Members Jack Q Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 How many of you here work full time (40 hours a week or more) and also balance a music career, or a BUDDING music career, at the same time? If so, I'm curious how you go about doing it. I work a full time job and I'm looking to get back into a band, but wondering if its possible to do so. Thanks.
Members cherri Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I handle both. I'm not trying to make it big in the music biz, I'm content as a singer/songwriter with a local working band. I have a few things in my favor: as long as I work 40 hours, my day job allows for flexibility. I'm a social worker so I occasionally put in a few hours on the weekend or evenings. For example, I was up at 4 this morning transporting a young person to an appointment. I can take those hours back some Friday afternoon, when we have an out of town gig.
Members germs Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 7:30-5:30 Monday-Friday. 45 hrs a week. I get off and have rehearsals Monday night. No work obligations on the weekend, no take-home work. We can play anywhere within 120 miles on Friday (b/c of work schedules) and anywhere we can on Saturday. We're pretty lucky in this regard. Only the singer does "shift work". It's not easy. The name of the game at this point is "self sacrifice". I find that the key is effective time management. I mean, a few of us have kids and families that miss us, but when you're "there" five or six days a week (i.e. not concentrating on the band when you're at home), the sting of leaving is somewhat less severe.
Members soundwave106 Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 How many of you here work full time (40 hours a week or more) and also balance a music career, or a BUDDING music career, at the same time? *raises hand* So far, the scale has been local. I find it fair enough to balance a band (actually, *two* bands right now) with a career in this scope. It's sort of like a hobby that occasionally pays money (at least cover bands get paid something). I'm not a family type of person; it would be a lot rougher to play in a band with a family. The touring angle is where the "career + work" angle can run into conflicts. I can "tour" for three weeks, I suppose, but from my perspective, I'll be sacrificing vacation time for this, so it better be worth it. Any band can pay a {censored} load of money and tour Europe or Japan to play in front of crowds of ten or twenty people. I suppose if you are an unemployed musician and someone is fronting your bill, you don't care so much...
Members rockerdiva Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 Lots of people manage this very well. Like Cherri said, you would have to enjoy being local and not be trying to hit any kind of big time. And as another poster said, you'd have to be there for and balance family. I only do music, but I often wish I had a day job, actually. Something I really loved doing that made the music seem more like a fun diversion. I never did find my calling other than music though. Luckily I have had enough musical work to be able to just do music. I know a lot of people think of that as a dream situation. It is good, but sometimes I wish I had something else that paid better and was fullfilling in some other way, so that music stayed even more fresh. I never have any down time from it and although I love it, it does get exhausting to think about music 24/7. Still, as it is I can't find enough hours in the day to do stuff - so I don't know how I'd hold up giving 40 hours per week to something else! It would be a balancing act, for sure!
Members tim_7string Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I have done the professional musician thing before (where my only job was gigs) and I found that I was always needing cash for something, no matter how well they paid. So, it works better for me to have a 40 hour week job (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F) and play gigs on the weekends. What can be really stressful is when you have a day job, 2-2.5 hours of lessons following that day job, and then play a four-night gig, starting on Wednesday. I was a zombie on Thursdays and Fridays those weeks! I'm glad that things are a bit more open in the summer now. Nice to have a bit of a break. Thankfully, most of our gigs are local and don't involve a lot of travel. Otherwise, it could cause some friction taking off time at work too much. Still, since I love performing, I'll sacrifice a bit of comfort (and a lot of sleep) to keep playing as well as keeping the day job. The way the economy is these days, I pretty much have to.
Members BlueStrat Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I have done the professional musician thing before (where my only job was gigs) and I found that I was always needing cash for something, no matter how well they paid. So, it works better for me to have a 40 hour week job (8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., M-F) and play gigs on the weekends. What can be really stressful is when you have a day job, 2-2.5 hours of lessons following that day job, and then play a four-night gig, starting on Wednesday. I was a zombie on Thursdays and Fridays those weeks! I'm glad that things are a bit more open in the summer now. Nice to have a bit of a break. Thankfully, most of our gigs are local and don't involve a lot of travel. Otherwise, it could cause some friction taking off time at work too much. Still, since I love performing, I'll sacrifice a bit of comfort (and a lot of sleep) to keep playing as well as keeping the day job. The way the economy is these days, I pretty much have to. When I was 22 I worked 6 days a week and played 6 nights. I made great money, but after a month I was nearly dead. I quit the 6 night gig (it was only for another month anyway). The only thing I'd caution someone about is taking jobs that re easy to ditch to travel. I arranged a good portion of my life around manual labor jobs that I could leave to go gig somewhere. Now I'm older, still doing manual labor (finish carpentry), with no retirement and no insurance except for my wife's. Go read the 'backup plan' thread!
