Enjoy the benefits of a premium membership!
Upgrade Account
-
TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
Join free Log in
Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.
Did I ruin my life?
- Thread starter azfryguy
- Start date
Ric5
Inactive
- Jan 29, 2008
- 29,772
- 30,452
- Disclosures
- I like 5, 8, 10, and 12 string basses
I "dropped" out of college after my first year. That's saying it nicely. I'm 40 now and I am in my 3rd year of college and it's the best thing I have ever done for myself besides quitting drinking. Finish high school, then decide. Your life options are limited without school. It's not just all about the grades.
If you're not dead yet, you haven't ruined your life. At 17, you've barely even started your life.
Get the education you need to get a job so you can afford to make music. Then, if you're talented, lucky, and work your tail off, you might be able to quit your job and not starve.
Get the education you need to get a job so you can afford to make music. Then, if you're talented, lucky, and work your tail off, you might be able to quit your job and not starve.
Congrats on going back to school!
I'm 33 and decided to go back to college to pursue a different career. What I have found is that you get some where by having contacts. I received my first career by having contacts. A career that pays well but the hours suck however it is what I went to school for at the time. There were 50 people that wanted that job and I got it because I knew several people that worked there. I have just started college again, have 4 more years until I get my masters however I made contact with someone in the industry that I am pursuing yesterday. Why? Because maybe I will end up applying with his business and he might hire me out of 50 because of contacts.
I'm 33 and decided to go back to college to pursue a different career. What I have found is that you get some where by having contacts. I received my first career by having contacts. A career that pays well but the hours suck however it is what I went to school for at the time. There were 50 people that wanted that job and I got it because I knew several people that worked there. I have just started college again, have 4 more years until I get my masters however I made contact with someone in the industry that I am pursuing yesterday. Why? Because maybe I will end up applying with his business and he might hire me out of 50 because of contacts.
The thing about school is that, aside from being a non-negotiable requisite for being taken seriously as an adult, it's also a great environment to meet like-minded people. Especially college. You are so not far off the path - just get back in there and re-immerse yourself. Everything will be fine.
A career in music requires a lot of the same skills as a career in anything else. The abilities to organize your thinking, understand and manage your finances, communicate well with all different kinds of people you will meet, and understand how to work as part of a functioning team, are all part of professional life - regardless of your field. And high school and college are where a lot of young adults pick up these skills!
A career in music requires a lot of the same skills as a career in anything else. The abilities to organize your thinking, understand and manage your finances, communicate well with all different kinds of people you will meet, and understand how to work as part of a functioning team, are all part of professional life - regardless of your field. And high school and college are where a lot of young adults pick up these skills!
go to high school and finish it out.
why go to school all those years and quit when you were so close to finishing?
i was only 1/2 credit short of graduating.
i didnt get to walk with my class.
i had to go to summer school to be able to get my diploma.
im only 20.
the only thing that would have made me drop out is if i knew someone that owned a label or something like that where i knew i would have had a future in the music biz. for you to drop out "hoping" you would make it just like that is foolish IMO.
but its not too late, go back to school, then take it from there.
if you want to get into the music business, talent is obviously important but do your research.
find what you need to get where you want to be.
dont just hope things will fall into place.
you have to work for what you want, and it might take some time to get there.
its not an overnight thing.
best of luck to you.
why go to school all those years and quit when you were so close to finishing?
i was only 1/2 credit short of graduating.
i didnt get to walk with my class.
i had to go to summer school to be able to get my diploma.
im only 20.
the only thing that would have made me drop out is if i knew someone that owned a label or something like that where i knew i would have had a future in the music biz. for you to drop out "hoping" you would make it just like that is foolish IMO.
but its not too late, go back to school, then take it from there.
if you want to get into the music business, talent is obviously important but do your research.
find what you need to get where you want to be.
dont just hope things will fall into place.
you have to work for what you want, and it might take some time to get there.
its not an overnight thing.
best of luck to you.
You asked for advice so try not to resent me for giving it to you straight. At 17, it is really easy to get wrapped up in what's going on right now and hard to grasp the bigger picture, long term. Life is really long, all sorts of adventures are on your horizon.
First of all, your initial post shows that you have not yet learned the fundamentals of English grammar. If you intend to represent yourself in furthering your music, be it endorsements or getting a day job to survive while working on your music, you should go back to school and learn to do it properly. A lot of people simply cannot write a grammatically correct letter. You can put yourself one step ahead of all those people by doing so.
