Some guidance please?

cubinicano · #1 01-31-2010, 08:52 PM

I'm not sure if this topic belongs here..

So, I'm a 19 year old college student pursuing an associates degree in music business. And i need some help.. -.-

Within about a year or so, I'll be heading off to a university with absolutely no idea wat to major in for my bachelor's degree. I'm considering to continue with music in school and get a degree in music biz, but im not sure if its such a good idea. I've done some research, and notice some people who pursue this degree, dnt get work within in the industry at all and feel like they have 'ruined' their life because of a 'worthless' degree. So because of this im not sure if this is a smart move. But I also read of stories about people who did get this degree, and got in the industry and are having successful careers. But if i dnt choose to major in it, i know i will want to minor in it because the courses provided through the degree program i really want dwelve into such as copyright law, band management, venue managaement, record label operations, etc..

So it leaves me to wonder what kind of degree should i get that could possibly allow me a foot in the door, but also some security so in case it all doesnt work out. Ive considered getting a business related degree such as marketing, international business, or even business administration. I've even considered getting a degree in psychology or law. Basically, I want to continue to pursue music in my life, or rather have a "Career In Music"(as stated in a previous post), and just not exactly to sure how to go about doing it.

Any advice?

JTE · #2 01-31-2010, 09:24 PM

Well, first thing would be to spell correctly and type things like complete sentences and proper punctuation. Without that you're not getting a degree of any kind.

If you LEARN and know how to think, to apply what you've learned, and to clearly express yourself coherently (hence the reason for my first paragraph), then there isn't any "useless" degree.

John

SH69 · #3 01-31-2010, 09:38 PM

What a smart ass. Is there such a thing as clearly expressing yourself incoherently?

officialjlox · #4 01-31-2010, 09:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SH69

Is there such a thing as clearly expressing yourself incoherently?

Sign language?
Other languages?
Very clear mumbling?
Using a talkbox 24/7?

And to the OP- I would consider talking to a guidance counselor or your student rep. No offense, but TBers are a very diverse bunch, and the advice and decisions some made may not be the most advisable, or the best for your particular situation.

I would speak to someone in the guidance department, and make an educated decision from there.

SH69 · #5 01-31-2010, 09:44 PM

i'm sure they are all coherent to those that understand these forms of communication (perhaps not the mumbling).

officialjlox · #6 01-31-2010, 09:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SH69

i'm sure they are all coherent to those that understand these forms of communication (perhaps not the mumbling).

Yes, but to those who don't it's incoherent. Thus clearly communicating incoherently

SH69 · #7 01-31-2010, 09:46 PM

Point taken master Yoda. But are you suggesting young cubinicano is writing in a language other than english? Or that our friend JTE is imploring the young scholar to be coherent in a language he himself is familiar with?

officialjlox · #8 01-31-2010, 09:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SH69

Point taken master Yoda. But are you suggesting young cubinicano is writing in a language other than english? Or that our friend JTE is imploring the young scholar to be coherent in a language he himself is familiar with?

Neither. I'm simply answering your theoretical question of "Can one communicate clearly and incoherently?"

SH69 · #9 01-31-2010, 09:59 PM

My apologies. I thought your were answering in the context of the present conversation.

Elphisto · #10 02-01-2010, 08:46 AM

College is more of an exercise in completing a goal than it is a knowledge building experience.

Any business degree, music biz, hotel biz, carwash biz, it's all just a business degree. None of them are worthwhile nor are they worthless.

These horror stories of people ruining their lives because of a degree is ridiculous. It's more likely that they imagined being Grammy winning band managers and didn't realize they actually got a degree in music store management. Then they just weren't happy with the reality.

shirky · #11 02-01-2010, 08:57 AM

OP: I think that a more generic business degree would suit you better than a music-biz type degree. I think your idea to minor in music is a fine idea.

With a marketing/international business degree, you could fit into a lot of different settings in any industry. If, however, your degree ended up being specific to music, then you might have difficulty finding a position in a non-music business.

I wish you luck and hopefully down the road you will have a full-time job in the music industry - but if that doesn't materialize at least you'll be able to earn a living.

Also - you mentioned "law". I'm not sure what that refers to - would you go on to a police academy or consider becoming an attorney? Lawyers can usually find work and make some nice coin - and that path could get you into the music biz in some or other capacity.

Good luck!

Cheers,

Shirky

hrodbert696 · #12 02-01-2010, 09:50 AM

Ok, I actually was an academic advisor, so I'll toss my .02 in here.

1) Talk to your academic advisor at your school, because they will know more than any of us how the program at your school works.

2) If you know anyone who already has the career you want, go to them, ask them to be your mentor, and find out what path they followed. That's a better guide than anything. If you don't already know such a person, priority #1 is to find them.

