Recession, recession…

That’s right, folks.  I used the new four-letter word….wait, 9….you get the idea.  We all knew this post would come eventually, and I’m afraid it’s time.  I (along with everyone else in the country right now) am starting to feel the effects of this downward spiral that we refer to currently as our “economy.”  Times are getting tough, and I wake up every morning hoping I still have a job to go to the next day.  At this point, I suppose it’s important to mention that I am self-employed.  This being said, I am not immune to the possibility of a job loss.  Private music lessons aren’t exactly in high demand right now, and I am finding myself wondering how I am possibly going to make ends meet this summer, as many of my students will be leaving for extended periods of time.  Pretty much the usual, you know?  So the next logical step is to start looking for alternatives.  I, myself am a fan of logic, and here’s what’s been floating around in my head for the past couple of weeks:

A) I have a college degree.

B) It’s in music performance and music industry studies.

C) You don’t actually need a degree to do any of the above.

D) I have the same job I had through most of college.

E) No, I did not get a raise when I graduated.

As you can see, all of this presents a potential problem, the solution to which I have decided is law school.  Yeah, shocking I know.  It’s not like every misguided college graduate I know hasn’t already gone down this road (for better or for worse), but the current status of our nation’s economy should be making you think about your own job security right now and what you can do to lock that shit down.  This begs the question: in an industry where people can become wildly successful with little or no college education, is it necessary to have a college degree?  This is something I teetered back and forth about for a long time when contemplating college, but it has become quite clear to me that the answer is both yes and no.  As you can see, I also like extremely vague statements…

The music industry is so much different from pretty much any other industry (still going strong with that vagueness).  In this industry, you can truly excel in your field with sheer street smarts and a good work ethic if you put your mind to it.  However, I struggle to think of any aspect of this industry where a juris doctor WOULDN’T make you a more desirable and invaluable employee.  Yes, I am aware that the world is over-run with lawyers, but not entertainment lawyers….no sir!  We are now, more than ever, in dire need of people who have a thorough understanding of the law and are dying to share it with others.  There are so many high-powered people in the music business who have no idea what they’re getting themselves into when signing a contract that it’s almost scary to conceive of the dire possibilities.

Yeah yeah, this whole law school thing does require several hundreds of thousands of dollars, but that’s a small price to pay for job security, if you ask me.  A full-time job with an almost inherent license to kill?  Now that’s something I could get used to…

Fortune Cookie:

Spend some time thinking about how you can make yourself invaluable to your employer.  If you are your own employer…start a website or blog.  It’s free and wholly necessary as a marketing tool!

Listening to:

Frank Sinatra – “Chicago”

On college (pt. 2)

I’ve been getting back into writing lately (mostly the self-indulgent journal type), but nonetheless I’m quite enjoying it.  I’ve been reminded over the past couple of weeks just how much writing used to be a part of my life and how sad it makes me that the only writing I’ve been doing these days is on checks…big ones to other people.  So, I think it’s important to divulge a little bit more about the college experience (mine, mostly).

College makes you jaded.  You get thrown into a classroom full of people who have been told that college is what intellectual people do; therefore, they (and you) start intellectualizing pretty much everything.  You can really get to a dangerous point where everything becomes so cerebral that you forget why you started doing it in the first place.  I specifically warn music majors about this particular problem.  By my fourth semester of college theory, I couldn’t turn on the radio anymore because all I could do was identify perfect and diminished intervals.  I heard major chords in my sleep…seriously, I kid you not.

I’ve spent the past couple of months since graduation trying to get back in touch with the passion that got me into music in the first place, and I’m just now getting to the point where I can stand listening and practicing again.  My most important advice for anyone considering a music degree in college is to give yourself a reality check every once in awhile.  When you start wondering what you’re doing in a practice room at 2am on a Thursday, it’s probably time for a day off.  Don’t let yourself get too hung up on the “noble” path you are taking as a trained musician.  It’s not noble…it’s hard work just like anything else, and you’re the one that has to do it.

Fortune Cookie:

Learn how to appreciate really trashy 80s songs because it will save you from yourself.

Listening to:

TV on The Radio – “Golden Age”

YEAH COLLEGE!

I guess that I should mention that I graduated from Loyola New Orleans in May (cue the slow clap).  Those who know me also know that I have some very strong opinions about college and my specific experience at Loyola.  I feel that it is time to share some of those insights for all you ambitious high school students out there thinking about music business as a degree/career.  Here goes:

Insight #1: DON’T

Don’t even THINK about getting into this industry if you’re not passionate about it.  The hours are too long, and the pay is too little for you not to love it.

Insight #2: SLEEP IS A FIGMENT OF YOUR IMAGINATION

It will benefit your career (and freak out your roommates) if you develop a nocturnal lifestyle.  Also, learn how to nap anywhere, anytime, and for 5 minutes…you’ll know what I mean when you have 3 night classes a week (and you will).

Insight #3:DON’T BOX YOURSELF IN

If you decide to go after a music industry degree (or something thereabouts), don’t lose your head if you completely change your original direction after your freshman year.  Take all the opportunities you possibly can, and learn about as many different aspects of the industry as possible.  You never know what you will be doing, and you never know who will call you to record their cat snoring and turn it into a sweet remix.  You wanna be that guy that can say, “Yeah, I can do that.”….you may not think so now, but a paying gig is a paying gig.

Insight #4: IF YOU FIND OUT WHAT THE “REAL WORLD” IS, PLEASE TELL ME.

You will hear nothing but advice about how things work in the “real world” for your entire 4 (or however many) years at college.  I have no idea what this means.  Maybe we live in an alternate universe where cats are dogs and dogs are really cats and…oh my god…it’s so overwhelming…balancing check books, oh crap…responsibility…and, and work and stuff.  Seriously…that’s all bullshit.  Everyone will want you to think that college is your little protective nut where you are safe from deathrays or whatever.  Learn how to take care of yourself DURING college…not after.  You do live in the real world…it’s just a little bit different from your mom’s “real world,” is all.

Plenty more to come on the subject of college at a later date.  Feel free to add some advice if you have anything for our youngsters out there.

Fortune Cookie: Write down all the reasons why you want to work in the music industry and all the reasons why not.  If your list of “Why Nots” exceeds that of the “Why Tos”…Welcome.

Listening to:

“Wolf Like Me” – TV On The Radio