Your Profession...

I'm curious to see where you all want to go in life and what you see as your profession, music or non music related; doesn't matter. It's interesting to see where you're all aiming and all the different career paths.

I'm planning on becoming a soundtrack composer, but in an open field - so I can do any style someone asks me to do. I practice every day to get to that goal because it's what I enjoy.

What about you?

I'm hoping to find something to do with music as a part time job or something like giving guitar lessons, playing in cover bands on weekends, etc., but I'd like to get into some sort of psychological field(though it is a ton of schooling to do).

If not, I'd like to be able to do some work in studios and such just working with all kinds of music(kind of an assistant to the head boss running the boards). Though I do enjoy the mixing process(just never mastered a track since I've never known how to do it) I'd like to work with music for my career

I'm a computer engineer. I contemplating becoming a sound engineer and working in a recording studio, but I don't think that I would be happy there.

I don't think I want to make music a full time position... it's something I love to do and I think I'd ruin it if I try to do that. I'd rather continue my education in Embedded System design and Nanotechnology and achieve a Ph.D. Hopefully, return to a university and teach undergraduate students the ways of a computer/electrical engineer.

In the end... as long as I'm teaching... I'll be happy.

Ive been doing really good with gigs lately that im going fulltime shortly and quit my day job. If i can make a living out of a hobby then I would be more than happy! Playing gigs, making albums, giving lessons and maybe study sound engineering to work in a sound studio to meet alot of musicians. ^_^
Music is my life!

Anything related to music, being a pro musician, a live performer, or a live DJ/producer,I'm also studying audio engineering,and working as a guitar producer in a studio down here,I'm also recording for other artists and with other players and musicians, I'm kinda active

I'm still in High School (final year) but I think I'll study Computer Science or Computer Engineering. If I would have been born somewhere else MAYBE I would consider some music related stuff as an occupation but in my current situation I don't. I also don't think of how good it would be if 'Music' was my full time job since it ROCKS as a hobby. Loads of fun anyway you look at it.

i'm a mechanical engineer, my job title is "quality assurance engineer" but i don't really do a lot of engineering. mostly paperwork and beaurocracy. smer.

i like music as a hobby. i've only been playing guitar for a year and i have no idea why it took so long. i always played music when i was a kid, all though HS, but then stopped in college. now that i have disposable income i can fritter it away on guitars and amps and lessons (guitar, by the way, much more fun and "cool" to play than saxophone)

i think it would be fun to play gigs with a band on the side but i don't know if i could do music professionally. it would be cool, but i didn't study music for 4 years so i'm not sure how good i would be at it.

@mici
There is a HUGE difference between CS majors and CpE majors (at least at most schools).

If you want to do software design, GUI applications, front-end programming, and a lot of math/theory of algorithms, take Computer Science. This includes AI, Software design, Game Theory, etc.


If you want to do hardware design, embedded systems, microprocessor design, and low-level programming (assembly, hdl, etc.) as well as an introduction to Electrical Engineering, be a CpE. This includes Computer Networks, Electronic design, robotics, etc.

Don't make the mistake of thinking the are the same. Of course, some of the things you can do in one is also done in the other, but they have a completely different focus.

My dad is a mechanic so im learning how to do all that stuff, really good stuff to know, but not really something i want to do with the rest of my life. i cant really see myself doing anything other than being a musician, its pretty much the only thing im good at. once im done school im gonna try to get a job at one of the local music stores

technology networking and repair me thinks

I want to get in a hard rock or punk band.

If that doesnt work out i got "people" at the local guitar shops and at guitar center (;
Too bad im only 15 and a Sophomore in H.S.

I would love to get into either Performing(But thats if im lucky) or Music Journalism of some kind.
But i'm only now picking my options so a long way to go yet.

Honestly not sure anymore. Currently on a level 3 animal management course, but now I ifnd working with animals unfulfilling. But I'm so far staying on it until I know what else exactly I'll definately be settled doing for a while at least.

At the moment I'm actually headed towards considering either teaching history or art, or the body building feild since areobics and weightlifting are a big hobby of mine. I think I'm already gonna apply at a modeling agency for a small job as a teen fitness model even now at college as I need the money and I can't find any store clerk jobs or any typical part-time jobs due to the credit crunch. Maybe then on occasion I might actually run into anyone who actually helps people fitness train then and help me decide if that's what I wanna do.

