Quit my job and go on tour? Opinions!

[palm grease]

I've stumbled into a pretty cool project! We've had a ton of great feedback and opportunities as a result.

Well, I'm at a crossroads!
It's a 20 city tour for 30 days, including overseas travel. All expenses paid (naturally). Don't know about income, however there will be an offer.

Been at my job for 2 yrs (hate it! passionately!) But, I make good coin and I'm pretty secure here (as of today at least).

I play hiphop/funk/R&B/jazz/acid. It's a production company that has an umbrella of acts, my band being the "house" band for these acts. There is label backing for my MC (major) however, it does not extend to the other acts or us players...regardless.

So do I quit my job.... hit the road...make very little (assuming...as I doubt I'll get that 100K needed to justify leaving my employment)....or do I let this one pass me by?

(two dates in Japan.... other acts being The Dead Presidents, MOP.... I know this board has some anti hiphop nazis, but work is work....and I'm proud to have it!... if ya wanna bash a genre, this aint the thread!)

[Thor]

I guess it really depends on the issues you haven't touched
on.

What are your needs, obligations and responsibilities?

Single, married, kids, house, apartment rent, food and utilities. ???

What is your plan to pay for those things when you get back.

Can you get an unpaid leave of absence from your current
employer?

All of that factors in.

[guitfiddle0409]

I guess it all depends on what you intend to do after the 30 days are up. That's the real question. Could you take a leave of absence instead of quitting?

[scrotimusprime]

yea, i'd say its definitely not worth losing everything for 30 days of tour. Vacation w/ no pay i say.

[Hoover]

I'm not sure if this qualifies as "advice" but fwiw I'll tell you what happened the first time I had a similar Quit My Job To Go On Tour? opportunity, which was 20 years ago.

I had a decent (not great, but adequate) day gig -- working in the guitar/bass/synth/amp/PA department of a musical equipment rental company -- that I'd been at for about 10 months. I liked them, they seemed to like me, so when the offer to play bass for a 6-week European tour came along I didn't want to burn any bridges. So I asked if I could take a leave of absence. That way I wouldn't have to quit, but I'd still get to go on tour, get a great experience, make a pantload of money, etc.

They agreed! Woo-hoo!

So I go out on tour for 6-weeks, and sure enough I get a great experience, make a pantload of money, see a bunch of places I never would've seen, meet some wonderful people (including the woman who eventually became my wife), and played bass to very appreciative audiences seven nights a week for six straight weeks.

And sure enough, when I got back home to re-assume my day job duties, they laid me off within a week.

Take what you will from that little anecdote.

[palm grease]

Originally Posted by Thor

I guess it really depends on the issues you haven't touched
on.

What are your needs, obligations and responsibilities?

Single, married, kids, house, apartment rent, food and utilities. ???

What is your plan to pay for those things when you get back.

Can you get an unpaid leave of absence from your current
employer?

All of that factors in.

Thanks Thor! Glad you actually read all that!

Divorced (but i have an awesome GF that would murder me for goin!).
No crumb snatchers!
Rent an apt.
I dount I can work out an extended vacation, the tour is in Oct, which happens to be our busy season!

(PS- where's the Nutz man? Joe, Hailey, Thrash etc.)

Love, Fozy

[palm grease]

Originally Posted by Hoover

Take what you will from that little anecdote.

bet you'd do it all over again!? right?

[Hoover]

Originally Posted by palm grease

bet you'd do it all over again!? right?

Hells yeah! Chance to see the world, make mo' money, play bass every night, and meet hot chicks? What 26 year old wouldn't jump?

But now, 20+ years later, if someone offered me a 6-week European tour, it'd be a very different story. First of all, my wife knows what I was like on tour...

[von buck]

In the past I would be go for it. But in these times can you really afford the gamble? A good paying day gig is hard to come by.

Andy

[Psychicpet]

by the sounds of things I'd say don't go.

[RED5]

Are you economically able to recover from this should you lose the job? And! After all the questions are answered, will you regret NOT going at some later date? I'd say do it.

[palm grease]

Originally Posted by RED5

Are you economically able to recover from this should you lose the job? And! After all the questions are answered, will you regret NOT going at some later date? I'd say do it.

savings- meh... it wouldnt be easy, but I could if I had to.

regret not goin- totally! I think. maybe, i guess.... hahaha


thing is, it may be the best thing for me and my band in regards to networking.... I expect to get lots more work from this!

[knarleybass]

I say quit your job and go, I know I would!

[RED5]

Originally Posted by palm grease

savings- meh... it wouldnt be easy, but I could if I had to.

regret not goin- totally! I think. maybe, i guess.... hahaha


thing is, it may be the best thing for me and my band in regards to networking.... I expect to get lots more work from this!

It seems that you know the way then grasshopper!

[palm grease]

Originally Posted by RED5

It seems that you know the way then grasshopper!

I do man.... just need that tough love!


this is a BIG leap for me!

[scrotimusprime]

oh yea, also - it would depend if i'm touring in bars burning all my savings on gas or if I was being paid/getting mad exposure (i.e. touring with korn versus touring by ourselves)

[tplyons]

Originally Posted by scrotimusprime

oh yea, also - it would depend if i'm touring in bars burning all my savings on gas or if I was being paid/getting mad exposure (i.e. touring with korn versus touring by ourselves)

Said all expenses paid.

However, what do these expenses cover? Everything including food? If so, go for it!

But you have to ask yourself... in this economy, with unemployment up, how marketable are your skills, how quickly could you get a new job? There's a reason you're at a job you hate, and you haven't left yet. Is it because there's nothing else out there?

[Geddyfleaharris]

Might be a once in life time opportunity. Yes there is the matter of the job but in reality if you are an employable person there will always be a job. Back when I was 20 (24 years ago) I played in a band full time and all we did was tour. The band broke up, I went to work in the family business and never did anything seriously in music (played in local cover bands playing music that I really did not enjoy) until 1.5 years ago when I decided it was time to be in a band again. I do not live my life by regrets or doubting my decisions but I do regret not giving music a bit more of run when I was in my 20's. Unless it will completely screw up your entire world in an unfixable way........I say go for it! You only live once!

Plus who knows who might see you or what doors this would open. Sometimes you have to take a chance.

[jomahu]

dude.

DUDE.

go.

[palm grease]

Originally Posted by jomahu

dude.

DUDE.

go.

dude, DUDE.......... I want to...but can I?

No new info yet... main issue is MONEY!