Playing five to seven gigs a week brings in cash, but does not furnish needed medical insurance for him, his wife, and their child. Our present day Amadeus must find conventional employment that furnishes a regular, dependable salary and medical insurance. Hopefully, it will take place between 8am to 5pm, leaving him free nights and weekends to play his music. I realize the problem he is dealing with is similar to that which all humanity experiences during people's entire lifetimes, but there is one difference. There is no doubt conventional, practical people will say that Mozart certainly would have been better off, but at this stage of my life, I wonder.
People can do horrible things to themselves by merely preserving life at the expense of dreams.
Centuries ago, a truly talented musician, painter, or sculptor would have sought a patron, a rich merchant, nobleman, or member of the royal family. Some found them. Thirty years ago, our government at least attempted to subsidize some of the fine arts. Today, that assistance has dried up. The abstract philosophical question I raise is terribly concrete to my musical friend.