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.
Should I join a NAVY Band?
- Thread starter 89JazzMan
- Start date
D
Cam that is awesome!!! I have encouraged many people to go this route and I would have if I had not been DQ'd on the medical. I hear that that both programs are awesome. A lot of times it is the Air Force transporting the bands on long hops from what I understand. I am positive that both branches offer an exciting and fulfilling career choice or a stint to play a few years with an incredibly talented bunch of musicians with good discipline and great chops and a great gear budget!!! Either way you come out with priceless experience, GI Bill benefits, a chance to see the world first class, AND a pension for when you get back to the world to help you if times get tight... How can you lose??? Great choice and I wish you nothing but the best!!! I have high hopes for you!!! Take advantage of this and live up to your potential and you will go as far as you want to go!!! God Bless and keep you safe and thank you for your service!!!
Peace,
T
Peace,
T
So just do me a favor now that you are in. Do all of your school while your in the Navy. If you have a 4 year then go for the 8 ect. Something I wish I would have done. I practiced my butt off and got to be a good player but I wish I would of spent sometime on some school.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Congrats, Cam! Let me offer this (from experience), take the Navy gig. Yes, the Army pays more money, but like anything, there's a reason for that. Unless you like visiting countries that end in "stan" for 12 months at a time....
In all seriousness, I can't really say anything bad about my Army time, but the Air Force time has been *much* better. (And, from what former Navy band friends of mine have told me, the Navy's better than the Army, too)
In all seriousness, I can't really say anything bad about my Army time, but the Air Force time has been *much* better. (And, from what former Navy band friends of mine have told me, the Navy's better than the Army, too)
D
Tommixx, thanks. I got tired of turning down work locally due to my day job. I get just enough where if it was more consistent, I wouldn't need a day job. When I got passed over for a 6 show per week run (was going to be joining tech week due to a firing) due to my amount of work conflicts, I decided I need to find a way to earn my income/living only from music.
Greg, my intentions are to pay off my student loans and finish my degrees. I'm a semester away from an Associates in Business Management/Marketing and then two years away from Bachelor's degrees in Jazz Performance as well as Business Management. I want to wait until after I have an adjustment period at whatever my first permanent duty station is before starting in on finishing school.
Jon, I made a request to my Army Recruiter to put things on hold till Friday, and I'll make decision. From everything that I've read (including your info), I'm thinking I'll join the Navy. I don't think starting at E4 would be a worthwhile trade off to the benefits of the Navy.
Next stop is MEPS. As long as I don't get a shocker there, I'm good to go.
When I get in, if I like it-I could see this becoming a career. Retiring at 45 is pretty appealing. If I don't, I'll be coming out of it as a far better player with lots more experience.
Greg, my intentions are to pay off my student loans and finish my degrees. I'm a semester away from an Associates in Business Management/Marketing and then two years away from Bachelor's degrees in Jazz Performance as well as Business Management. I want to wait until after I have an adjustment period at whatever my first permanent duty station is before starting in on finishing school.
Jon, I made a request to my Army Recruiter to put things on hold till Friday, and I'll make decision. From everything that I've read (including your info), I'm thinking I'll join the Navy. I don't think starting at E4 would be a worthwhile trade off to the benefits of the Navy.
Next stop is MEPS. As long as I don't get a shocker there, I'm good to go.
When I get in, if I like it-I could see this becoming a career. Retiring at 45 is pretty appealing. If I don't, I'll be coming out of it as a far better player with lots more experience.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
Dude, I'm 42 and I'm retiring and it's awesome! I can do a lot more now that I have that steady house/car/car payment coming in....
D
My first intentions are to get my student loans/debt paid off. Between private and federal, I'm in about $80k. The only music job that would pay back my loans faster is Equity/Union Theatre on a doubling show for an 8 show/week run (yes, I figured out exactly how long based off of a slightly better standard of living). Second goal is to get back into investing to help ensure financial stability through the long term including, but not limited to retirement. Third? Well, I'm a single guy with no dependents who loves my gear...so an NYC Sadowsky or three are in my sights-Modern 5-24 with a stealth finish (black hardware, ebony board, black finish w/matching headstock), PJ-5 w/rosewood & some type of sunburst finish, and a fretless 5 (no idea of configuration) of some flavor to join my current Metro M5-24 (maple & ash). Finally, the idea of being able to afford a house/condo upon retirement? hahaha. I've been expecting a cardboard box on Lower Wacker Drive. At my audition, I was told that several of the band members live in my current neighborhood and that one of them just bought a condo that is pretty close to where I live.
zzzfarcry, it is my understanding (Pacman & the others know for sure) that military bassists play in rock bands, big bands, country bands, jazz bands (big band & combo), and other forms of contemporary music. If you check YouTube, you can find a wide variety. A quick search yielded various military bands covering everything from Michael Jackson to Lady Antebellum to original hard rock/metal tunes.
- Apr 1, 2000
- 17,409
- 9,868
- Disclosures
- Endorsing Artist: Roscoe Guitars, DR Strings, Aguilar Amplification
You're not in yet, but I'm going to give you the advice I give all young troops: TSP (Thrift Savings Plan). Get in as soon as you can, and stay in. I immediately started taking MORE money home, even though I was contributing to investments. Over the past 10 years, it has been very good to me. Trust me on this one.
D
Hehe, in general, I'm learning that I need to follow your lead/advice. However, I plan on sticking with Sadowskys instead of playing Roscoes.
I've been spending lots of time on Military.com as well as reading all the info I can find on the various Navy websites. I'm excited for whatever financial management classes we're required to take. I took one through community college (intro to personal finance), and enjoyed it quite a bit.
Unless if I'm missing some key part of the picture, pay for an E3 is a significant amount more than what I currently make, so I'm hoping it will be on the easier side to save money/get everything paid off. The whole living on base vs. in my own apartment takes out a huge portion of my expenses.
At this point, I'm just looking forward to getting to MEPS over with. I don't have any known health/background issues that are disqualifying, so it's mostly hoping that I don't have something wrong with me that I'm not aware of. Weight wise, I'm at the very upper end of the limit (regularly 2 pounds under the limit), but I'd be able to pass a body fat assessment. Once that contract is signed and I have a ship date, I'll be able to get some other stuff rolling.
During the Vietnam era my older brother was a touring guitarist with a very popular artist of the day. He was about to get a draft notice (which would have likely led to a tour in the Nam). Being a multi-instrumentalist, he heard of the elite jazz band...the NORAD Commanders out of Colorado Springs. He went and auditioned on saxophone and was invited to join. He spent two and a half years touring with them (never in a war zone) and met a lot of terrific musicians who were in the same situation as himself...some of them he has kept contact with to this day. Upon getting ready to leave the military, he was offered 1st chair tenor sax gig with Woody Herman. He declined that, returned to touring and conducting for a major artist until he moved to Los Angeles and has had a terrific career as an arranger/composer for records, television, and film.
