Hobby or Passion?

[T-CM11]

Surely you can find some good in some one.....

It's like winning the lottery

[Panphobia]

I am in the EXACT same boat as you. I had to make a choice, and music became a hobby as a result. Its not a bad thing, I really enjoy making music. Maybe someday I will have the opportunity to do it full time. You never know.

I would say just relax and take it easy. I know its hard always wondering what if... But the fact is that not everyone has the luxury of freedom. We have families and other responsibilities that force us to be practical. So just have fun! Let music become your playground and don't worry about the rest. I have almost no time to spend making music. However it is very liberating to not have deadlines. Working with a team can be the best thing in the world but being a loner and calling all the shots has its advantages too.

So have fun and make it yours!

[Aroused by JarJar]

I'm passionate about sex but I feel somehow less worthy because I don't do it professionally.

[bftucker]

I'm passionate about sex but I feel somehow less worthy because I don't do it professionally.

You must ask yourself if you would enjoy it as much as a professional?

[rockstar_not]

If you haven't read this story somewhere, I'll give a version of it.

Two friends hung out during their school years. They enjoyed fishing together.

At graduation, one friend began medical school - went to school for 8 years, did his internship with 20 hours of sleep per week, etc. was a successful brain surgeon and so forth. He never had time to go fishing, however, and wondered how his school year buddy was doing now and then. He got old, and started thinking about retirement and buying a 2nd home where he and his buddy used to go fishing. As soon as his head hits the pillow at night, he falls asleep smiling about the neurological disorder that he was able to correct earlier in the day through his expertise with a scalpel.

Meanwhile, his friend never attended college and continued his passion for fishing and became a fishing guide right in the hometown where he and his friend would do their weekend fishing during the school years. He ekes out a meager existence as a guide, but he sleeps hard every night, dreaming about the catch he made earlier in the day, or the smile on the face of the person he taught how to fish.

(you probably see where this is going)

Successful Dr. retires, purchases the 2nd home, and since he hasn't fished for 28 years, signs up for a guided fishing trip to see what the latest lures and gear are to catch the local big boys.

Guess who his guide is?

Which man had 'success'?
==========================================

I have loved making music as a hobby for 30+ years, and generally had a fulfilling career as a noise control engineer and lately a hearing protection specialist. The careers have allowed me a little disposable income so that when the creative juices flow, I can use reasonable gear/software to enjoy making music.

I'm not sure I would enjoy it so much if I had to depend on it for income, but I'm not sure about that. It might become a job instead of just plain fun.

I'm about to try making a little bit of 'walking around money' selling music for film to a licensing company where folks choose tracks and pay for unlimited use license of the music for use in video, but completely closed to re-selling the music by itself. I will very likely not get rich, but I do want to see if someone is willing to pay for my music - even just one person selecting one track. I just want to check that box or see if it's possible. Whether or not it happens, because like most here, I like listening to my own music whether or not someone else does or not.

You have to do what seems right to you. All of the advice here is just that. What works for some. You will never know until you try any of these paths for yourself.

[dsan@mail.com]

Surely you can find some good in some one.....

It's like winning the lottery

Fair analogy. But at least you win one (or two dollars) occasionally.

Happy Musiking!
dsan

[RobertR]

At the age of 21, I had no idea what I was going to do as well. Coming from a musical family, and playing a few professional gigs as a teenager, my mom suggested me becoming an xray tech as it paralleled the photography that I also loved. So I got into x-ray school, and then continued into the field of diagnostic ultrasound. Diagnostic ultrasound is sort of a marriage of sound and images. 36 years later, I have the wherewithal to afford professional quality equipment and I am having an amazing time using this stuff. Sort of like the artist that has an easel in their sunroom, and paints for themselves. Money is no object when it comes to creativity. There is plenty of art and technique needed to produce proper ultrasound images to assist in rendering a diagnosis. So ultrasound is like painting with sound. Love it to death. I would definitely suggest that you establish a solid profession. Nothing more noble than becoming a firefighter or an EMT. I wish you the best of luck.

RR

[Woar]

Dude i Have the same problem as you, and to be honest, parents wont do you any good in the future, i mean, did my grandfather give money or help my father financially, or even chose his career? No, i decided not to let anyone stop me from what i like to do, or stop me from reaching for my dream, so, don't let any one make you feel wrong about something that you loved and felt right in the first place, cuz in the end it's you who decide your road

Peace.

[SoundGoddess]

Excuse my ignorance, but from what I know about firefighting, it seemed like you have a lot of free time hanging around at the station waiting for calls to come in? While it's certainly not the best environment for production to have to "drop everything" at a moment's notice, would it be possible to bring a laptop to work with you and do a bit of production during your "on call" time?

Don't be like I was and put your passions on hold and then a decade later wonder why you've only produced a few songs that you care about. If music is important to you then there's no reason not to take it seriously.

Also, trying to make your parents happy doesn't work, and while you should respect and carefully consider their input, you should do what you feel is best, not do what they feel is best.

Trust me, you'll feel a lot more like 30 years had gone by with "nothing to show for it" if you're just falling into other's expectations of you instead of aligning with the expectations you have for yourself.

If you don't decide to focus everything into DJing/production, whatever you do don't just put it "on hold"...at least keep doing it on the side.

[cryophonik]

This world already has too many heroes, not enough DJs. Besides, fires come and go, but the fascination with superstar DJs is here to stay. The choice is clear.

[faun2500]

if you have a chance to be a firefighter then do that!!

[SoundGoddess]

Why should career = passion?

If it does, great. But I know a lot of very happy people who are NOT passionate about their careers.

Why would you stick with a career you're not passionate about though?

My brother's true passion is a helicopter pilot...but due to life circumstances he ended up starting a locksmith business. Yet he's plenty passionate about his business and enjoys what he does. One day, he'll be able to afford a helicopter that he can just fly around for fun. In the meantime, he chose something that he's good at that pays the bills...but he'd be miserable if he tried to work an office job just to "make ends meet".

It's totally possible to have passion in your career, doing something you enjoy, without it being your "life's work", or the one thing that you feel would make you the happiest if you could spend 24/7 doing it. If you have no passion for your job, but have the right attitude and approach it with passion then you'll likely end up with opportunities for things that you're more oriented towards.

Life doesn't have to just be all-or-nothing.

I personally found this (free) book to be very insightful:
http://www.gurusoftware.com/GuruNet/Boo ... seInfo.htm

[dalor]

The money you will most likely make is for production music, remixes, ads, radio, TV, jingles, games, etc for clients. Clients will kill *any* passion you have and it will be like any other job in the world: Hard work. If you're willing to do hard work, go for it!

[twolives]

I hope on transcends the other at some point

[psychoxkps]

buy an acoustic guitar and play.. that likes everyone;)