3) The degree does not make connections for you, YOU make connections for you. You will not automatically make connections in ANY business by taking classes. So do whatever you can to make connections outside of class -- that might be playing, offering to help with someone's soundboard, run errands, or whatever. I suspect a lot the difference between your people who succeeded or failed in the music biz with their music degrees is between those who assumed it would come to them thanks to their degree and those who pounded the pavement and made connections on their own initiative.

4) One very important variable for this kind of decision is the openness of each department to non-majors at your school. Will the music department let you take their classes if you're not a music major? Will the business school let you take business classes if you're not a business major? What are the options for double-majors or for minors in each?

5) Ask yourself what you will be able to learn in the future on your own and what opportunities you will only have in college. A lot of marketing and management can be learned on the job or in a future MBA program. You will probably never again get the chance to study Greek philosophy or medieval history or French poetry in a focused, guided way in your life. Don't let the pre-occupation with getting a job make you miss out on the chance to really expand your horizons and your mind. I'm not saying you have to major in that kind of thing, but don't skip the opportunity college affords you to explore them.

6) No degree is worthless, as long as YOU make it worthwhile. Law school deans were once asked what majors they prefer in their applicants, to prepare them for law school. The top answers were philosophy, history, English, and political science (in that order, if I recall). A lot of people think those are impractical, "worthless" degrees, because there aren't a lot of paying gigs for philosophers. But they teach skills of analysis, interpretation, argumentation and expression that are vital to becoming a leader in any field. If anything, there's a greater danger in specializing in some technological field which seems cutting-edge when you start but is obsolete by the time you graduate.

JTE · #13 02-01-2010, 11:30 AM

I don't pay much attention to user names. Seeing "Miami, FL" and reading that the OP was enrolled in college, I assumed (I know) that they have had the benefit of basic English usage and grammar. That wasn't shown in the post, hence my initial comments. If English is a second language or cubinciano, he has my respect. So many Americans never learn English well, let alone another language. His English is way better than my German which I studied for four years (albeit 35 years ago).

However, I stand by my assertion. Using the lower case "i" for the word "I", leaving letters out, (e.g. "dnt" for "don't") and not using the apostrophe in contractions shows to me that he's more interested in his convenience than getting things done and getting help. Yeah, it's the 'net, but still if you're asking for help, it behooves one to make things as clear and easy as possible.

BUT....

The point that's important here is related to my rant about the lazy typing. That's the point that learning is more important than the degree. There is no "useless degree". There are a lot of people with unrealistic expectations of what a specific degree means, but if you earn a degree in anything and use the experience to LEARN how to learn you're showing prospective employers that you have the ability to learn, and to persevere. Those are two critical traits in ANY career path.

John

jowens004 · #14 02-01-2010, 01:53 PM

I agree with Hrodbert.
One thing I can add is. Look at the current job market. Pretend you are out of college and looking for work. Are you going to stay in the town your in? Are you open to relocating? have any idea where? Well start looking at the job market there. See what there is and what it pays. Call them up if you can and talk to someone. Find someone in that career field and talk to them find out what they do, if they like it, if its cool or if it sucks and they cant stand to go to work every day.
One thing I have learned after being in the job world for 30 years is. If you dont like your job, quit and find one you do like. Otherwise it will ruin your life. Be happy is the first thing you should consider. if your happy doing something then, you are 99% there.
Preferably happy doing something that pays alot of money. Money isnt everything though. I know alot of guys that work thier asses off for alot of money and are ready to jump off the nearest, highest bridge.
Do your research. Do a general Studies the first year, and decide later, but use that time to really try to figure out what you wanna do. Took me 4 years before I figured it out. Im happy, and have made good money and bad. But ive always been happy with my work.

Cheers!

JTE · #15 02-02-2010, 09:04 AM

I need to clarify something here. The OP is specifically asking about how to be successful in an ACADEMIC environment. Hence, I think he should be consistently working on communicating effectively in a manner that would be expected in an academic environment. I wouldn't have mentioned any of the slop if he was just asking about general career advice instead of about degree work.

I'd have just ignored the thread like I do any that say crap like "ZOMG I seen this n U gotta check it out"

John- Proudly curmudgeonly for two decades!

hrodbert696 · #16 02-02-2010, 10:13 AM

JTE is right as far as any writing he does in an academic or professional setting, but here on boards I think it's customary to let our hair down a little about grammar. Sadly, perhaps, but true. Just don't write for profs the way you write on the board.

seamus bass · #17 02-02-2010, 01:01 PM

i thought music was the universal language? who cares about punctuation in a web forum? instead of giving help on the subject,you guys patronize his writing skills? sad people.. very sad.

TO THE OP: ive been in the business for 10 years with only a high school diploma, yet i did poorly in math. The connections that i have made were through favors,networking,and playing my instrument. i say follow your gut. i started in one field(musician strictly) and branched out into a different area of the same field (arts/ent.). I would suggest NOT to major, take a broad course study in the things you enjoy doing and have some experience with. This will give you more options down the road. enjoy what your doing the success and money will come later.