Advice on a new career

[Hack001]

Ok --- been at this game for a few years now with modest to meager success. I have a BME and an MM and part of a DMA completed at a major conservatory. Classically trained, orchestral focus. I'm at the point now where my frustration is overwhelming my desire to perform. I'm growing quickly tired of the bills, the student loans, and the debt that incurs when you try and chase this dream. I hear the stories -- "well before I got this job, I took a thousand auditions and applied for a thousand teaching gigs." Thirty, twenty, even ten years ago, there were a lot more jobs, and a lot fewer amazing players.

This post isn't to fish for the "keep on keeping on" comments, but to find out --- when you decided not to pursue music as a vocation -- what did you end up doing? All my degrees are in music, and I have absolutely no clue what I would be qualified to do, so I don't even know where to begin.
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Practicing is for the insecure.

[jhatpro]

Your music background could be a valuable asset in a number of fields. The first that comes to mind is sales. Think of all the music products companies that need sales reps, managers, marketing specialists and so on.

Then there are the music publishers, production companies, concert promoters, orchestras, opera companies, event managers, artist reps and other businesses that in some way are connected to music and value employees with musical experience.

With the kind of credentials you mention you are definitely qualified for a lot more opportunities than you may now realize.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[fraserhutch]

For me it was engineering - software to be precise, and it's tru for a number of other musicians I went to college with. There seems to be an afinity between music, the arts and mathematics.
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Schilke B1
Callet Jazz
Scodwell Standard Bb
Roger Ingram 1600is
Wild Thing Flugel
Dillon Rotary Picc.
GR and Curry Mouthpieces

[kehaulani]

I'm curious as to what you have tried - musically. Have you just been studying and waiting for lightning to strike?

There are a lot of things you can do to make a life in music but for many, that means putting together a mosaic of activities. What have you done so far?

One of the best pieces of advice for me came from my composition prof. who, when I was looking out of the window of his studio at a steady stream of students going into the main entrance to the music building across the street, said, "there ought to be a sign over the doorway, "Caveat emptor" said, "you have to create your own vacancy".
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"If you don't live it, it won't come out of your horn." Bird

Yamaha 8310Z Bobby Shew trumpet
Benge 3X Trumpet
Benge 3X Cornet
Adams F-1 Flghn

[windandsong]

How about joining the army (as a musician)? Depends on how old you are. In the UK you get trained in a variety of other skills, stay very fit and get a pension. Ageist tho, you may be too old or hate the idea of the armed forces.

I've seriously considered it but am too old. Never know you might end up flying an Apache gunship!! Definately room for training in engineering etc.

[jhatpro]

Regardless of what field you investigate, be sure to translate your music training into terms that will be music to the ears of recruiters. For example, the dedication required to practice an instrument several hours a day, the discipline necessary to learn chords, scales, and whole pages of music, the teamwork needed to play with other musicians, and the value of learning how to perform before an audience. All these qualities are readily transferrable into dozens of fields. In other words, don't sell yourself short because you are a musician.
_________________
Jim Hatfield

"The notes are there - find them.” Mingus

2021 Martinus Geelan Custom
2005 Bach 180-72R
1965 Getzen Eterna Severinsen
1946 Conn Victor
1998 Scodwell flugel
1986 Bach 181 cornet
1954 Conn 80A cornet
2002 Getzen bugle

[tom turner]

Hi Hack001,

I second the suggestion about considering one of the military bands . . . one of the premier ones.

They are looking for folks with very serious chops and advanced music education. You'll get to perform a LOT if you can will a choice audition. You'll thus be able to develop.

You might realize that you could hang for 20 . . . and possibly hang with the top 2% who hit 25+ years and make the very top ranks too. Retirement after 20 or 25 years is impre$$ive, and you'll still have your peak years ahead of you after you get out . . . IF you still wanted to work!

Or, if you got in and decided to leave the service, the contacts you'd make while performing with civilian groups could give you a good foot up vs. all the recent college grads who have the chops and training but not the contacts or experience to quite make it before their money runs out.

Food for thought . . . opportunities, lots of performances, great benefits, decent pay . . . the whole package . . . and lots of fine musicians around you!
_________________
Tom Turner
Flip Oakes "Wild Thing" instruments (Trumpet, Short Cornet & Fluglehorn) +
Filp Oakes C Trumpet & Flip Oakes "Celebration" Bb Trumpet

[HornnOOb]

I've been interested in the potential for starting a music academy. Start as a small music school with summer band camp and build up to a fully acredited conservatory.