Secondly, if you want to do something serious with your music, you have to go to where it's happening. If you hook up with the very top regional band in your area, you have a chance of taking things to the next level from AZ. Those are pretty slim odds.
Best of luck to you. Keep the big picture in mind; it's not all about getting some company to give you a discounted bass. It's not about 3 songs on your Myspace page. It's about a lifetime immersed in music. You'll need to write hundreds and hundreds of songs and put in thousands of hours of playing time- on stage in front of paying customers. Do not get despondent, you are just at the beginning of an epic journey.
First of all, your initial post shows that you have not yet learned the fundamentals of English grammar. If you intend to represent yourself in furthering your music, be it endorsements or getting a day job to survive while working on your music, you should go back to school and learn to do it properly. A lot of people simply cannot write a grammatically correct letter. You can put yourself one step ahead of all those people by doing so.
Secondly, if you want to do something serious with your music, you have to go to where it's happening. If you hook up with the very top regional band in your area, you have a chance of taking things to the next level from AZ. Those are pretty slim odds.
Best of luck to you. Keep the big picture in mind; it's not all about getting some company to give you a discounted bass. It's not about 3 songs on your Myspace page. It's about a lifetime immersed in music. You'll need to write hundreds and hundreds of songs and put in thousands of hours of playing time- on stage in front of paying customers. Do not get despondent, you are just at the beginning of an epic journey.
There's 4 things that you need to do,IMO:
1) GET AN EDUCATION!!
2) Get out and play live. (One of the more important things,besides getting your education)
3) Take ANY studio gig that's thrown your way. It doesn't matter what it's for. Get your name out there.
4) Studio bassist=Versatile bassist (Master it all....Or,do a damn good job of "faking?" it.)
1) GET AN EDUCATION!!
2) Get out and play live. (One of the more important things,besides getting your education)
3) Take ANY studio gig that's thrown your way. It doesn't matter what it's for. Get your name out there.
4) Studio bassist=Versatile bassist (Master it all....Or,do a damn good job of "faking?" it.)
17 is really young to be feeling like you've messed up. Fact of the matter is, being that young gives you a lot of time to get things together.
I'm 31 now, got two originals bands, a full time job and I'm doing an Open University degree. I left school at 16 to work in a factory. Life is pretty sweet these days, even if I barely have time to think.
I agree with what others have said here, go back to school. It's not that big a deal to do study and music at the same time and you'll have qualifications to fall back on during the times music ain't paying the bills. Believe me, it happens more often than you think.
I'm 31 now, got two originals bands, a full time job and I'm doing an Open University degree. I left school at 16 to work in a factory. Life is pretty sweet these days, even if I barely have time to think.
I agree with what others have said here, go back to school. It's not that big a deal to do study and music at the same time and you'll have qualifications to fall back on during the times music ain't paying the bills. Believe me, it happens more often than you think.
I wish I had gotten this much good advice when I was 17.
I admire you for having the courage to ask your question.
You have your whole life in front of you.
Just remember that in life, you can be great at more than just one thing.
Don't hang your hat or judge your self worth based on just one of your skills.
Get an education, the exposure to school and other people will open you up to different career path options and you'll find things that you never dreamed of doing within your reach. You can still pursue and be dedicated to music but you don't have to be a martyr either. Find an alternate career or skill that you can make a solid living with and as you make it in music, that money will be gravy. You will find that you play much better when you aren't broke or desperate for money,
I admire you for having the courage to ask your question.
You have your whole life in front of you.
Just remember that in life, you can be great at more than just one thing.
Don't hang your hat or judge your self worth based on just one of your skills.
Get an education, the exposure to school and other people will open you up to different career path options and you'll find things that you never dreamed of doing within your reach. You can still pursue and be dedicated to music but you don't have to be a martyr either. Find an alternate career or skill that you can make a solid living with and as you make it in music, that money will be gravy. You will find that you play much better when you aren't broke or desperate for money,
as gi joe says, knowing is half the battle. now you know. listen, i've heard you play. you've got talent. keep it up. but stay in school this time, and do whatever it takes to rebuild your confidence. you've got plenty of time.
