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-- music as a career??
music as a career??
Hi guys,
I am currently attending Santa Barbara City College in Santa Barbara, California. It is this point in my life when I am trying to find direction and decide what I really want to do with myself and my life. I have taken quite a few courses and can't find anything that really has my attention.......except music. I posted this thread because I want to know if there is a career I can really pursue in music (namely electronic). Seeing as I would be around music, money would not be the biggest factor, but I would like an income to support my "healthy" lifestyle. There must be members on these boards that have taken music as their careers, where should I turn? Thanks in advance!!!
Much appreciation,
Tyler
well whats the most common response you get when your career is music related...
"its a risk"
and yeah, thats right. I go to a JC in San Diego too mate and i'm in the same boat. With how fast and how easy it is to get access to these EDM mp3's its going to be very tough for people like ourselves to make money unless we are on constant touring. I'll be playing in 5 diff cities in the next 2 monthes but i'll still be barely making any money... i'm not sure whether or not going 100% into this is the right move but i'm doing it because i love it...
however, i might be nieve because people like Ralphie B and other notable producers actually have 9 to 5 day jobs that they work at, and merely produce at night... maybe having a backup plan isn't so bad afterall...
you should have a backup plan
going 100% into it is a huge risk you are more than likely going to lose
doesn't mean you cant produce quality stuff
but being successful in it and being able to support yourself is another thing.
what do you want to do in music?
how much experience do you have? do you produce now? do you spin? do you play any instruments? what type of background do you have?
study somethign in college that will be able to get you a decent enuf day job where you can have enuf money to support yourself and also give you the finacial ability to pursue your passion in music while also giving you the time to work in your musical passion
I think you definetly have a backup plan to put your life back on track when it comes off the rails.
Go study while going for the music career and put in the same amount effort for both.
moving into djing and/or producing as a career is hard. I think nowadays you need to do something special to get noticed, and that is what its all about at the end of the day. you can be as good as you like and never be noticed, so there is an amount of luck involved as well. having contacts is always a bonus, you need to get a load of 'networking' done (i hate the corporate term, but it fits well into what im saying 
)
everyone is right, have a backup plan. you will never be able to just jump into it, work will start as drips and drabs (especially with djing), plus you will also need money behind you, as it costs money to make money. and remember, u need that backup plan for if it all goes wrong 
if you are planning on moving into production, and dont produce already, get cracking asap.. post your stuff in the amateur forums here, they know their shit and will tell you how it is, you will get useful feedback. and also make sure you know your shit regarding the way copyright works and the way that labels and managers work (theres a sticky thread in the producers promotion forum which contains stuff like this)..
good luck!
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tu_face moving into djing and/or producing as a career is hard. I think nowadays you need to do something special to get noticed, and that is what its all about at the end of the day. you can be as good as you like and never be noticed, so there is an amount of luck involved as well. having contacts is always a bonus, you need to get a load of 'networking' done (i hate the corporate term, but it fits well into what im saying )everyone is right, have a backup plan. you will never be able to just jump into it, work will start as drips and drabs (especially with djing), plus you will also need money behind you, as it costs money to make money. and remember, u need that backup plan for if it all goes wrong if you are planning on moving into production, and dont produce already, get cracking asap.. post your stuff in the amateur forums here, they know their shit and will tell you how it is, you will get useful feedback. and also make sure you know your shit regarding the way copyright works and the way that labels and managers work (theres a sticky thread in the producers promotion forum which contains stuff like this).. good luck! |
i want to do music myself.....but i got a back up plan already....i have a good job...so on my days off i am learning to produce so maybe in a year or 2 i might have a good track done.....
Be prepared to live VERY lean for a long time. It's taken me two years to get to the point where I make a few hundred bucks a week from two part time jobs in the industry, plus a couple hundred bucks a month from DJ'ing.
