Having come to terms with the fact that at 50+ years of age I will never have a major performing career (I've known it for 25 years, but I'm only now coming to terms with it), I decided to take control of the situation and find what I believe is the next best thing. I am working at combining my full time teaching job with enough performing to satisfy my need to play quality music in front of an appreciative audience. Playing for free at the local Barnes and Noble is out of the question since neither the audience nor the management displays anything remotely resembling appreciation.

I noticed that some of my adult private students were playing a heck of a lot more often than I was, and for pretty good fees. Most of these students are playing what is referred to as "Christian Music", although as instrumental music I can't for the life of me figure out what makes it Christian. These players perform exclusively in large evangelical Christian churches for half the door, which is usually a "Free Will Offering". Some of these students tour all over the U.S., do nothing else for a living, and seem to own nice homes and cars, so I suppose it must be somewhat lucrative.

This got me thinking. As a Unitarian Universalist, and a card carrying humanist, these churches are pretty much off limits to me. But, since I already make a decent living, and I have the stamina to practice 3 or 4 hours a day in spite of my job, there is no reason why I can't pursue a similar track with Unitarian Universalist churches. I have only recently begun to do this, but the signs are promising. Although I could by no means survive off the amount of money I make with these concerts, I can supplement my income by doing something that I feel driven to do. And while the number of concerts that I play will probably never rival the number that most "successful" guitarists (both of them?) play, I believe I can perform enough to satisfy my need to perform.

I'd be curious to find out if anyone out there has created an original or unique path to a satisfactory performing "career". Have you had any experience creating the need that you plan on filling?

Hello Members,

I don't often post to the forums since time for me is a commodity. However, after reading Robert's post, I felt compelled to do so.

After graduating from Indiana University's School of Music with a degree in performance back in 1987, I did what most music graduates did, I went on the orchestra audition circuit. To pay the bills in between auditions, I hopped from job to job and eventually landed enough students while performing in local per-service orchestras. To supplement the income, I was a waiter on the weekends.

Then, I worked on cruise ships for five years and shortly thereafter, I was at an impasse. Should I continue to work as a struggling musician or find something else to do? The question that decided my next career path was this, "Was I a good enough musician to support a family and live a comfortable lifestyle? Well, the answer for me was no and I decided to put down my horn for good. A very painful decision but the right one.

So, I started building Web sites in 1993 when the Internet was just beginning to gain mass appeal, went to work for Web site design companies, then IBM business partners all the way up to Arthur Andersen, LLP as a manager on their national team focusing on Internet strategies for Fortune 500 companies. That was fun. Got to travel quite a bit.

After that, I worked for a few other high tech companies when the crash hit and I found that it was time to look for other opportunities.

I wanted to come back to the performing arts, not as a musician, but to create a service that did not exist back when I was in school, which is when I originally came up with the idea for MyAuditions (although the name back then I was thinking of using was "Encore"). So, you can say that MyAuditions has really been 18 years in the making. Of course, I never knew back then that the technology someday would make MyAuditions a reality.

I started MyAuditions in 1999 as a hobby and it took 4 years to build the site finally launching in April 2003, when it became a full time job for me.

So, I was able to combine my 12 years in technology with my experience and love for the performing arts while creating a need (at least I hope so) that would support the careers of others in the industry.

And here we are.

Jonathan Mednick, Founder & CEO
MyAuditions, Inc.

Jonathan, your voice here is most appreciated. Surely there are change of career stories that result in coming full circle to our musical roots. Life is so short--it takes almost 20 years for careers to develop and avenues taken to get from point 'A' to point 'B'. Congratulations, and for Robert, your life seems laid out for you and you are dis-covering it. Much success in your journey.

I'll add a story to the mix, although it's not my own. My friend and part-time boss Doug McLennan was a Juilliard-trained pianist who spent some years after graduation concertizing in Europe and hoping to find a niche as a full-time musician. At some point, finding a moneymaking performing career out of his reach and not particularly enamored of teaching, he became an arts journalist instead. As you might imagine, the shallow and limited range of North American arts coverage made this a less than satisfying substitute for performing, and eventually, Doug left the financial comfort and safety of a full-time newspaper job to start ArtsJournal.com, an online arts news digest which, in the five years since its launch, has become absolutely indispensable to countless artists, musicians, arts administrators, and critics. Doug is now hugely in-demand as a consultant and speaker, and is quite happy with his "spinoff" career. I am also proud to be his assistant, which I've been able to do without abandoning my own performing career.

