What do you do for a living?

[nicktao]

Hey guys, I've been stuck for a while now trying to decide what I want to do for a living. I just want to play guitar and drums possibly record my own music in the future, but right now I'm in school, studying for the sat and act.

I'd like to know what some good jobs are for supporting music. By supporting music I don't mean doing anything music related professionally, but just having a job that's enough to live comfortably (~100-200k) while having enough time to just play. I've talked to many people around me and it seems their jobs usually take up too much of their time. These jobs also seem less available, require another 5-10 years of schooling, and pay less. Constantly being told that is pushing me away from music and towards something I probably won't enjoy.

So what do you do?

 

[Watty]

Whoa. Expectations skewed much?

You can EASILY live comfortably on significantly less than your 100k-200k range and still have plenty of gear money left over. Not to mention that netting a job in that range fresh out of school basically requires med school or chemical engineering (for the energy industry). Any other field and it'll take several years of experience before you even get to think about a salary that high.

Find something that interests you aside from music and look into that. I elected to go with engineering as you get to learn about how just about everything works and odds are good you'll find SOMETHING that you think could keep your interest insofar as a job is concerned. What to record later in life? Double major in physics (focusing on waves) and electrical engineering to get a sound base for a job in audio engineering. Want to become a luthier? Major in mechanical engineering for a sound understanding of what all goes into the stresses and lengths that make a guitar tick. I was very interested in several of my courses in the above degree programs as we did stuff like talk characteristic length and fundamental frequencies for waves (guitar scale length and harmonics) and dove into the equations that dictate how a speaker works. Might not be sitting on your ass making free money, but at least you'll be doing something that holds your interest.

Ask yourself questions like the following and see where they lead you in terms of what sort of position you'd like to have. At the very least, it'll help you narrow down the field or type of job you should consider studying for.

1) Do you want to design things?
2) Do you want to make things?
3) Do you want to deal directly with people?
4) Do you want to do manual labor/work outside?

etc.

And on that last bit....I landed a very cush job fresh out of college. I don't particularly enjoy doing it, but it's interesting enough to keep me somewhat entertained. The thing I like most about it is the freedom it affords in other avenues of life. I'm set on retirement. I'm set on benefits. I don't really have to worry about financial woes with my salary, bonuses and raises. And I have plenty of money to support my musical habits. Just because you've heard everyone say "do what you love" for work doesn't mean it has to be true in every instance. If you like the work you do, but get paid next to nothing for it, your life outside of work (which is easily more important) will suffer needlessly.

Good luck on the SAT and ACT; focus on the latter as I found it significantly easier with my high school curriculum and it counts about the "same" as the SAT in terms of what colleges look for in scores.

Edit: Go watch Real Time from last week when Bill had Mike Rowe on the program. They talk about how there's a plethora of NICE jobs that businesses just can't fill because of the appearance of the work (i.e. machine technicians). They pay well and would provide a ton of job security and bargaining ability if the current trend keep up. Even if that's not for you, it should help give some insight on the whole process of looking for something when you aren't sure what you want to do.

 

[sniperfreak223]

I'm an Inventory Control Specialist at a Walmart distribution center. Basically, I count things for a living, 12 hours a day, 5-6 days a week.

 

[skeels]

I kill trees.

 

[SenorDingDong]

Write.

 

[Hollowway]

Making 100K-200K per year = 5-10 years more schooling and working long hours. If it were anything easier we'd all be doing it. You could get a degree in computer science and get a job coding, which will start you around 65-85K in a good company in the Bay Area, but expect to be coding way more than 40 hours a week. Unfortunately there are no short cuts. You could also climb telephone poles for a living, or work on an oil rig, and those bring in high dollar due to the risk and hours, but it takes less schooling.

Basically, if you find the job you're talking about, let me know, cuz I'm gonna stand in that line, too!

 

[Nosedevil]

I'm a teacher.

 

[mcd]

I'm a teacher.

Im guessing you aren't in the 100-200k range then. Unless you teach people to be rocket doctors

 

[Lagtastic]

You could get a degree in computer science and get a job coding, which will start you around 65-85K in a good company in the Bay Area, but expect to be coding way more than 40 hours a week.