This is not the sort of thing you want to get into with some serious thought or commitment. It also helps is deep down you KNOW beyond a shadow of a doubt that you can succeed. If you're not fooling yourself and really have a passion for music, then you should be OK, but don't expect to make a ton of $$$ or even get much recognition.
If you can develop any additonal music related skills, then you're more likely to succeed. Case in point:
I run the light system at a local club
I've done live sound at another club and some smaller parties
I work for a DJ gear shop/record store
I've been employed selling pro audio & synthesizer gear in the past
Have finally had some success with producing/remixing after being after it for 10 years now.
Between that and a few other skills I've probably forgotten give me the versatility to be able to live like I live (and a patient girlfriend, too! 
) Your results may vary...
ive just graduated from an audio and music school and as of now its tuff but iam stickin in there cause ive been to other schools and i feel i just dont fit in at a regular college i mean music just gives me a feeling i love and enjoy so i want to be apart of it, to give that joy to other people.
now it depends what you want to do in music what iam doing now is lookin for an internship in a studio as my first choice if not then in a record label. iam willing to work for free for how ever long it takes, but on the side iam doing a little producing myself as a hobby, as life goes on and iam doing good for myself then maybe i might step up my production and hey maybe one day you will hear my track on asot
but anyway thats just my story and i wish you and whoever else is considering a career in audio and music the best of luck
which audio/music school?
IAR aka Institute of audio research its in manhattan
I, like you have found that only music has the ability to keep my interest. That's the great thing about it - there is a constant evolution in styles and genres.
Pigeon holeing yourself in todays market would be a high risk move. The industry is changing - Vonyl vs Cd's - Labels Vs Websites
I think the safest move anyone can take today is to create a platform with several different skills. You may not have the skills to be an artist so how do you ensure you stay in contact - get a job at a label - temp work intern whatever - just make yourself known - stick your head on the block and say"here I am - what can I do?"
I'm like you mate, I want to be more involved. I know I dont have enough talent on my own for production but I know people who are and I try to stay as involved with them as possible.
Don't give up ever though. Learning little bits here and there helps you in the long run. Look at Dave Dresden - he's a producer, a Dj - A& R for Pete Tong, he's a published journalist.
There is music in every part of our lives - The trick is to find how you can learn a little about a lot. The more you know about a lot of things the more people will listen to your opinion.
Good luck - Dont give up
| quote: |
| Originally posted by tu_face moving into djing and/or producing as a career is hard. I think nowadays you need to do something special to get noticed, and that is what its all about at the end of the day. everyone is right, have a backup plan. you will never be able to just jump into it good luck! |
looks like a lot of us are in the same boat.
I think it all depends on your determination, if you truly know music is what you want to do 100% then go all out, no backup plans or anything because people tend to rely on their backup if things start going wrong, and then all your effort and time you put into music is wasted. And nothing will come of it.
But if your not certain if this is the way to go, and are still making career choices, then as some other have mentioned, please do have a backup plan. Best of lucks with any decision you make.
Well this is exactly the kind of reception I was hoping to get. Thank you all very much for your input! I can now make a wise decision on how to pursue my goals in music. Maybe I can keep my business major at my College and pursue a music minor. Where I go to school they actually have an electronic mucis course, where you learn how to mix and produce electronic music. I am definitely taking that course next semester!! Is there any other courses you all recommend?
Thanks in advance!!
Tyler
I used to study Computer science, and I was good at it, but I wasn't feeling the idea of doing that for the rest of my life. so i followed my guyt and switched to film, something I always wanted to do, and honestly things havent been better...
I guess what im saying is, if you really want to pursue music, then I can only support you and wish you the best of luck as it is extremely competetive just like film.
Film, thats a great career choice as well, how is that going for you? What field of the film industry are you involved in? How did you pursue that?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by bluelimitd Film, thats a great career choice as well, how is that going for you? What field of the film industry are you involved in? How did you pursue that? |
wow thats amazing, is that your full time job?
| quote: |
| Originally posted by bluelimitd wow thats amazing, is that your full time job? |
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