Serious Life Question

Bass of Justice · #1 07-03-2009, 12:10 PM

I am 17. Recently, I informed my mom that I had never planned on going to college, that I wanted to be a musician. Then of course she goes off on me about how its not a realistic goal and that many people want to be musicians but most of them don't make it.

I know I will have to work a low paying job for years, but I'm not afraid of being poor, as long as I make enough to live, my main concern is music. I'm much more afraid that I'll spend my whole life doing something I have absolutely no passion for. Nothing is as important to me as music.

I'm unsure now though if she's right and I'm making a foolish decision as young people typically do. I don't know what I'm asking, I guess just looking for some guidance.

Any wisdom/inspiration is much appreciated, especially from you veterans

MadMan118 · #2 07-03-2009, 12:37 PM

Well your moms right, its not east to break into the field, especially today. I would strongly suggest that if you are seriously considering a musical career you go to college and pursue a major there. The great part abut that is that internships are extended to you giving you the ever valuable experience, and a chance to get your name out there. Don't narrow your education either, you'll need to do whats offered to you when it comes along. For example my Major is jazz studies, however I also have a recording engineering and music business certificate, and bass isn't the only instrument I play. As for pay, music never pays well, unless you completely sell out and become some bubblegum pop puppet. But if your fine with meager wages then all the more power to ya.

totallyfrozen · #3 07-03-2009, 12:38 PM

First, you need to understand that your mother loves you more than you can understand right now. You'll understand it better when you have a kid of your own. She really wants you to have a good life and she's afraid for you. Let's be honest...there are FAR, FAR more wannabe musicians out there than there are pro musicians. Also, walk through a music store (like Barnes & Noble or Border's) and just look their CD music area. How many bands are there? You can't count them. So even if you do go pro, you may not make a healthy living at it...but you might.

My advice: Ask yourself WHY you want to be a musicians (honestly). Some reasons are a waste (e.g. I feel unloved and unknown and I want everybody to love me; I want alot of women, I want to be rich, etc.). Wanting everyone to think you're "cool" is a waste because EVERYONE will NEVER think you're cool. Remember, there are easier was to get rich. If you try to love more than one woman at a time, you'll make yourself miserable.

Some reasons for wanting to be a professional musician are legit.

You need to really think hard about your motives. If you approach it with the wrong motives, you WILL hurt yourself--guaranteed--it's just a matter of time. Take a look at how many rock stars have ended up as drug addicts and alcoholics...or suicides. It can be a dangerous road if you are doing it for a bad reason...but it's not ALL bad.

I'm not an ex-pro. I'm one of the guys who let people's fears keep him from pursuing the dream. I'll let the pro vets tell you what the inside is like. But I will tell you this...
If you realize that you have good, legitimate motives for wanting to be a pro musician...DO NOT let fear keep you from it. I let OTHER PEOPLE'S FEAR keep me from it when I was young like you. I regret it. Fear is NEVER a good reason to make a decision. We all have fears and doubts; making decisions out of fears and doubts is the wrong way to deal with it. What I'm saying goes MUCH deeper than just that...but I'm not going to get into all that here on a forum.

tplyons · #4 07-03-2009, 12:48 PM

I always considered college my $100,000 backup plan if music didn't work out.

Guess what, it hasn't yet. I'm glad I've got my degree and am about to start a good paying job.

However, there's always the possibility of making it as a musician, but until then, I've got a career to keep a roof over my head and food on the table.

ByF · #5 07-03-2009, 12:52 PM

Being a musician and going to college are not exclusive options--you can and should do both. Studying music will make you a better musician. Having an education will give you the tools and the credentials to earn a living at something. That something can be music.

Usually when I hear somebody say "I'm not afraid of being poor," it's someone who has never been poor, and doesn't even know what it means. Have you ever gone a day in your life without eating because you had no money to buy food? How about living for a week on a pot of beans that you cooked yourself, because that was all you could afford to buy? Being poor sucks. Being hungry sucks. Taking the bus everywhere because you can't afford to drive sucks. Being 40 years old and working for a kid who just got out of college sucks.