Maybe after a few years experience as well. Getting a job paying that with a bachelor's degree and no hands usually requires one of two things; you are damned good at interviews or you know someone with clout. Those guys usually work ridiculous hours. We have a Dev team of about 40 people. Front end guys, back end guys, application support specialists, QA, etc. They get stuck doing most of their stuff at night when they can squeeze in maintenance windows. They spend most of their time 8-5 in meetings and hanging out, because they do so much work at night.

If you like tech I would tell you to look into the Cisco side of things. I'm quite happy on that side.

 

[nicktao]

Yeah, 200 is asking way too much in this economy fresh out of college. It's funny how college has turned into high school. I've considered engineering and business since I've interned at a few businesses already and know some people that could help later on. Wouldn't business require working up the ladder? My math is also pretty shit, otherwise I'd like to do engineering or architecture.
Anyway, yeah I love real time, I'll check out that episode tonight.

 

[Vhyle]

I'm active duty military, working as a welder and machinist.

 

[Jonathan20022]

Well right now I'm working two jobs while I go through college. I have plenty of time for playing and writing music, but I prefer to use the time to hang out with friends and catch up with people I haven't seen in awhile. So I tend to play and record around 8pm and onwards.

I work with the family business, which is at it's heart a Computer Repair shop. But we take on some bigger jobs that pay much better like security camera setups, server installations/moves, phone unlocking/repair. That's usually the biggest part of my income, very flexible and most times I can make a more money than I did in a week in 2 hours. It's just not consistent since it's based on how many customers call in and what kind of jobs they want to do.

Besides that I'm interning/working for a software company called Examsoft near my home, they design and create software for colleges to use when students take exams. Basically cheating prevention but most of what's involved is debugging software and testing them to find ways to break the software. It's paid, $10/hr but it's only three times a week for three hours each of those days, so I take it for what it is a learning experience where I can get better at debugging software, getting paid the $90 a week is just a bonus for me that I can use on gas and food.

I might also be taking a temporary position at Examsoft soon to work a few more hours and have a bit more responsibility. It'd be interesting to work there, the testers and staff seem cool enough.

If I can score a 60-70k/year position as a Junior Program Developer somewhere I'd be more than happy. But realistically, I'll probably start for around 50k at a company like ExamSoft, which is still relatively decent for a starting wage. I do in fact want to start my own software/hardware company sometime in the future after I assemble a team to start it up. Definitely exciting!

But music will always be a side project thing for me, I mean if it gets to a point where the company I want to start takes off and I have a sum of time off. I'll definitely focus a bit more on it, but we'll have to see in a few years

 

[MikeH]

$100-200k a year....in music?





OT: I work in a warehouse that makes custom stair treads and risers out of exotic woods. I'm second in command in the shipping and receiving department. I'm also starting my degree in Music Education next month at the University Of Cincinnati.

 

[UltraParanoia]

I work for a massive company called OneSteel. We mine, manufacture & sell Steel

I work in a department called MetalCentre, which is fitting because I'm the most Metal person you've ever met...EVER!!

 

[Hollowway]

Yeah, 200 is asking way too much in this economy fresh out of college. It's funny how college has turned into high school. I've considered engineering and business since I've interned at a few businesses already and know some people that could help later on. Wouldn't business require working up the ladder? My math is also pretty shit, otherwise I'd like to do engineering or architecture.
Anyway, yeah I love real time, I'll check out that episode tonight.

Yeah, business (specifically investment banking) is definitely the way to a career with $100K and up. But it's craaaazy hours. Basically, there is no job I've ever heard of that will pay you $100K after getting a bachelors degree. More like $50K for a decent job. Heck, even doctors make about $100K after 4 years additional for med school!
Just as a fun exercise you should go to salary.com and look at the degrees. It's also worth noting that the highest paying bachelors degree job I could find is $93,500
For petroleum engineering. And again, you'll be out on that rig most of the time. Ever other high paying degree starts below $70K.

 

[Jake]

I only work during the summers since I'm still in college however I bring in about $5-6000 a summer by working my ass off as a supervisor for Hershey Entertainment and Resorts company (basically just Hershey) and I hope to get an internship within the company in the next year or two more on the business side of things.

