One of life's toughest decisions.

J. Crawford · #1 01-18-2010, 06:30 PM

Do something you love for less money, or something you dislike for lots of cash?

See, Im in a predicament. Im 17, Im going to start looking into colleges, etc. As of now, I want to major in musical engineering (producing, sessions, etc.) I have the chops, determination, confidence, connections in high places, etc. Thing is, as most of us know, the music industry isnt exactly "where its at" as of now.

Thats my "happy" path.

OR

Go to school for something where I know Ill make lots of money, be supportive, etc. I maintain a 4.0 and am already getting offers from colleges, so thats another path. I could major in anything from physical therapy to english teacher. There are always fields I could get into that would pay very well, but I wouldnt be as happy.

I love kids, I do. I love being around them, helping babysit, etc. I would love to have a family and a high paying job, but I would also love to take the risk and try to become a musician, tour, live the life I want to live.

Maybe Im just 17 and dreaming, but as I said, the time is coming and life is getting to that point.

Well, type away guys!

Thanks, as always!

ksandvik · #2 01-18-2010, 06:39 PM

Do both.

J. Crawford · #3 01-18-2010, 06:42 PM

Ive thought of that. Major in something thats a backup plan with a minor in something musical related, then if it doesnt go as planned I have that backup.

But thats time in college I could spend learning how to do what I would want to go into after graduation.

Steve · #4 01-18-2010, 06:42 PM

You have a substantial amount of time before you have to declare a major. Use it. Chances are you will change your mind about what you want to do a couple of times. Changing your major at some point is neither uncommon or tragedy.

TrooperFarva · #5 01-18-2010, 06:50 PM

A very good friend of mine from high school went to college to become a Recording Engineer. He's unemployed right now. He graduated 3 years ago, and the only job he's held between then and now has been at Guitar Center. With the advent of home recording, major studios are closing left and right. He's having a hell of a time breaking into the industry. The real tragedy is that he took out loans to cover his college tuition, so he has a lot of debt, and no way to pay it off.

Myself, I went to college for Computer and Systems Engineering, basically half computer science and half electrical engineering. I'm 27, I like my current job, and I make 6 figures. I'm planning on going to law school, because I'd like more of a challenge at work. I too have college loans, but they're nearly gone, 4 years after I graduated.

While he went to school for recording, myself and another friend of mine just bought some gear (a ProTools setup, some mics, some preamps, a good A/D, etc) and started recording demos for local bands. We kept that up for several years, and got really good at it. My friend that went to school for recording? He's not as proficient at ProTools as I am, because he simply hasn't put as much time into real recordings as I have. I also have a catalog of genres and songs that I've produced, whereas he has literally 2 songs that he collaborated on.

What am I getting at? The recording industry, like a few other industries, doesn't care where you went to school, they only care about what you've done, practically, and what you're capable of. Moreover, there's nothing you'll learn by going to college for recording that you can't learn on your own.

If I were you, I'd go to college for something that you're good at, that pays well. Learn recording while you go to college, on weekends, summers, etc. If, after you graduate, you still want to pursue a career as a recording engineer, go for it. If things don't pan out, you always have something nice to fall back on. If things do pan out, good for you, and you also have a degree attached to your name.

Stanley Design · #6 01-18-2010, 06:52 PM

Do something that will make the money, you can go to music engineering school anytime you want in the future or you can learn from experience. There are thousands of kids doing that as their career path every year and working a dead end job minimum wage until they are 30 and then give up on the dream.

99% of the people who get into music that way end up having to live off their backup plan for the rest of their lives. Hell, I know lots of people who have a bachelors of science and work at walmart/similar or are constantly unemployed.

As much as you don't think you'll love something that makes the money and isn't in music, you're going to fall in love with lots of jobs in the next 5 years that you didn't even know existed.

warnergt · #7 01-18-2010, 06:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ksandvik

Do both.

+1 Go for a career that pays so you have a little money to do the things
you enjoy.

This is not a one-time decision. You will be encountering some form of
this decision all through your life.

**pacojas** · #8 01-18-2010, 07:08 PM

damn homey,.. its easy!!!
ex.) i got my degree, learned to play bass, gigged for 20yrs, then got a job. since i had a degree, i got hired quickly. at the same time i raised two boys. gl.

BartmanPDX · #9 01-18-2010, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

You have a substantial amount of time before you have to declare a major. Use it. Chances are you will change your mind about what you want to do a couple of times. Changing your major at some point is neither uncommon or tragedy.

+1.

I went to college to become an aerospace engineer, and ended up majoring in African history. Then I decided I wanted to be a teacher, and did that for a while (loved it!). Now I'm married to an engineer, which allows me to stay at home with my daughter, and my wife makes enough money for me to have some sweet toys.

You may change your mind several times, but a college degree is mighty handy in helping you keep your options open.

J. Crawford · #10 01-18-2010, 07:35 PM

I think you guys have changed my mind for the better. I mean, I have thought about all of your ideas already, its good to hear some more support.