Go to school. College is WAY more fun than high school, and it will go a long way toward helping you get a career started. Trust me, I know these things from experience.

Ed

Bass of Justice · #6 07-03-2009, 01:03 PM

thanks for the replies everyone, they are helping me get my priorities straight.
studying music in college sounds like a solid plan but what kinds of things do you actually study there that you can turn into a (music related) career?

And this is probably ignorant, but I could never understand the idea of college because I do well in school but I hate it, and the idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars to spend another 4 years there terrified me.

MadMan118 · #7 07-03-2009, 01:11 PM

Wait. You're in CA. Go to community college and ask about their guaranteed admissions program to the UC and CSU system. Community college is cheap and if you do well in JC you can qualify for grants and scholarships, most of which you wont need to pay back.

varunkapahi · #8 07-03-2009, 01:24 PM

a lot of great advice here!
i am 19 right now and i have just started making some money by playing gigs with two bands. i think its important that you "study" something, i could be bass itself or anything but real formal education always helps. another thing is to diversify your musical tastes and networking!
theres this famous guitar player in my city who happened to be on my facebook, he posted a message looking for a bass player. i responded and then got the job after an audition. the band has a killer line up of well known people and because of this band my other band landed some gigs too! so its important you network with the right people and as many people

snapple · #9 07-03-2009, 01:25 PM

I wouldn't call going to school for music a backup or even something that improves your chances of a lustrous music career, with the exception of maybe orchestra and musical theatre players.

I'm a guy who quit high school to do music. I am not rich - in fact I know all too well the wonderful life of living off of mr. noodles while my friends are putting down payments on houses. But I have been lucky enough to call music my full time job from time to time, and the experiences I've gained from that are things that I wouldn't trade for the world.

For the most part, a musician's life is one of poverty. And you have to be willing to "sell out" or compromise your integrity at times. But I guarantee you I have more fun and more life experiences than anybody who does a 9-5 behind a desk.

The thing with me is I told myself that music is a do-or-die game, and that I couldn't have a backup plan. That is a crock. Go to school man. You can still do music. Think of the bands that have met up during uni or college also... coldplay anyone?

Anyways it depends on whether or not you want to be a rockstar, or a session guy. If you want to do the session stuff, go read the thread giving advice on how to make it in that field. Wanna be a rockstar? Hope to god you find the right guys with the right attitude and songs.

LowDown Hal · #10 07-03-2009, 01:27 PM

Listen to your Mom.

Go to school AND study music.
Maybe a dual major. Music and "something else"

Starting in a Community College is a GOOD IDEA.

ggunn · #11 07-03-2009, 02:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by snapple

... I guarantee you I have more fun and more life experiences than anybody who does a 9-5 behind a desk..

You have no way in the world of knowing that. How much do you really know about everyone in the world that holds a steady job, especially if you don't? Nobody really knows how the other half lives.

I'm not saying that you don't have a full life, but to make a blanket statement about how everyone else lives who made a different decision than you did is just silly.

fdeck · #12 07-03-2009, 03:43 PM

LOL, I entertained a similar idea, though probably not seriously, when I was in high school. I was certain that a rock bassist would not need a college education. My mom told me: If a rock bassist doesn't need a college education, then you can go to college and major in anything you want. Besides, nobody will hire you until you're 21 anyway, and a decent degree will make you employable if the music thing doesn't pans, e My mon knew me better than I knew myself, and was aware of my interests in electronics, computers, etc.

So I went to college and double-majored in math and physics. Today I have a "creative" day job, and I greatly enjoy playing music professionally on the side.

One thing about college is that the audition process will test whether you're headed for a music career. Another thing to do is look around you. Among the musicians in your age group, are you the best? That's how competitive the music business is.

rllefebv · #13 07-03-2009, 03:52 PM

Definitely go to college. Making a living in music is quite different from making a living performing music. Teaching, writing, recording, producing, and yes, performing, all can and do benefit by the extended course studies that college brings...

Dual majors, such as music/business or music/education are complimentary and provide a great fallback while still pursuing a primary love.