I preferably want to work in our concert stadium and deal with managing shows so that I can not only work in the field I want to but also deal with music. Hopefully my flawless 8 years with the company by that point mean something and help me out

 

[beyondcosmos]

Nicktao:

I'm only a university student with a work-study and summer job when I'm out of school, but here are my two tips that have gotten me ALL KINDS of opportunities and successful advancements in work, school, and in all other aspects of life.

If you're studying a language and can at least semi-enjoy/bear it, stick with it and become as fluent with it as possible. No matter what field you go into, you'll be much more highly valued and sought after if you can speak and read/write in another language.

Second, network like a m*****f****R Talk to everyone and be sure to sell yourself in a way that shows your capabilities, but doesn't make you seem arrogant. Remember peoples names and write down/archive their contact information. You'll never know when they might suddenly pop up as the person who could really help you out in getting a job or a travel opportunity.

Best of luck with your SAT and ACT.

 

[Hollowway]

Nicktao:

I'm only a university student with a work-study and summer job when I'm out of school, but here are my two tips that have gotten me ALL KINDS of opportunities and successful advancements in work, school, and in all other aspects of life.

If you're studying a language and can at least semi-enjoy/bear it, stick with it and become as fluent with it as possible. No matter what field you go into, you'll be much more highly valued and sought after if you can speak and read/write in another language.

Second, network like a m*****f****R Talk to everyone and be sure to sell yourself in a way that shows your capabilities, but doesn't make you seem arrogant. Remember peoples names and write down/archive their contact information. You'll never know when they might suddenly pop up as the person who could really help you out in getting a job or a travel opportunity.

Best of luck with your SAT and ACT.

Yup, and don't burn bridges. I can't tell you how many times in my life I've bumped into someone after a few years who was in a position that I needed to be friends with them, and I thought, "Thank God I wasn't an ass to him back when...."

 

[Jonathan20022]

Yup, and don't burn bridges. I can't tell you how many times in my life I've bumped into someone after a few years who was in a position that I needed to be friends with them, and I thought, "Thank God I wasn't an ass to him back when...."

Well in general being nice to most folks is never really detrimental, I don't usually tolerate people who are just snaking by and cheating/copying assignments. I'll call anyone on that shit almost instantly and make sure I don't end up working with them in any way possible.

The multi-lingual advice is SO accurate, I've been hired at multiple places just for the fact that I can speak three languages fluently, and am working on a fourth. I'd say try learning Spanish or French if you already know one of them, then whichever language is a prominent in the area your work will be.

So in other words, I was born in Brazil so Portuguese is fluent, English for being here for 17+ years now, Spanish since it's so similar to Portuguese. And lastly I took 3 years of French in High School, still not perfectly comfortable with it yet, but I practice it every now and then to at least not lose on the fundamentals.

South Florida is pretty much dominated by those 4 languages, Spanish and Portuguese for it's large Brazilian/Hispanic Population, and French for when the French-Canadian vacation around here. The French also helps build a pretty strong base when starting to learn Creole also, they're not 100% alike but you'll be able to learn Creole much faster than someone with no background in French I'm sure.

 

[skeels]

$100-200k a year....in music?





OT: I work in a warehouse that makes custom stair treads and risers out of exotic woods. I'm second in command in the shipping and receiving department. I'm also starting my degree in Music Education next month at the University Of Cincinnati.

Exotic woods, you say? Second in command of shipping and receiving, you say?

Soooooo... got any, y'know, like, extra wood laying around there?

Making 100K-200K per year = 5-10 years more schooling and working long hours. If it were anything easier we'd all be doing it. You could get a degree in computer science and get a job coding, which will start you around 65-85K in a good company in the Bay Area, but expect to be coding way more than 40 hours a week. Unfortunately there are no short cuts. You could also climb telephone poles for a living, or work on an oil rig, and those bring in high dollar due to the risk and hours, but it takes less schooling.

Basically, if you find the job you're talking about, let me know, cuz I'm gonna stand in that line, too!

Those guys who climb the poles are nancies. Poles just go straight up and down.