Members Iplayloud Posted June 18, 2010 Members Share Posted June 18, 2010 I've already spent 10 years at a boring office job, I find it unbelievable that I will spend my life doing something I relatively hate. Even with abig salary drop I think I will do the jump. I'm pretty sure if I'm well structured and professional it will work. Has any of you done it full time ? Comment or recommendations ? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jamdogg Posted June 18, 2010 Members Share Posted June 18, 2010 my advice is don't quit your day job until this economy turns around. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members clay sails Posted June 18, 2010 Members Share Posted June 18, 2010 my advice is don't quit your day job until this economy turns around. +1 Make the jump, but build your business on the side first. Teach your classes etc. at night and weekends. You simply cannot build a business like that quickly. It takes reputation. (BTW: boring, hateful office work nearly killed my soul, too. I got myself a teaching credential, and now I'm not bored.) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZombieCat Posted June 18, 2010 Members Share Posted June 18, 2010 +1Make the jump, but build your business on the side first. Teach your classes etc. at night and weekends. You simply cannot build a business like that quickly. It takes reputation. +1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jtr654 Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 NO. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catscurlyear Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 don`t know why you are asking that question ,if you think you are good enough go ahead and do it . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bphill Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 Well if my teacher was your example. Yes you can definitely make a good living.He has done a few things different that I haven't seen others do. The first thing is he is not afraid to charge top dollar.He charges $35 per 1/2 hour and 50 per hour.which seems to be a lot more than most.But he does give good value for the money.He's organized with a good lesson plan.He also enthusiastic and patient with his students.Uses video and recording to add to the learning experience.But the real key to his success is his group lessons.He charges $25 per hour for group with 3 to 5 students per .You do the math if he only has 3 students in the group hes making $75.Hes also put bands together made up of students ,and organized talent shows for students.Hes done a lot more but I think you get the idea . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members StillRock Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 Students can be fickle... they'll not practice, and blame you for their lack of progress. Try to be selective of those who you take on... even friends will drop you. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catscurlyear Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 The first thing is he is not afraid to charge top dollar.He charges $35 per 1/2 hour and 50 per hour.the first thing i hoped he might do is say something usefull as regards playing music. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bro Blue Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 The thing you have to look at is not if a thing is possible, but if it is probable. Yes, it is possible. It is not probable. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bphill Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 the first thing i hoped he might do is say something usefull as regards playing music. As I said later in my post I believe he gives good value Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members catscurlyear Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 good for you i hope he does ,but if you wanted to learn how to play you should teach yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Darkstorm Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 Very unlikely to make a decent living from teaching guitar lessons. Mayb e some nice side money, but very very few have ever been able to do that fulltime and survive finacially. Ones main job is seldom something one really enjoys, but its not for that purpose, its to survive ok financially. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steadfastly Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 I would build up a client Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members nuke_diver Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 A living yes....a good living unlikely My instructor is good and doesn't charge a lot ($35/hr in the SF bay is pretty cheap) but he also runs a recording studio and rent rooms for bands to practice in. And he still struggles to make ends meet Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members kanamvar32 Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 I guess it depends on your definition of a reasonable living. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ralph onion Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 Remember one of the classic pieces of advice given to musicians is;"Keep your day job." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Oldskool Texas Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 I'd be very wary of turning your hobby/passion into a job/career. I have cycling friends who opened a bike shop, brewer friends who opened brewpubs, and musician friends who gave lessons. They all ended up hating it. Worse, now the bike guys never want to ride, the beer guys never want to go to pubs, and the guitar guys never want to play anymore. My one friend who teaches guitar constantly bitches about the students, the repetition, the boredom, the parents, the cramped little studio, the advertising rates, the lack of dependable income, etc., etc. It might be totally different for you, but I'm just sayin'. It would suck to kill your love for music by turning it into a nine-to-five. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Invader.CC Posted June 19, 2010 Members Share Posted June 19, 2010 I am a guitar instructor..You can make a living..The question is how much money do you need to make ? If you need to make $55k a year then you may be in trouble..There are Guitar instructors who make that but they are Juilliard or G.I.T grads and instructors who teach big time players.. I myself make a little over $22k teaching guitar a year.. I also play in a band that gets paid pretty well..We do motorcycle rallies,car shows ,carnivals ,fairs along with a guaranteed amount of shows with a casino chain.. I also collect a disabled Veteran check and do some studio work...With all these together i make a pretty comfortable living... I have a partner named Rudy he is a full time guitar instructor and plays in a local band that works on an average of 3 nights a week...But his band gets bar fees of about $300 to $350 a night so he makes about $150 to $225 a week playing on top of what he makes as a guitar instructor..He makes right around $30,000.. What i'm getting at is you usually need something more than just being a guitar instructor...The other problem is unless you have a spouse that carries your health benefits you will not have any as a guitar instructor nor will you have a retirement... There is all the headaches that others have talked about with being an instructor but lets face it all jobs have there problems..If you have a set of rules that are followed by your students and yourself you can keep these problems to a minimum.. Ultimately it is up to you though..If you think you will be happier as a guitar instructor advertise on craigslist and at your local music stores and start building a client base ..While you are building this client bass stay at your job and see if it is for you before jumping in.. If you would like some tips or pointers on things to do to build and keep a solid student base P.M me and i will tell you of things that have worked for me.. .. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ouzhewen Posted June 20, 2010 Members Share Posted June 20, 2010 +1Make the jump, but build your business on the side first. Teach your classes etc. at night and weekends. You simply cannot build a business like that quickly. It takes reputation.(BTW: boring, hateful office work nearly killed my soul, too. I got myself a teaching credential, and now I'm not bored.) Amen brother.. I gave up the soul-killing bureaucracy over a decade ago and never looked back.. Used my MBA to attain a teaching position in Bangkok (best decision of my life), then moved on to US university and now finishing up my dissertation and should have my doctorate by year's end.. Looking forward to the future.. My advice, think it through, but the soul-killing workworld is not for you if you hate it enough to question your future... :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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