When do you drop things to be serious with music?

cloy26

cloy26

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Jul 17, 2009
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Port St. Lucie, FL
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I'm 21. I work full time at a law office and have 3 classes this semester, with 10 left (including these 3) to graduate with my bachelors degree. I am an aspiring law student and eventually attorney, but I love music, always have. I recently got hooked up with some guys who are really like minded musicians and def have what it takes, or so I feel like, to make a good run as a touring band. However, I am incredibly strapped for time. I work 9-5 mon-friday, and have class 6-9 on tues and thur and have one class online... But, I want to pursue music right now and see where it takes me for a few years, then go to law school.

Do I have enough time to really work as hard as I need to as a musician to make it happen for a little while? I really ant to tour and meet guys in the business to hopefully form bonds, so when I go to law school and graduate, I'll have some guys in the business to hopefully practice Entertainment Law...

If it's any group of guys, I feel like some of you would have some great advice... Any input?
 
Whatever you do, do not quit law school. Going back to school after quitting is HARD.

Music is awesome as fuck and I love the challenge of being in a band, but I feel that anyone in an 'entertainment' field needs to have a 'serious job' backup. Nobody takes musicians serious unless your in a orchestra or something, it sucks, but that's how it is. I would love to make enough money off band stuff to get by and I've done it before in two bands, but 99% of everyone you deal with in music will flake out and/or fuck you over. Until things get really worked out and the band is an LLC or something and your making steady money of licensing or something, then keep working at the law office. I'm guessing you probably make decent money, you will need all the money you can get to run a band.

Think of a band as a small business, because that's exactly what it is. Sit down with the guys and make an actual business plan. Set real goals then break those goals down into smaller bits. You will start to see just how easy it is when it's all organized and your not overthinking the big picture (record, tour, profit).

EXAMPLE

1. Write
- riffz/lix/beatz
- lyrics oh shit
- rewriting
- rehearsing
- damn drummer
- rehearse moar


2. Record CD
- pre prod/arrange
- track
- edit/mix
- master
- artwork
- packaging
- distribution
- promotion

3. Create Merch
- artwork
- apparel
- accessories
- stickers
- download cardz

4. Promote
- internet
- radio
- tv?
- flyers / street teams?

4. Tour
- book dates / network with friendly bands
- buy/rent/borrow/steal van & trailer
- insure equipment?
- do everything in your power to not cancel a date, even if it means certain death


Another tip:
Keep records about everything and log data.
Data is invaluable, especially when you start to focus on maximizing profit. you need to know your niche, your market, who likes you, who doesn't, what sells best, what makes the most money, what you can sell to anyone and make a decent profit on, who has the largest crowds, who has the smallest crowds, who what when where why ripped you off that one time, etc...


I've been doing the music thing totally backwards my whole life and I still live at my mom's house, that's the only way I know this bullshit.
 
Sloan, awesome response, man. Thanks.

We don't have a true business plan, but we have 4 pages of promotional ideas/goals. ie. all social media plans, merch ideas, etc. The other guitarist is very very driven and has spoken with big and small bands and has compiled a lot of the advice they have given, ie. what works, what doesn't work, etc.

We are scheduled to track at Chango in February, then let people listen to it all and start playing as many shows as we can around the area and Florida... Then hopefully gaining attention of some south eastern states and maybe doing a mini tour or something along those lines.

My concern is that I won't have enough time devoted towards the band... How much time do you guys put towards your projects?
 
Take the LSAT and figure out if it's worth going to law school at all. If you score really well, go to law school for 3 years and then see what happens. If you don't, you probably won't get into a good enough law school to make it worth it, at least IMO.
 
Why would i go to law school for 2 years when it takes 3 years to get a jd? Then I'm looking at an exuberant amount of debt with no jd. idk I feel like that's a really bad idea. And I'll def get a decent enough LSAT grade to get into a decent school, that's no worry.
 
going to chango...

cameron has some great ideas, and he is well known in the scene and so going to him is publicity in itself. his mixes suck though imo (especially cymbals, wtf does he do to them?)
 
^^
Matt Goldman is amazing, the latest Chariot record sounds incredible to my ears.

On the music thing, you just kind of... know as cheesy as it sounds. I knew after doing 1 semester of a teaching degree that I was meant to do something with music, so I started going to audio school and doing as much work as I could on the side. I'm also in a band thats just starting to tour, but that's more of a hobby than a career path. I feel to be successful these days you need a backup plan, my guitarist is in a rather successful band (tours europe reasonably regularly, is playing prog power in the states), the rest of the band members are either lawyers or insurance executives and they use all of their leave / sick days on tour!
 
I'd say do what feels right to you man, don't give up on law school but commit as much of your spare time as you want to developing your music career. There's nothing wrong with having options and chances are the career path you choose now won't be the one you take for the rest of your life!
 
Guitarguru got it right. It'll take you 5-6 years in any scene to even break into middle level (aka "the band finances itself but we still work on the side") IF you have a label with funds that supports you AND if you actually have commercial potential. The fact that you like your songs and the girlfriends of the other guys like the songs too doesn't mean that the band is actually any good. After being in this for 15 years, touring the world and running my own label as an artist, I'd recommend this:

a) go to law school
b) start the band on the side and let it run
c) if you can't do the double work of band and university - you ain't cut out for either job. Or you'll find out quickly which one you like better.

The only long-term-living in music is made via either a hugely successful major label deal or a production job with the right contacts. Otherwise a career of 10 years of supporting yourself via music would be a success.

I may sound like your parents, but: learn something that can pay your rent and then make music. That was the best thing my parents actually ever told me (and I'm glad I listened).
 
It seems like you post a similar question every month. You seem to be looking for validation about playing music for a living.

cloy26 said:
II recently got hooked up with some guys who are really like minded musicians and def have what it takes, or so I feel like, to make a good run as a touring band.
Click to expand...

They will fuck you over no matter how hard you work at being in a band. Then you will be pissed, bitter, and hate everyone including yourself for believing that they were like-minded; when actually they are very far from it.

Bottom line, just do what you want... you'll do it anyways. Hearing "don't do it" from a bunch of experienced guys just wont ever sink in. You'll have to make a choice for yourself, and learn the hard way.

If you leave music on the side, you'll always have feelings of wanting to "go for it." But if you quit school for music, reality will kick your teeth out and drown you in a vat of misery and regret.

It's a lot like having feelings for a girl that just doesn't love you or even like you. You can work damn hard to change her mind, but 99.99% of the time she won't change her mind. If you think you are a special 0.01%, then by all means "go for it."
 
As far as making money, real job > music for most people, especially because most people are not anywhere near as talented as they think they are.

Also, chango sucks. Shitty mixes of trendy pop-core bands who all disappear 1-3 years after releasing their albums.


Anyways, the most simple answer to your question: When do you drop things to be serious with music? When you can afford to without regretting it...
 
Your band plays metal? Dont do it. Your band plays radio music? Maybe. Playing metal will get you nowhere.
 
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