How can a non-performing band or musician earn a living?

I ask because I am a composer who creates music specifically for recordings. I don't have much interest in performing it live, nor am I a particularly good performer. I've had stuff I've written performed live by others, but I'd really like to figure out how to make a living of some sort by recording my own work without performing it live. I know it can and has been done, but I really don't know how.

The music I create is intended for private listening, optimally in headphones. It is mostly synth-based, but uses a lot of rock styles. Some examples of it can be heard here: http://www.virb.com/carpentron

Any ideas?

I should say that I have a full-time job that is quite real and pays much, much better than waiting tables, and I support a family of four with it. On top of being a composer, I have an MBA. It's a question of how to work towards not needing that anymore.

Submit it to advertising agencies and gaming companies...they will buy music for their commercial use with a flat fee or contracted residuals.

waiting tables
google John Tesh and see how he did it

Royalties when your intellectual property is used by others.

get a real job.

If you're a decent teacher, you could try giving lessons. But, until you have a really large clientele, you'll probably have to supplement your income.

Learn to write grants or talk to local schools about teaching music to students.

THE KANSAS ARMY NATIONAL GUARD IS HIRING. UP TO $20,000 FOR CITIZEN SOLDIERS. GOOD PAY, GOOD TRAVEL, LEARN TO KILL ON WEEKENDS. ALSO HAS A COUPLE OF GOOD BANDS.

I would suggest finding a band/musician who wants to perform live and get together with them to create music. Your name will be on the credits and you will make money. Just make sure you charge what you're worth.

Composing is good

Well... Enya is a prime example of a non-touring huge success so it can be done... but it will be tricky.

I think your best bet is to do what all artists do and just send in a load of demotapes to recording companies. Specify that you are not a perfomer as such but a composer/creative source and maybe include possible performers for your material from people they already have on their books. In a perfect world you'd only need one song picked up and you'd be writing for the likes of Madonna for life... but it will be harder than that.

Use a cartoon like Dethklok or Gorillaz.
You could also become a studio musician, but you would have to play other peoples stuff. It's a living though.
Other than that, you may be relegated to writing jingles for advertisements and TV broadcasts.

Wow... some of these people are brutal. LMAO. Well.. I was going to suggest becoming a ghost writer. I dont know how to do it. So let that be your next question. But Ne-yo was a writer prior to doing his own thang and he made more money than the artists that blew up.
Im thinking of writing right now.... LOL.

Good Luck, Kiddo
I want my percentage.

There are thousands of other jobs out there.