#781120 - 02/10/04 06:05 AM
When a musician doesn't want to work at Blockbuster, etc
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Alley Cat Music
Member
Registered: 02/10/04
Posts: 1
Loc: state college, pa
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I'm sure there's someone else out there who shares my pain...
I've been a self employed musician, and guitar teacher for the past 10+ years of my life, I'm currently experiencing a lull in gigs and students. Although I've held other jobs, corporate and otherwise, guitar and music is the only thing that I want to do. Anything else just feels like a waste of time.
We musicians are skilled and I know that the opportunity to make a living practicing that skill is out there somewhere. Does anyone know of a place where one might seek out a career/ job as a music instructor in a more "professional" setting like a "music school" or clinic?
I've also been kicking around the idea of starting an "on-line guitar lesson" buisness. Has anyone seen anything like that online yet so i could get some examples of how to approach the concept?
comments... words of inspiration... success stories... anyone?
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#781121 - 02/12/04 03:44 PM
Re: When a musician doesn't want to work at Blockbuster, etc
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Super 8
MP Hall of Fame Member
Registered: 10/16/01
Posts: 8150
Loc: Loves Park, IL
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I think that when business is down, you simply have to get your name out there.
Teaching at a music school probably will require you to have academic accomplishment -i.e. at least a Master's degree in music if not a Phd or equivilent.
But what's to say that's a more "professional setting"???
It isn't "professional" to have your own business as a private music teacher? Actually, I feel it's probably MORE "professional" to be a private instructor. Plus, as a business owner you can recieve tax benefits -which you won't get as an employee of someone else.
Regarding online classes:
Maybe I'm not the visionary you are, but I don't see anything coming of it. It sounds like a pain in the ass to set up. It sounds expensive to set up and run. And I don't see the market for it.
Where is the one-on-one interaction and instruction?
Where is the audio visual?
Honestly, I think I could get far more by just ordering a video than I would ever get from an online class -and I'd probably save money!
What makes private instruction so cool is that it's PRIVATE INSTRUCTION! It's the reason why Walmart hasn't found some way undercut you and steal your customers.....they haven't found a way to match that one-on-one intruction.
Just my thoughts.
Also, just for your info, not many people hang out in this forum. You would get almost immediate response if you posted in the Guitar Forum, For the Band, or Craig Anderton's SSS forum.
These 'Gigging' forums are almost totaly dead. The other forums I mentioned are very very active.
Welcome to the clubhouse! 
_________________________
Super 8 Hear my stuff here "The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore all progress depends on the unreasonable man."
-- George Bernard Shaw
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#781122 - 03/11/04 03:50 PM
Re: When a musician doesn't want to work at Blockbuster, etc
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freelance
Senior Member
Registered: 03/18/02
Posts: 349
Loc: Oh, I forgot?
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I was a full time musician for about 7 years and ave be semi-pro for many years.
These days, to support yourself full time as a musician you have to always have several things going.
1) Teach private lessons (at home or at students homes
2) Teach through a music store
3) Gig with a steady band
4) Freelance with several other bands
5) Do a solo act at coffee houses or small bars
6) Do a duo act at coffe houses, etc
7) Do session work at local studios
8) Run a small demo/project studio
9) Work part time in a music store
When one well ones dry, you have others to fall back on.
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