-robert

fdeck · #14 07-03-2009, 04:47 PM

One of my friends double majored in music and engineering. He is now an engineering manager. Another double majored in music and biology, then went to medical school.

Pilgrim · #15 07-03-2009, 05:30 PM

Similar to what's above - you can ALWAYS become a musician, but getting an education takes first priority. I like the JC > 4 year sequence idea, as it will help you settle into college. Study music and business - because with a business background you can go anywhere. You can also play a LOT of music while in college. If you go pro in music later and you also have some knowledge of business, you'll be that much better off.

Stumbo · #16 07-03-2009, 06:01 PM

Just curious: what is your musical experience to date? School band? Rock bands? Have you gigged much?

Here are some links you may want to take a look at, especially the first one. Btw, how much of this stuff do you know already?)
So you want to be a music major in college?

Becoming a session player
Going pro
Expectations of a professional musician
So you want to be a music major in college?
Virginia Tech Multimedia Music Theory Dictionary
Auditioning for college jazz band
College audition dilemma
If I only knew then...
Best musical advice
The musician's life

Good luck.

**Pacman** · #17 07-03-2009, 06:36 PM

have you considered the service bands? If you've got your stuff together (play like a pro, read, styles, etc), that's one of the few guaranteed livings you can make as a musician.

TrooperFarva · #18 07-03-2009, 07:24 PM

My advice: Go to college for something besides music. Something with broad applications, like Business.

That way, as others have said, you have a backup plan.

If music doesn't work out, you'll end up in a job you don't like either way, but you'll make 3 times as much money. Money isn't everything, but it's much better to have too much than not enough.

Jazzdogg · #19 07-03-2009, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bass of Justice

thanks for the replies everyone, they are helping me get my priorities straight.
studying music in college sounds like a solid plan but what kinds of things do you actually study there that you can turn into a (music related) career?

And this is probably ignorant, but I could never understand the idea of college because I do well in school but I hate it, and the idea of spending tens of thousands of dollars to spend another 4 years there terrified me.

Most of the excellent musicians I know have been able to provide medical insurance, retirement, and pay the mortgage because their college educations enabled them to teach music as their day job and gig at night; teaching positions with benefits are coveted, and a MA or PhD are commonplace, even in junior colleges.

Another career path worth considering is as a professional musician in the military (TBer Pacman is an excellent example); the military typically recruits only above-average musicians, provides excellent stability, continuing education, and benefits. I've worked with several great professional musicians who attend the Navy School of Music, and a few extraordinary jazz players who served with the USAF Airmen of Note.

If you want to become a musician, start saving money regularly starting today, and establish an IRA ASAP; no one's gonna do it for you!

WalterBush · #20 07-03-2009, 07:51 PM

A college degree can make sure that you can work as a teacher, and much of what I learned in college has served me well even though my degree is incomplete; it's hard to go wrong, there. College is great for networking, too. I got a lot of gigs through the people I went to school with.

Thing is, if you're going to make a living playing music, be aware that the rockstar thing isn't likely, and that it's work. You're basically self-employed. The music business is a business, and there's lots of ways to make money at it, but simply going to college, or playing in bars waiting to be discovered, isn't going to get you there.

I know plenty of musicians that make a living with their instruments; most of them work three to four nights of four hour performances, and work the other nights of the week, and days, traveling and rehearsing. They're playing at casinos, hotels, cruise ships, whatever, in cover bands, taking studio dates when they can get them, anything to bring in a check. It's a lot of work, and most of them don't have much time for original music. Lots of us don't like playing a lot of the tunes we have to play, but it's still music, and it pays the bills.

I'm in a band with the director of editorials for a major audio publication; he's not making money as a drummer, but makes a ton of cash doing what he loves, has access to recording studios that most musicians only dream of seeing, has the respect of his peers, and a generous salary, but it's not because of his playing ability. It's because he worked his butt off at something he loved, and found his niche after years of working towards a goal. He's in the music industry, but not how he envisioned decades ago. Point being, there's lots of ways to make money "in music." Keep at it, be prepared to work, and by all means, go to college. Just don't expect that to instantly result in cash, whether you major in music or not.