Well, let me ask you this.

In this world, what are some fields to look into?

TrooperFarva · #11 01-18-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Crawford

I think you guys have changed my mind for the better. I mean, I have thought about all of your ideas already, its good to hear some more support.

Well, let me ask you this.

In this world, what are some fields to look into?

What do you like to do? What are you good at? What skills do you have?

spade2you · #12 01-18-2010, 07:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by warnergt

+1 Go for a career that pays so you have a little money to do the things
you enjoy.

....like playing music.

The thing about music is that you don't get to choose what you want to do. You choose what makes $.

Besides, my major was in no way related to music and (off and on) and have done as much or more than some local music majors...especially the ones who had to settle for jobs at Wal-Mart, etc.

warwick.hoy · #13 01-18-2010, 07:43 PM

Even for those of us who didn't go to school,...I'm sure a substantial amount of us would rather play bass to pay the bills (haha) than work our 9 to 5's. Unfortunately playing to pay the bills isn't a reality for most people.

The bottom line is we all have to do things we don't want do so we can do the things we love. I may not like my job very much,...but it certainly isn't what defines me. It's necessary to keep the roof over the wife's head and my pedalboard fully stocked. Family,...Bassist,...Baker, that is my order of priority.

If you really want to make money (albeit not a lot) in music I think the only sure way that doesn't involve rockstardom is pedagogy (education).

Pitbull Growl · #14 01-18-2010, 07:45 PM

Dontract (& entertainment) law.

Pays well, and you can make contacts you can use for furthering your own musical path... plus if you do go the musician route you'll have a better understanding of what's on the paperwork and whether or not you're getting shafted.

Stanley Design · #15 01-18-2010, 07:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitbull Growl

Dontract (& entertainment) law.

Pays well, and you can make contacts you can use for furthering your own musical path... plus if you do go the musician route you'll have a better understanding of what's on the paperwork and whether or not you're getting shafted.

I think that is one of the best and most relevant career choices anyone could make on this website.

J. Crawford · #16 01-18-2010, 08:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pitbull Growl

Dontract (& entertainment) law.

Pays well, and you can make contacts you can use for furthering your own musical path... plus if you do go the musician route you'll have a better understanding of what's on the paperwork and whether or not you're getting shafted.

Ive researched that path before, and Ill definitely look into it even more.

Interests? Writing is one. I was ranked in the top 98% of English scores for both my ACT and PSAT in the state of Ohio, which are the highest in my school on average, AFAIK.

Also, physical therapy. I have grown up with "spondo" (Extra lumbar vertabrae) so I know what its like, and I could associate with patients.

iamlowsound · #17 01-18-2010, 08:41 PM

If you want to get into physical therapy, do a degree in Kinesiology. English isn`t something that you can make a lot of money with, unless you catch a break with some freelance writing. It was something that I had looked into when I was pursuing a philosophy degree. I would suggest some sort of engineering, lots of jobs and quite interesting. Environmental and Geo-technical engineering will be taking off in the next decade, jump on the train before everyone else. That is what I am doing.

lowsound

Benjamin Strange · #18 01-18-2010, 09:27 PM

I've been making music my career, more or less, for the last 14 years of my life. I've had ups and downs... mostly downs. Take it from me:

You have a better chance of getting struck by lightning while holding a winning lottery ticket than making any money as a musician.

That said - I love what I do, and couldn't imagine doing anything else. I've been fortunate that I've sometimes been able to make a living doing nothing but playing music, without ever having to resort to being in a cover band. I've been mostly broke during the last decade and a half - music does NOT pay well. I've had a few lucky breaks: I worked with Nine Inch Nails in New Orleans and now I'm working with The Black Eyed Peas. But these breaks don't mean anything - I'm still not making any money.

Currently I build and repair guitars for a living (which still doesn't pay very well), but nobody wants to hire me because of my musician background - regardless of the fact that I own my own record label, have strong leadership skills, and am good with computers. I don't have a college degree, and that's the thing that most employers want to see - never mind that you might be a complete idiot. They just want to see the piece of paper.

To be perfectly honest, I'm sometimes scared of what my life will become. I'm performing in front of 30,000 people and I don't have health insurance. I have no retirement plan. I have no marketable skills to get a "real" job.

Do yourself a favor: go to college. If your music really is THAT good, then the people will come to you and demand to make you a star.

**jmattbassplaya** · #19 01-18-2010, 09:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Steve

You have a substantial amount of time before you have to declare a major. Use it. Chances are you will change your mind about what you want to do a couple of times. Changing your major at some point is neither uncommon or tragedy.

I really disagree with this statement. I should be declaring my major this semester but I doubt it`ll happen. It catches up to you faster than you think.

flipper_gv · #20 01-18-2010, 11:28 PM

I wanted to go in Music at university but I wanted to have a family one day in my life too and most of the time, money is short while living off music. So I went with the second choice, that isn't the most profitable job in the world, but I will like it and it'll more than enough to pay for Hockey equipment to my sons XD. BTW, it's psychology.