Members tim_7string Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 When I was 22 I worked 6 days a week and played 6 nights. I made great money, but after a month I was nearly dead. I quit the 6 night gig (it was only for another month anyway). The only thing I'd caution someone about is taking jobs that re easy to ditch to travel. I arranged a good portion of my life around manual labor jobs that I could leave to go gig somewhere. Now I'm older, still doing manual labor (finish carpentry), with no retirement and no insurance except for my wife's. Go read the 'backup plan' thread! I pretty much wasted my twenties on a boring, dead-end day job, just so I could play in a band as well (I should have gotten a master's or doctorate instead). Now as I approach my forties, I am thankful to have a job with full medical and dental benefits as well as a matching IRA plan. Gotta plan for that future when rock and roll (or playing in general) is no longer viable.
Members sabriel9v Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 This is a great post. As a recent college grad, I'm also at the point where I going to have to find a day job and balance out my music career. My question to all the forumites who responded within this thread is this...do you feel that you're working a job or career? For instance, I could continue to work at JCPenney for around 25-30 hours a week, but it would just be a part time job. If I find gainful employment with as a salaried worker at another company, I would be expected to move up the ranks. Do any of you feel that external pressure to simply advance your careers and abandon your musical career?
Members boardscrape Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I've found that the only way I could get the time I need for rehearsal, and production work is to work part time. It means I'm always short of money, but at least I have some time to do what I really love which is making music.
Members El Grinder Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I work three days a week at a hospital lab. I work weekends at a local radio station doing remote broadcast setup. During the academic year, I take 6-9 credit hours at a university. I spend about 40 hours a week working when I am not in classes and well over 40 hours a week of work/school when I am in classes. I still try to find time to play some guitar & synth for personal pleasure, but my music "career" at this point is probably what I do at the radio station. It is not my goal by any means, but at least it pays me for my knowledge and experience with audio. As far as my job career, I have some upward mobility if I both stay with the hospital (medical lab experience, tuition reimbersement) and in school (finishing my bachelor's in anthropology and more classes to prepare for med tech certification at the hospital) I have some upward mobility and want to eventually specialize in medical anthropology. Hopefully, that will give me some chances to travel and financial stability along with enough time to still enjoy music, guitar, bass, keyboard, and audio technology.
Members Kerouac Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I dropped out of music school at 19 to actually go get some real world experience. This meant honing my own skills in private and with bands while working a lot of {censored}ty day jobs. I moved around the country and bounced couch to couch for quite awhile and when all was said and done, I worked around 17 different jobs in 6 years. That whole time I played in bands, recorded other bands, and taught lessons on the side. My entire life resolved around working on music with everything else being a distraction. Last year I was able to finally quit the day jobs and teach full time. Right now I'm teaching M-Th and spend the weekend recording or scoring. This fall I'm going to be backing up one of my mates live and at sometime soon I'm going to consider putting my own band together again. I'm busier than ever before, but it's a lot more manageable now that I can make my own schedule. Those years in between though...
Moderators BATCAT Posted July 21, 2008 Moderators Posted July 21, 2008 I'm a 40 hour, 9-to-5-er. In my case, while this doesn't leave me as much time as I'd like to work on music, it does mean I don't worry about paying the rent, I have great health insurance, and paid vacation days. I'm willing to accept time being a fairly precious commodity for me, in exchange for not having the anxiety of being semi-employed and worrying about what will happen if I get sick. For me, balancing the two just comes down to being organized and not having kids or a whole bunch of other non-musical pursuits. Although granted it's not always easy.
Members Bare Bones Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I work a full time job and I'm looking to get back into a band, but wondering if its possible to do so.Thanks. If you figure it out, please let me know. I work about 50 hours a week. I get home around 7:30 most nights and struggle to practice the guitar for an hour when I get home (mostly from mental exhaustion). I'm in the same situation and hope to get a band off the ground in the next 6 months, but I think it can only be done with extreme dedication.
Members germs Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 This is a great post. As a recent college grad, I'm also at the point where I going to have to find a day job and balance out my music career. My question to all the forumites who responded within this thread is this...do you feel that you're working a job or career? For instance, I could continue to work at JCPenney for around 25-30 hours a week, but it would just be a part time job. If I find gainful employment with as a salaried worker at another company, I would be expected to move up the ranks. Do any of you feel that external pressure to simply advance your careers and abandon your musical career? Of course there's pressure! Look, even if you get on somewhere (let's just say for the sake of arguement it's an office job in data processing) in the corporate world, without a master's or higher, you'll likely be working in that department for a few years at least. So that gives you a job with benefits, 401k, and retirement without the hassle of take-home work or being constantly tied to your blackberry or iPhone. The pay will be okay, given you're not a millionaire already, and there's more than ample time to focus on a music career. Of course, there's a path that everyone must choose for themselves in life. I've faced it, and I'm sure others here have as well. You pressure yourself to be a success in life, your SO pressures you to maybe start a family or "settle down", your parents want grandkids, your boss wants a commitment to the company...whatever it is, it's there. Truth is - despite the naysaying around here - you've gotta do this for no one else but you. But to use a contemporary example of playing in a band for fun: The late Tony Snow played guitar in a gigging band in Washington, D.C. for years, right up until his health forced him to stop. Now if he can play despite the "job stress", then damn it, so can you and I!