Would need to attract a more afluent Clientele in the begining.
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I rode in on a horse and can't seem to get out of L.A.

Severinsen Destino 3*
1971 Getzen Eterna 900S Severinsen Model
1984 Getzen Eterna 896 Flugelhorn
1951 Olds Special Cornet

Denis Wick 1C Heavytop
Getzen Flugel 3C

[EBjazz]

I know tons of musicians who work at Apple.

Eb
_________________
Eric Bolvin
http://bolvinmusic.com/product/the-modern-jazz-trumpet-method/
www.bolvinmusic.com

[rockford]

[JRoyal]

The short answer is you are qualified for music, not much else. Short of taking a sales job ( aka working at Apple) you will need to get some type of degrees, experience, or certification that will enable you to do something else. In this economy stretching your music skills to fit other job descriptions will not get you very far.

Some insurance and computer jobs can be gotten without degrees if you have the proper certification in those areas, that might be a good place to start if you are trying to actually have a career and not spend your life working entry level job after entry level job. Short of that I would recommend either a new degree, or perhaps law school.

[EBjazz]

Actually the cats that work at Apple are programmers.

Eb
_________________
Eric Bolvin
http://bolvinmusic.com/product/the-modern-jazz-trumpet-method/
www.bolvinmusic.com

[kanemania]

When I decided to move in another direction, I went into the advertising business as a copywriter.

Of course, a copywriter position is almost as difficult to get as an orchestral job. You don't need any kind of special degree, but you will need a portfolio of samples. You can usually find a continuing ed class at most universities to see if you've got a talent for it, and then start developing a portfolio.

Most of the jobs in this world don't have specific degrees attached to them; they just require smart, motivated people who know how to learn. Good luck.

[JRoyal]

[HornofPlenty]

Could always be a band director or assistant director or middle school director. I know many that went to teach as an assistant, they said not half the headaches the head band director had. Could check into recording engineer. Maybe arranging, composing for a publisher. Working at a music store...you will make contacts all the time. Some of our areas best players work at music stores and teach privately and gig around.

I have noticed too that many musicians tend to be good at math, science, and engineering. Music Therapy is a growing field. Maybe work at a performing arts center. Good luck in whatever you decide to do.
Perhaps adjunct faculty at a college.

Good luck in your career pursuits!

[MichaelM2]

Although my degrees are not in music, I have found I don't put any more education or experience on the resume than I need to get a job. If they aren't looking for a doctorate and the hiring manager doesn't have one they are often intimidated and will pass you by. Tailor your resume education for the specific job you're applying for. Good luck.

Mike

[EBjazz]

Not in Silicon Valley!

Eb

[veery715]

Lots of good replies here and I'd like to see the OP respond to kehaulani's questions.

I attended a jazz band clinic held by Byron Stripling at the Ithaca College School of Music in 2010 or 11. (I ws a guest.) He made a couple of very firm suggestions:
1. By the time you graduate from the undergrad program you should already have a website in place to serve as a promotional tool.
2. He said: "No job is ever going to call you on the telephone." You need to proactively promote yourself by networking and and contacting job opportunities/hiring agencies as relentlessly as you can. Wear out your phone and your shoes in this effort.
_________________
veery715
Hear me sing!: https://youtu.be/vtJ14MV64WY
Playing trumpet - the healthy way to blow your brains out.

[jcstites]

I am in a similar situation as you Hack001. I have 2 performance degrees and finished the coursework for my DMA and then decided to change paths a little bit. I decided to take a break from auditions and go to school to get certified to teach (probably middle school band). Once I made this decision, my trumpet playing actually improved a lot since it removed a lot of the stress involved. 3 months later I won an orchestra job, a small one, but still a job. It pays the bills while I am in school taking music education classes. Teaching middle school band isn't what I always dreamt of doing, but I have found that teaching is incredibly rewarding. You already have the BME, why not use it?

The military gigs others recommended are also an option, but the premier band auditions are just as competitive as major orchestra auditions, but you probably already know that. There are also options in the non-premier bands. They don't pay as much and aren't quite on the same musical level, but it's a gig and they will make a big dent in paying back loans.

You could also freelance and teach, but the student loan bills would make it pretty tight while you get things started.

Good luck!

[JRoyal]

teaching jobs are pretty hard to come by right now in most places, but if you are mobile that will help. A dma with no public scool teaching exp. will be a tough sell in most places.