the topic of pivoting for musicians—how changing paths can actually be a sign of growth, not failure.
As two self-professed “mature musicians,” Bree Noble and Tara Brueske share candidly about the pivots they’ve made throughout their careers. The result is practical wisdom mixed with encouragement for anyone feeling unsure about their next steps in music.
Listen to the podcast here
Pivoting as a Musician: Embracing Change and New Opportunities at Any Age
Why Musicians Pivot
[Pivots] aren’t always about drastic changes—they often arise from new opportunities, shifts in life seasons, or the realization that what once worked doesn’t fit anymore. As Bree Noble says at :
“Sometimes it’s an opportunity presents itself and it might not seem like the right opportunity at the time, but giving ourselves a moment to think about it—maybe it would be a time to pivot.”
Both Bree Noble and Tara Brueske have experienced seasons where life circumstances, like family changes or the passing of loved ones, shaped how much energy they could commit to their music careers and what kind of work made sense for them. For Tara Brueske,
“Sometimes you have to reassess and go, how much energy, you know, do I have for each part of my life? For my job, for my family, for friends…”
Adapting to Changes in the Music Landscape
Musical trends, formats, and audiences inevitably change with time. What was popular in the senior performance scene a decade ago may not be true today.
As Bree Noble points out, “Pretty soon Madonna is gonna be being played at this. That’s scary.” Both highlight how staying aware of changes–whether it’s the nostalgia-driven return to CDs or new audience preferences–keeps your career resilient.
“When there’s change, it’s like we have to go, okay, well, how do we individually, what are we going to do with that?” — Tara Brueske
Knowing When to Pivot
A vital topic discussed is recognizing when to make a change. Many musicians get caught in a “consistency loop,” doing what they’ve always done without questioning if it’s still effective. Bree Noble shares her own process:
“I kind of call this like the doom loop or just the consistency loop…not getting out of your own bubble and looking at the big picture of what you’re doing to be like, should I still be doing this?”
For both, taking time away—vacations, personal retreats, or just switching off—has been crucial to gaining the clarity to make those decisions about the next step.
Practical Pivots for Musicians
Here are a few ways musicians might pivot without “giving up”:
- Switch from performing to teaching: Use your local reputation to fill up your teaching studio, as Bree Noble recommends at .
- Leverage new skills: If you’ve gotten into recording, mixing, or video editing to support your own work, consider offering those to other musicians.
- Change your focus within music: Maybe you’re drawn to writing (a book, devotional, or emails to your subscribers) instead of songwriting for a season.
- Reevaluate your gig strategy: Only take gigs that honor your time and energy, as Tara Brueske advises.
“It’s okay to obviously say no to even the good things, what seem good, and then say yes to the best things for the moment.” — Tara Brueske
Pivoting is Not Failure
One of the most powerful takeaways from the episode:
“Letting yourself really truly believe that pivoting is not— I mean, you kind of said it before, but it’s not a failure.” — Tara Brueske
Big changes are sometimes about following your curiosity, aligning with your current needs, or leaning into a new passion—all valid moves for a musician’s life.
Important Links Mentioned In This Episode
- Profitable Musician Show on Instagram (@profitablemusicianllc)
- Tara Brueske Music on Instagram (@terrabriskeymusic)
Whether you’re contemplating your next move or feeling stuck, remember: in music, as in life, pivots are part of the journey. Let yourself grow, change, and create your own definition of success.