Well early this past fall i was accepted into Electrical Engineering @ NSCC, however if that doesn't go as planned, that same school offers a Music Business course.

i have no idea. maybe a homeless dude? if you see me spare some change ;)

@heather

people change career path's quite often. You love animals but may want to work in another field, it's understandable.

PS It's awesome that you workout ;) show's some character lol

Well right now i'm only 15 and a sophomore in High School, but when I graduate I might join the Air Force and study in paralegal services.

But that's a big MIGHT.

I'm with EMB. I'm either going to be a musician, or nothing. The term "lifer" may do this justice. I know theres a huge chance of not making it, but theres no way I'm not going to try just because someone says I can't.

Jake

indeed. names elliott btw :)

i cant see myself doing anything but that. however i really wouldnt mind making amps and pedals for a living. id enjoy that.

Really interesting topic!

I'd love to make music the rest of my life, and I agree with you Ozz, I'm still going to try. If I don't make it big, the local bar will have a new tribute to Van Halen and Ozzy Osbourne lol

I work as a radiological engineer for a major utility, my background as you could have guessed is nuclear engineering.

GO VOLS!

oh man.... nuke plants... and i thought ASME boiler code was bad, i don't even want to imagine what the paperwork and inspection requirements on a nuclear plant are...

I be going to college and getting getting my general ed out of the way along with taking classes to prep myself so I can become a Elementary School teacher ^^ Although thats gonna take a long time >_< gotta transfer out from my community college to a real one then get my teaching credentials. But I don't mind I know it'll be worth it. ^^

wareagle!

Pretty insane. We have inspectors living in the area of plants just for inspection purposes. And the paperwork is astronomical.



This is better than "roll tide" imo ...

I want to be a fire truck.

Hokies > vols...

Well, at this point, as you all know I'm a soldier... That's pretty much it for the next two years. However, when I do get out of the army, I plan on going back to school for Computer Science and Technology. I basically want to be a programming consultant. Get hired by a company for some money and get lent out to another company for more money to write software. Music will always be in my life but I don't see it having a major role in my day to day actions.

I work as IT specialist and I like my job. I never wanted to be any "superstar" or even signed artist, music, playing and composing have deeper meaning for me and im happy with that.

Where i wish to get in my life? to experiences... all kinds. Ofcourse I like more pleasant experiences, but bad ones teaches the most.

but I promised that one day in my life I leave the screens and boxes. If you look our life everywhere are screens...and somekind of boxes... well i have much to learn and for yet its not time for that, but someday it will.

Empirism

have you ever seen the movie "china syndrome" with paul lemmon and michael douglas? it's from the '70s (during the big nuclear power scare -- the film coincdientally was released in the same week as the three mile island "accident"). anyway, it's about an engineer at a nuclear power plant, and there is a scene where they go through and inspect all of these radiographs of welds in the plant. it reminded me a lot of my job, except without the soundtrack and wilfred brimley.

lol... GO U! 'Canes! hahaha jk

@macandkanga.
Awesome! \../

Well, I already have a profession (I'm the TV repair guy). After 35 years of doing this I'm ready for a change and if I could play gigs and make money I'd do it in a heartbeat. On the other hand if I had it to do all over again I'd be the weather forecaster on TV. I'd love to go to work, be completely wrong, and get paid!!! Man, that's a great job. Less than 5 minutes up there talking about high and low pressure and then......
"Now here's Jim with sports"...........
Piece o' cake. Good money too!
Phip

P.S. "tomorrow, sunny followed by scattered semi-kinda-cloudyness. Maybe, can't be sure......."

LOL phip, i never thought about weather forecasting like that

hahaha Phip you know how to brighten up anyone's day!

@ Case,
You have a lot of time to decide what you want to do, but it's a good thing that you have so many possible paths, will you be happy with every choice you choose?

@ JustJeff,
That sounds like a great career path, it would have been cool seeing you perform on stage - you do have the talent, but never the less I'm cheering you on. Your high goals will take you far :)

@ Reinhardt,
That sounds like fun! Why not test yourself now, by setting yourself targets or even a certain date - when that date comes you have to have your album completed. It's a good way to prepare for future trials.