Members germs Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 If you figure it out, please let me know.I work about 50 hours a week. I get home around 7:30 most nights and struggle to practice the guitar for an hour when I get home (mostly from mental exhaustion). I'm in the same situation and hope to get a band off the ground in the next 6 months, but I think it can only be done with extreme dedication. I feel your pain. For about 5 years, I was a manager in a retail store. I did my job and my bosses job (I guess b/c I let him...) for the last 18 months I was there. I worked at least 50 hours a week, played in a band on the weekends, and rehearsed a few nights there too. Don't get me wrong, IT SUCKED. But I made it happen, so it can be done.
Members sabriel9v Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 I'm a 40 hour, 9-to-5-er.In my case, while this doesn't leave me as much time as I'd like to work on music, it does mean I don't worry about paying the rent, I have great health insurance, and paid vacation days. I'm willing to accept time being a fairly precious commodity for me, in exchange for not having the anxiety of being semi-employed and worrying about what will happen if I get sick.For me, balancing the two just comes down to being organized and not having kids or a whole bunch of other non-musical pursuits. Although granted it's not always easy. Do you ever feel external pressure to pursue more advancements within your career or day job and put your music career on the back burner?
Moderators daddymack Posted July 21, 2008 Moderators Posted July 21, 2008 I work a full time job and I'm looking to get back into a band, but wondering if its possible to do so. Thanks. Possible? certainly! Many people manage to balance the weekly 40+ grind with the weekend gigs...I've done it for years.
Moderators BATCAT Posted July 21, 2008 Moderators Posted July 21, 2008 Possible? certainly! Many people manage to balance the weekly 40+ grind with the weekend gigs...I've done it for years. Absolutely. We even gig during the week sometimes, and have managed to do some mini-tours and such. People have created amazing art the midst of war, famine, and genocide. I'd feel a bit of a wuss complaining about the stresses of my relatively comfortable life.
Members sabriel9v Posted July 21, 2008 Members Posted July 21, 2008 People have created amazing art the midst of war, famine, and genocide. I'd feel a bit of a wuss complaining about the stresses of my relatively comfortable life. +100 Excellent point
Members masterbuilt Posted July 22, 2008 Members Posted July 22, 2008 I know lots of excellent songwriters that like having a day gig because they have exposure to people and places. They get song ideas from experiences with people.
Members cherri Posted July 22, 2008 Members Posted July 22, 2008 +1 Masterbuilt, especially in my day gig. I cover eleven high schools and two counties. That gives me the opportunity to network with people from every walk of life. Teenage issues know no economic boundaries. Do any of you feel that external pressure to simply advance your careers and abandon your musical career? Not so much. I prefer the field work I do. I wouldn't want to be stuck in an office, which would happen if I went from a workerbee to an administrator.
Members jaxn slim Posted July 22, 2008 Members Posted July 22, 2008 I'm a 40 hour, 9-to-5-er.In my case, while this doesn't leave me as much time as I'd like to work on music, it does mean I don't worry about paying the rent, I have great health insurance, and paid vacation days. I'm willing to accept time being a fairly precious commodity for me, in exchange for not having the anxiety of being semi-employed and worrying about what will happen if I get sick.For me, balancing the two just comes down to being organized and not having kids or a whole bunch of other non-musical pursuits. Although granted it's not always easy. +1 That's me exactly, and I couldn't have said it better myself.
Members Sleepin' Deeper Posted July 22, 2008 Members Posted July 22, 2008 with no retirement and no insurance except for my wife's. The joys of living in the land of the free, the American Dream........sorry, OT....continue...
Members Sleepin' Deeper Posted July 22, 2008 Members Posted July 22, 2008 I am thankful to have a job with full medical and dental benefits as well as a matching IRA plan. Gotta plan for that future when rock and roll (or playing in general) is no longer viable. Don't need that {censored}. Got ma pension rollin' (it's automatic here, relative to how much you've earned) and healthcare is free. Life soundz pretty rough and demanding over there. I'd get the f%¤k out!
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