Quitting job and get 100% into music, anyone did it?

[beats me]

It also doesn't hurt to try and live in a State/Country with as much Socialism as possible.

In that way people like me can essentially fund your dream for as long as it takes.

You know there’s probably a ton of social services the disappearing middle class could use to better or at least stabilize their situation, but they generally don’t. They just go “I’m fucked!” without doing the research. It’s the poor that does their best to milk the system from every possible angle.

[evaodland]

Don't quit your day job.

Unless the music is paying as much and more....or you are young and have no relationship or personal possessions except instruments, have a secure place to sleep and are okay with making music for next to nothing and have a place to fall back on (parents)....then do it.

After 35 years of trying...it is one thing I found...unless they are breaking down your door to hear you play or buy your songs...then nobody gives a shit if you play or not.

[dancing Ray]

Don't quit your day job.

Unless the music is paying as much and more....or you are young and have no relationship or personal possessions except instruments, have a secure place to sleep and are okay with making music for next to nothing and have a place to fall back on (parents)....then do it.

After 35 years of trying...it is one thing I found...unless they are breaking down your door to hear you play or buy your songs...then nobody gives a shit if you play or not.

^^ This (That smoke free decision is another thing)

Can´t you cut your regular job to half and commit the other half to music? Sounds as if it still should be enough to keep the (money)sorrows away. Security is a thing you should not underestimate!
I know very few guys who live exlusivly from music and they play lots of shitgigs on weddings, conferences, etc. and are still short on money. Most musicians I know earn at least half of their income from teaching which is a f**ing regular job, so you could as well keep the one you have.

[supamonsta]

unless they are breaking down your door to hear you play or buy your songs...then nobody gives a shit if you play or not.

yes, I do.

Can´t you cut your regular job to half and commit the other half to music?

I seem not to be able to do that. I work 3,5 days a week but it's really hard for me to split my life between music (going to bed at morning, going to gigs and getting back home at no time and exhausted, being free to make music when creativity is here and not when it's been planned, etc.) and regular serious job (my present job needs all my brain cells to be activated, I just can't go to work and work, I got to be mentally quiet and not thinking about next gig, how to route my kick to the sidechain compressor, etc.). I admire people who actually can do this splitscreen life.

not sure if this has been mentioned, but when venturing out to do anything risky or unstable I’d prepare the same way you’d prepare for being unemployed. Have at least 6 – 12 months of living expenses saved in the bank.

I got money in the bank, enough to survive a few years if I don't overconsume.



again people, thanks a lot for your replies, but I'm absolutely not asking for safety advices, neither am I speaking of making money from my music.


To be clear : I'm speaking of the psychological aspects of the decision one artist (here, passionate amateur musician) can make to break from regular living into a period of some years free to live the passion, not to live from the passion..

anyway thanks, and the thread turns into something else that will perhap's avoid youngsters to make silly decisions


cheers

[Angstrom]

I think it's admirable to do what you are proposing, simply considered as a life experiment.

Bad things or can happen whether or not you choose a financially motivated and secure path, however choosing a more existential approach to life seems more likely to deliver adventures. Unless you have health issues or financial dependents then adventure is a life priority.

Being a musician was a full time "job" for me for about 10 years, and as a job it didnt really have any more intrinsic merit than sweeping floors ... It does however provide many more varied opportunities to explore life through.
I would say the biggest pitfall is trying to "compete" at music, to be the biggest, to obtain a solid wage, etc. If you chase that carrot you'll be wasting your time. Follow whims instead, because if theres any point at all in abandoning financial security then it's certainly not to exchange one rat race for another.

If it all fucks up ive found it tends to be quite possible to re-integrate into paying society. These days more than ever.

[Forge.]

It also doesn't hurt to try and live in a State/Country with as much Socialism as possible.

In that way people like me can essentially fund your dream for as long as it takes.

I'd love to know exactly how much you personally would be contributing for someone like Supamonsta to do this. Even if he got benefits for those full 4 years, My guess is it would be less than you'd give to buskers in the same period.

[Linear Phase]

I think it's admirable to do what you are proposing, simply considered as a life experiment.

Bad things or can happen whether or not you choose a financially motivated and secure path, however choosing a more existential approach to life seems more likely to deliver adventures. Unless you have health issues or financial dependents then adventure is a life priority.

Being a musician was a full time "job" for me for about 10 years, and as a job it didnt really have any more intrinsic merit than sweeping floors ... It does however provide many more varied opportunities to explore life through.
I would say the biggest pitfall is trying to "compete" at music, to be the biggest, to obtain a solid wage, etc. If you chase that carrot you'll be wasting your time. Follow whims instead, because if theres any point at all in abandoning financial security then it's certainly not to exchange one rat race for another.

If it all fucks up ive found it tends to be quite possible to re-integrate into paying society. These days more than ever.