Musicians frequently forget that we are, by nature, very creative people, and not limited to the professions suggested by our conservatory training. Performing for money may be out of reach for some, but a creative and fascinating life never has to be...

Sam Bergman
violist, Minnesota Orchestra
news editor, ArtsJournal.com
Minneapolis, MN

quote:

Musicians frequently forget that we are, by nature, very creative people, and not limited to the professions suggested by our conservatory training. Performing for money may be out of reach for some, but a creative and fascinating life never has to be...

Sam Bergman
violist, Minnesota Orchestra
news editor, ArtsJournal.com
Minneapolis, MN

Back in the 1970's, IBM set out to specifically recruit musicians for technology jobs. Their reasoning for doing so was that musicians were more right-brained (creative) then left-brained (logical).

They wanted musicians to look outside the realmo of possibilities that programmers generally can't conceive of.

One other point, if Jonathan does with MyAuditions what Doug at Arts Journal has done, then MyAuditions will be a major force to reckon with in the industry.

I, for one, think he will, and if they ever sell shares of MyAuditions, I would be inclined to invest in it. I guess you can say that it would be an investment in MY future.

Well done!

Jeffrey, thanks for the well wishes, and Sam, you are absolutely correct in saying that a creative and fascinating life never has to be out of reach. I might be tempted to say that it is a pity that I didn't find my present route until well into middle age, but the truth is, having taught, published numerous articles, published a music anthology, commissioned and premiered several good pieces (and one great one), and produced and hosted a "music talk show" on TV, and, I might add, produced 2 great kids (no small feat) I am really having a fascinating life.

I guess the point is, we all have the opportunity to create a niche for ourselves that is rewarding, and need not feel as if we have compromised anything really important. For me, it is about the art, and I can create art just as legitimately for an audience of 100 people and for $500 as a well known artist can for 2000 people and a big fee. We each find a way to contribute something valid.

Greetings, all.

Very wise words from everyone. I think that as musicians and artists, our primary urge is to create and then share. Although most of us would have liked to play or conduct in any of the big 5, the creeping awereness of reality has taken its root...namely, that though our best efforts are before us, we live (and work) in a business that prizes youthful success above all else. What was it that Emerson said...that youth was the guiding light of the soul? And yet, I think that the road to musical success is paved with young virtuosi and flash in the pan talents. To me, life experience and gravitas make for a more compelling, shall we say seasoned artist. I'm reminded of something Otto-Werner Mueller said to me once: Not everyone is meant or gets to conduct the New York Philharmonic...and its not the end of the world.

I have a great deal of respect for people like Jeffrey and Doug from artsjournal (to which I proudly subscribe via email)who have been able to take their talents and creative instincts and have formed a means of being musical and practical, and allowing for the musical community to have a greater continuity and access. More of us should embrace and look to the future.

quote:

I have a great deal of respect for people like Jeffrey and Doug from artsjournal (to which I proudly subscribe via email)who have been able to take their talents and creative instincts and have formed a means of being musical and practical, and allowing for the musical community to have a greater continuity and access. More of us should embrace and look to the future.

Lest not we forget about commending myauditions for its wonderful service. If not for them, someone like me in Israel would never have the opportunity to these types of resources which are non-existent here. Shalom!

quote:

We each find a way to contribute something valid.

Hats off to all those orchestra, administrator, and guest artist professionals who contribute mightily to these forums. Where else can I get excellent advice and insight into performing arts careers.

To return to Robert Phillip's initial posting, I wonder if he knows about the Unitarian Universalist Musicians Network?

http://www.uua.org/uumn/aboutus.html

That would be a good start.

(I'm a Unitarian too!)

I was somewhat aware of UU Musicians Network (I beleive I've seen them advertized in UU World)but until visiting their website I was unaware of what they were about. Thanks for the link.