Crap what should I do.

Visirale · #1 07-30-2007, 05:43 PM

I'm 18 and going to be a college freshman. I was given the choice of matriculating to a highly regarded academic university and majoring in not music, or going to a much lower tiered university and studying jazz. I went with the bigger school and doing french and finance. I decided that making money and being well off was more important to me than doing what I love. I eventually want to be a record exec... but I'm sure there's a long path to there.

So now today I saved up some cash from my job and went in and got a new bass. I realized how much I really love music, and how I really need to pursue it. Thing is now, it's much too late. I already have my tuition deposit in at school A. I had A LOT of scholarship offerings at the music school (read: I would get PAID 10k a year to go there). I don't wanna do the transfer BS. I'd rather just be at one school all four years.

So what do I do. Do I pick up the phone tomorrow morning and start making calls? Or do I just throw in the towel and go to the big school and play on the side?

Argh... please talk some sanity into me.

troy mcclure · #2 07-30-2007, 05:54 PM

Do what you love... the money will follow

purduebass · #3 07-30-2007, 07:38 PM

All I can say is if someone was going to pay me 10K a year to study music and do what I love I'd sure as hell have a hard time turning them down.

The route I went was go to the big school and find something that makes money that still goes hand in hand with what you love.

Visirale · #4 07-30-2007, 07:43 PM

Yeah UF doesn't believe in electric bass. They won't even let you play it in their jazz band. The other school (UCF) was all over me. I nailed the audition.. and well, I talked to my parents and they aren't as disappointed as I thought (My dad went to UF). I'm calling them up tomorrow and I'm gonna see what they can do.

stagedive · #5 07-30-2007, 08:26 PM

Dude, I'm so jealous of your predicament. (even for a Buckeye fan

)

steve66 · #6 07-30-2007, 08:46 PM

Your 18 yrs old. In 4 small years you will have a college degree and 40 grand. Minor in business. Start working on your dream while in school. Dont wait to graduate. Open a business by starting a small record label. All you are looking to do here is establish a business name and register it with your state. This will allow you to attend all music related shows that are opened only to the trade. You can meet a lot of people in the business this way. Keep all lines of communications open with all your contacts at the college and network yourself. Make business cards with your contact information on it company name, website. Remember the names of people, and what they do. (Write it all down) or get one of the palm devices that you can put the information into. Ask lots of questions and dont turn down a single gig. Meet someone new everyday. If they are interesting get there phone number and ask if you can call them. Start a daily journal. Stay focused and organized. Start sending out your resume before you graduate, make an electronic copy. Create a professional website about who you are, what you do or create a myspace page. Stay in the business get your name around, remain confident.

Also, keep a low profile with the other students you meet. Dont give up personal information or what your plans are after college. hopefully you will have established a few good contacts and job offerings before and after you graduate.

Follow your dream, You will do fine.

iplaybassguitar · #7 07-31-2007, 05:04 AM

you do the transfer thing that u just said you didnt want to do. im almost 100% positive you wont get your first year deposit back, so why dont you just take a bunch of gen ed classes there, like math, english, social studies, science, then transfer the credits to the smaller school. its not worth passing on if it is really what you want to do. never pick money over happiness.

tycobb73 · #8 07-31-2007, 05:43 AM

Read this thread a few down from yours. I love music but I can do what I want with it because it isn't my job.

Is being a working musican a fulfilling life ?

Visirale · #9 07-31-2007, 05:59 AM

I'm not gonna make it my only thing. I'm also getting an MBA, and like I said hope to get into some kind of music business.

Larry99 · #10 07-31-2007, 06:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by steve66

Your 18 yrs old. In 4 small years you will have a college degree and 40 grand. Minor in business. Start working on your dream while in school. Dont wait to graduate. Open a business by starting a small record label.......

Follow your dream, You will do fine.

great advice. just because you attend the "highly regarded academic university" doesn't mean you have to give up music.

I make a good living as an electrical engineer and play music on the side. I could have taken the music thing a lot further but I like the way things are. Some of the guys in my band make a living in music, and while I'm envious, it seems like alot of the fun is missing for them, stressing about scoring good paying gigs or a recording session in order to pay their rent and put food on the table. If you work on having a disposable income first, it'll be alot easier to merge your musical passion into a good living.

Munjibunga · #11 07-31-2007, 08:03 AM

French? What's that about? What's the career path for a French major?

Visirale · #12 07-31-2007, 08:11 AM

French + Finance = International business

Larry99 · #13 07-31-2007, 10:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Munjibunga

French? What's that about? What's the career path for a French major?

IMO being multi-lingual-cultural is one of the best things you can do. ...and combine that with an MBA, as the man says: Inernational buisness!

As far as music is concerned you've got promoting advertizing, music marketing, open a recording studio, etc, in French speaking areas, not to mention scoring gigs for your band in Paris, Quebec, Montreal, Brussels... The possibilities are endless.

Visirale · #14 07-31-2007, 12:41 PM

Thanks again guys.

I forgot about a school, Rollins a local private school with a great music program, and specifically a great studio electric bass program. I called up the admissions office today, and they said not only do they still want to come, but they still want to give me my original aid package. It's a 3/2 program where I'd get my BA in music in 3 years, then an MBA in 2 years. I think it's ideal, and my parents love it to.

It's just gonna be hard leaving a lot of people at UF. But I need to grow up and finally do what's best for me.

Visirale · #15 08-01-2007, 01:42 PM

Well once again, thanks everyone.

It's official, I will be attending Rollins College. In 5 years I will have a BA in music, and an MBA. Hopefully that will be a good combo for getting into the music business.

Gard · #16 08-01-2007, 02:15 PM

Wow, Rollins???

Y'all, that's a VERY good school! Good on you Visrale for getting in there on that program, you must be one hell of a player in addition to being extremely talented academically!

Congradulations, wish I could have gone to school at Rollins! (I lived in Orlando for 20+ years, used to work at Bass Central).

Visirale · #17 08-01-2007, 03:07 PM

Ah, shucks Gard, thanks. I'm very excited. I don't have any housing lined up but there's nothing wrong with living at home for a semester or two... especially if I'm gonna be getting to play bass all day!

And I've spent plenty of time and money at bass central... haha.

Munjibunga · #18 08-02-2007, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry99

IMO being multi-lingual-cultural is one of the best things you can do. ...and combine that with an MBA, as the man says: Inernational buisness!

As far as music is concerned you've got promoting advertizing, music marketing, open a recording studio, etc, in French speaking areas, not to mention scoring gigs for your band in Paris, Quebec, Montreal, Brussels... The possibilities are endless.

OK, good point. But French? Chinese maybe, eh?

Visirale · #19 08-02-2007, 12:30 AM

I'm no francophile (I took spanish in HS), but its trade importance is pretty big. The second biggest company in the world (Behind wal mart) is a french speaking company. Most all trade in Africa is conducted in French.

bigfatbass · #20 08-02-2007, 07:41 AM

Although much of the international biz world is caving to the 300 lb gorilla and adopting English, French remains the main language of international liaisons and diplomacy. I'd still learn the French, chicks will dig it.

Savoir ce que je dis?