@ Alex,
I have no doubt that you'll succeed and you have everyone on this forum rooting for you. It might be a good thing that you don't know exactly where you're going in life just yet - that way you can gain experience from other fields in music. :) Good luck!

@ Mici,
That's a fine career path, and a lot of good possibilities even with this credit crunch. There's a lot of math required for both fields - I'd suck at it! haha. Work hard my friend; it'll pay of in the end :)

@ gx1327,
It's good that you know that it's only a hobby for you, sometimes people fall into a trap where they think it'll get them somewhere until it's too late. I don't agree with you on the sax, though! :P That's a damn fine instrument and anyone who can play it has my greatest respect - it requires a lot of lung power!

@ BBT,
Glad you know you want to go into this, I hope you keep that up and hold a strong passion for it always. Even if music is hard at times the end result is so rewarding! So it's always worth those memories. :)

@ VinceSamurai,
Do you know what particular field in technical repairing you want to go into? You have a lot of time to decide on a career, but I always like to think it helps knowing at a young age, so you can kick everyone else's ass later on ;)

@ Domaign_Lefty,
It's good that you have a backup plan, but with enough hard work and dedication you'll be able to form a great band. Chin up!

@ Damien,
You're still young so you have a lot of time to really think about your career, but it really does help to think about it at a young age. Those ideas you listed were terrific ideas, I think you're the first person I know who's thinking about journalism in music - that's awesome!

@ Heather,
Very nice! You've got loads of possibilities there; it's just up to you to decide which one makes you happy. I think you'd do well as a heath instructor; you're a very encouraging person. However, gain your experience in all of these places to be sure! I hope you do well in whatever you choose! :)

@ deadman2k666,
Engineering is an excellent field to go into, I know a lot of people in that area and they're all pleased with it. Of course, its hard work constantly, but they say it's a good rush of mental challenges as well as physical.

@ Elliott,
haha, dude if I saw you on the street I'd kick your butt and tell you to get back on stage - you're a talent that shouldn't be wasted!

@ DarkRiff,
That's a tough career path, but then you're saying "might" and there isn't any rush to decide what you want to do. Would you rather play guitar as a simple hobby then? Like Jeff always says; it's a good lady magnet!

@ Ozz,
Great determination there! Don't ever lose that dude! I know you're working hard for it so keep it up and you'll definitely get into the music field!

@ Btimm,
That's hardcore! I wouldn't have a clue where to begin with such a skilled career! What do you do on a daily basis while you're working? I bet it's never boring!

@ MacandKanga,
I hear South Park has a plastic surgeon - maybe check him out for that shining red glow! ;)

@ Guitarslinger,
I'm curious, how come you didn't learn CS&T while you were at school before? Or rather, before you even thought of joining the army. What inspired you to join the army? Besides that, CS&T sounds like a great field to go into dude, I'm rooting for you!

@ Empirism,
I never knew that, but it sounds like a really fun job! It's great that you're happy there, too! I know a lot of people who don't really enjoy what they're doing, it's hard to change your mind halfway through life! You also have a very wise opinion about life - I have a lot to learn even still!

@ Phipster,
The TV Repair guy will always be appreciated! Even in that bedtime story! :D However, I constantly go on about this to you anyway, but you have the passion to play on stage and with some good effort put into it we'll be hearing people calling out your name or just generally sharing the same passion of music that you do.



Haha, my keyboard is screaming for mercy right now - new essay record on this forum, I'd say!

thanks jazz ;) lol that's a lot of typing(on your post)

You're welcome :) and I agree, but since this is my topic, it's only fair to get back to everyone who posts.

haha, yeah, that's pretty kind :D no wonder you have 31 karma! lol

@Jazz
wow, I'm more impressed with your patience to read all of that, rather than posting that looooong response (which is still impressive).

and yea, I know paralegal is a tough route but, I have one or two other professions in mind, and believe me I will not be joining the air force if it is not peace time. I'm not built for war. I just want somebody else to pay for my education. :)

But I believe it's not really my choice for want I want to do with my life, it's all up to the Big Guy upstairs. Or "fate" if anybody believes that instead.