Comments on: Day jobs, or kids say the darndest things https://scratchmybrain.com/2006/01/07/day-jobs-or-kids-say-the-darndest-things/ Jeff Albert's blog Sun, 05 Jul 2020 19:17:35 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.7 By: Jeff Albert https://scratchmybrain.com/2006/01/07/day-jobs-or-kids-say-the-darndest-things/comment-page-1/#comment-32 Sun, 22 Jan 2006 02:03:52 +0000 http://scratchmybrain.com/?p=80#comment-32 My goal early on was to make a living from music. I didn’t care what the music was, but if I could pay my bills from playing and writing, I felt like I was a success. I was a success by those standards.

What I want from it now is a bit different. 10 years ago I wanted a lifestyle, today I want to be able to make great music with musicians that I respect and enjoy. Sometimes it is easier to do the latter when you aren’t depending on music for your livelihood.

I wonder how my music and life would be different now, if I had taken the artist path instead of the craftsman path 10 years ago. Who knows? I am happy now and was happy then, so it is all cool. This discussion comes up with students often, and I sometimes wonder what the responsible answer is.

]]> By: David Gibson https://scratchmybrain.com/2006/01/07/day-jobs-or-kids-say-the-darndest-things/comment-page-1/#comment-31 Sun, 22 Jan 2006 01:51:51 +0000 http://scratchmybrain.com/?p=80#comment-31 You know, Jeff…this is a tough one. It really depends on the person. I know some artists who can’t imagine working a “real” job while others do so when necessary. I think it depends on your responsibilities and whether they amount to paying your rent or taking care of your family. But, I’ll say that I think the media’s romanticization of the artist’s life has made things difficult. Lot’s of college graduates enter the real world with an illusion of success that means doing nothing but your art. The reality is that almost every single successful artist I know has done some other kind of work. The difficulty in doing other kinds of work is to maintain a focus on your art despite fatigue and the endless pursuit of money to finance your dream. In NYC, paying the bills is hard enough to manage without trying to record new music and endow performances. I know many people whose idea of success changes once faced with the obstacle of supporting a family, etc… I guess regardless of your choice, day job or no day job, the Darwinian dictator of success in the arts is perseverance.

DG

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