I think its harder now, more than ever, to make any sort of living wage from music. And I agree, that the adventure music provides is so much more. Its a good thing to do.. Imo, immerse oneself in music. Cause.. Shucks, why not? The world is so F@cked @p...

[gjm]

To be clear : I'm speaking of the psychological aspects of the decision one artist (here, passionate amateur musician) can make to break from regular living into a period of some years free to live the passion, not to live from the passion..

Be mindful that even though some creatives can hit the studio at mid day and re emerge at mid night with regularity, most tend to need some sort of tension with their pursuit. Its common to do your 4 hrs of writing/creating etc in the front half of the day and fill the back half with something completely different. If you want to ditch any paid work then something like a veggie garden or a physical pursuit etc can provide the tension. Part of your first year will be discovering your routines, cycles, rhythms etc to establish the balance you need to avoid burnt out of sorts. There are plenty of things like Julia Cameron's 'The Artists Way' type of self directed course. No harm in writing a journal etc etc

[doghouse]

- what decided you to make the jump?

I got laid off and couldn't find another job

[ze2be]

Can´t you cut your regular job to half and commit the other half to music?

This works for me. Im trying to increase it slowly to hopefully be 100% self employd at some point. Ive increased from 50% to 60% the last 6 months. Rome was not built in a day.

[pepezabala]

I am actually thinking about quitting music and get 100% into job. Anyone did it?

[supamonsta]

If you want to ditch any paid work then something like a veggie garden or a physical pursuit etc can provide the tension. Part of your first year will be discovering your routines, cycles, rhythms etc to establish the balance you need to avoid burnt out of sorts. There are plenty of things like Julia Cameron's 'The Artists Way' type of self directed course. No harm in writing a journal etc etc

indeed , I'm thinking of at least 2 other activities :

- getting back to drawing and painting (I was kind of talented when younger, then ditched it for music as I had no time to keep on both while making my student course)

- learning "bricolage" (I don't have the right english word), i.e, rebuild the old house I'd be squatting (roof, isolation, install heating, electricity basics, anything that would be useful for all my life). I got some talented friends in this area, while I'm a total dumbass when it comes to use my hands for other things than writing, drawing or composition...




I forgot to say, and I think it's really important : I would not make this all alone, but with the friend I'm making music with since about 10 years. We kinda complete each other, and I guess that would also be of a great help, while being also probably another source of tension maybe sometimes... (we never shared a house, just some max-5 days periods some years ago when I was quite unemployed and free to spend several days in a row for fun and music..)

It also doesn't hurt to try and live in a State/Country with as much Socialism as possible.

In that way people like me can essentially fund your dream for as long as it takes.

I'd love to know exactly how much you personally would be contributing for someone like Supamonsta to do this. Even if he got benefits for those full 4 years, My guess is it would be less than you'd give to buskers in the same period.

for good or bad, I would not be able to benefit from "people like [loopstationzebra]", because I'm an independant worker and If I "quit" my job, there will be no money for me from social aministrations. I could register to the searching-for-a-job-people-list, but then I'll have to prove I'm searching for a job, come to regular appointments in that administration, and have to accept some jobs here and there, that I don't want.

@Loops : what do you mean, by "people like [you]"?

I am actually thinking about quitting music and get 100% into job. Anyone did it?

Yes I do it every morning when I wake up and prepare to go to work...








This last batch of 4-5 replies does warm me up (and not warN me up), thanks all of you.

Maybe my first posts were a bit nebulous, and you now see my point better.


Thanks again

[LoopStationZebra]

It also doesn't hurt to try and live in a State/Country with as much Socialism as possible.

In that way people like me can essentially fund your dream for as long as it takes.

I'd love to know exactly how much you personally would be contributing for someone like Supamonsta to do this. Even if he got benefits for those full 4 years, My guess is it would be less than you'd give to buskers in the same period.

My estimation would be at least $5 per week.

[LoopStationZebra]

@Loops : what do you mean, by "people like [you]"?

Hardworking dolts who long ago had to give up their dreams of superstardom in order to put food on the table.



supa, in all seriousness GO FOR IT. You've got the interest, you've got the drive. What you don't want is to look back on this time with regrets; saying to yourself "what if I'd given it a go?". That's far worst than failing. Go for it. Chase the dream, baby.

[supamonsta]

Ok then

my superstardom dreams are now far away, even if I can be some kind of excited at some times while playing at a gig and seeing people dance like monkeys and shout loud during our breakdowns/drops, or listening to our last recording with drugs and hookers...


the present dream is a life period with all freedom to compose and play music, with no commercial goal.

indeed, all is here and I'm technically quite able to do it.


but there are BIG resistance inside me. Thus my questions about the psychological aspects... The more I find positive reasons to do it , the more I also find negative ones to NOT do it... lol crappy inner drives... drive me nuts some times



I appreciate your all replies, cheers