No you arent "finished"
I played guitar and bass since 14 HATED high school. I went all 4 years but was 2 years short on credits. I slept all day, played video games and guitar all night long and slept again at school. I realised everyone was graduating and I was going NOWHERE my parents had also done nothing with their lives and was just barley making it.
So I went and got my G.E.D. Started college as a designer/engineer (I was horrid at math but for some reason was pretty OK at designing) Worked in the field as a student and decided it wasent for me (I was getting to 300lbs out of shape ECT)
Ran into a old buddy began to work out, lost alot of weight, started going for Firefighting/Paramedic flew through it in 2.5 years w/ a associated degree. Got hired as a Medic for a private company, then 2 different Fire Depts and no I make over $70,000/ a year and where I work even in this economy I am set for life.
TOOK ALOT! of work! Hard work and motivation. ANNNNNND Alot of luck too.
First step for you is that you realise the problem and want to fix it.
Get a book http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336
It helped me over a bad depression before I got my GED helped my whole plan come though worth the $8.00 for sure!
I played guitar and bass since 14 HATED high school. I went all 4 years but was 2 years short on credits. I slept all day, played video games and guitar all night long and slept again at school. I realised everyone was graduating and I was going NOWHERE my parents had also done nothing with their lives and was just barley making it.
So I went and got my G.E.D. Started college as a designer/engineer (I was horrid at math but for some reason was pretty OK at designing) Worked in the field as a student and decided it wasent for me (I was getting to 300lbs out of shape ECT)
Ran into a old buddy began to work out, lost alot of weight, started going for Firefighting/Paramedic flew through it in 2.5 years w/ a associated degree. Got hired as a Medic for a private company, then 2 different Fire Depts and no I make over $70,000/ a year and where I work even in this economy I am set for life.
TOOK ALOT! of work! Hard work and motivation. ANNNNNND Alot of luck too.
First step for you is that you realise the problem and want to fix it.
Get a book http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336
It helped me over a bad depression before I got my GED helped my whole plan come though worth the $8.00 for sure!
As an Amazon Associate, TalkBass may receive commissions from qualifying purchases made via links on this site.
I seriosly cannot thank you guys enough and I am not offended by any of your answers here is a link to my
myspace Link Removed
youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/azfryguy?feature=mhum
I really dont know what to do all I know is that I should get my GED, get a degree in something, get a job asap and always love play and make music no matter what.
seriously you guys are awesome to the fullest extint of the law!
myspace Link Removed
youtube http://www.youtube.com/user/azfryguy?feature=mhum
I really dont know what to do all I know is that I should get my GED, get a degree in something, get a job asap and always love play and make music no matter what.
seriously you guys are awesome to the fullest extint of the law!
I would say, go back to school or get a GED... Maybe learn another skill or a few other skills, NEVER give up on your music and playing bass, When you go into anything regarding music just go into it knowing that the music business is VERY fickle. So play music because you love it, and in time the money will come because you will find your niche as a musician and in the world of music. Just enjoy the musical journey. No your life is not ruined, not as long as you still breath air and still care.
Awesome move deciding to go back to school and get that GED. You're off to a good start. Keep woodshedding, and try to play (and play out!) with as many people as you can in the meantime.
I'm gonna go off the path and suggest you DON'T go to college right after you finish that GED. Take a year off, figure yourself out, see if there's something else besides playing bass. Not saying to quit bass, just you might want to do something else too. Maybe you'll decide you want to be an EMT, or a teacher, or a florist. But get an idea before you spend that money on tuition, because it takes a long time to pay it back.
Best of luck to you, hope to see you doing big things down the line.
I'm gonna go off the path and suggest you DON'T go to college right after you finish that GED. Take a year off, figure yourself out, see if there's something else besides playing bass. Not saying to quit bass, just you might want to do something else too. Maybe you'll decide you want to be an EMT, or a teacher, or a florist. But get an idea before you spend that money on tuition, because it takes a long time to pay it back.
Best of luck to you, hope to see you doing big things down the line.
Good for you on getting back in school. A diploma or ged is the BARE minimum for getting ANY job. Try to stay positve and soak up as much knowledge as you can.
If you're really set on a career in the music business, there are several tech schools ala Full Sail, git/bit and the like that can get you a good start.
If you're really set on a career in the music business, there are several tech schools ala Full Sail, git/bit and the like that can get you a good start.
