Need help deciding....

Hey guys! I need a little help here deciding on what do. I have an offer to join a band, but I would have to quit my job to join because this is a full time band. I would lose about 16,000-17,000 a year, but its the dream job for me. I like about 70-80% of the music they play and I would be replacing the old guitarist because he wants to be in a cover band. They band currently plays about 70% covers and 30% originals and slowing moving towards playing 100% originals. They travel to gig every Thursday-Sunday then practice Monday-Wednesday most weeks.

I can afford all of my bills off of what they would be paying me, but I want everyone thoughts on this potential total change in my life.

I think I might if I were you.

If you're young and don't have a wife or kids to tell you not to do it, DO IT! We dont get many chances in life to do stuff like this. Dont get me wrong, it could really suck but at least you would have done it and will always have the stories to take with you.

Very true Mac. I have no wife or kids (that I know about)


Any other thoughts??

Hit the road then brotha! If you can pay for your expenses, and even get rid of some, and still do it, to me its a no-brainer.

What are your concerns? I always do an honest pros and cons list. Do the cons first then the pros and let me know what you come up with.

Go for it man! I'd do it just to be on the road haha. Debt or not. And being that you won't have to worry about an other issues from what it sounds like, more power to you!

Ozz

Go for it. My days on the road trying to get a break are long gone. We did not get far but we gave it a shot. Do I regret it. NOOO, it was the best time I ever had. As long as you're not linked to a ball and chain go for it.

We as hardworking musicians would love to see another succeed in his/her passion dude - it would be a terrific feeling.

But make sure you do what you really want to do. Maybe save some extra cash into an ISA account and leave it there so you always have something to rely on.

But we only live once, and it would suck if you thought to yourself later down the line "I wish I joined that band" or "I wish I did what I had planned to do".

No regrets man :)

Just make sure you leave this job on good terms should you need a reference!

I would do it, because if it turns out you don't enjoy it and see no avenue for an improvement in your pay, you can always find another job paying that rate.

I think you already made your decision considering you are posing this question to a community made up of for the most part broke guitarists rather than rich financial advisers.

go for it man sounds pretty good to me especially if your gonna get paid for doing something you like doing

>>>>>>> Go for it!!!

there is absolutely, positively:
NO BETTER TEACHER THAN THE ROAD

I started regionally at 17 and globally at 21 and i stopped at 34 but now at 44 i'm planning a small, regional, 24-club-hop(lol)
(it never leaves ya even when you leave it)

Yer 24 !!!
...thats young as sh!t, and will allow you plenty of time to recover from "oh! Sh!t!!, This aint what i wanna do!" should that be the case (i hope not, we need more Cats on the road!

shoot me an email > Carl@carlsnow.com < if ya need any help in the South-East, I know most of the clubs/venues booking agents, Owners and "heavy's"(lol) cause hell, i grew up w./ most of 'em hahaha

Lower your expectations as low as you possibly can, and expect 'worse' the road is "a cruel mistress" at best and one that i have seen chew-up and spit-out countless brave-souls! BE PATIENT

Always Always Always (and Always) be nice as he!l to the staff/crew, even if they are tools ... unless ya lug yer own *PA (*most clubs hate that anyways) cause , in the end, they will make or break a tour for ya. Always eat with 'locals', learn to LOVE Motel 6, "make sure ya pack yer duct-tape and"....hahahha, sorry, just a bit happy for ya i guess :)

cause i know yer going
never met a guy between 16-26 who didn't jump at the chance to try a tour (don't prove me wrong!

and have fun!!!

RAWK!
Cs

Global Disclaimer :
Carl Snow is an old, jaded & slightly bitter old man who cannot be held accountable for anything, much less his opinionatedly opinionated opinions or those of his imaginary friends. We sincerely apologize if this Carl Snow and/or its behavior have infected you or others with its ugly brain and its juices.

Dude! That is amazing bro! :D

Definitely Go For It!!!! *thumbs up awesome face*

Hope everything works out man, I'd love to be like "I used to post on the same guitar forum as that guy!" haha

All the best man!

And remember......this face:

Case's first album cover - now released!

$12.95 in a store near you! Batteries not included.

hahahahaha you got me jazz xD

good one "Batteries not included" LOL

it's true though, I'm not including batteries, but instead a full pack of new strings that are purposefully mismatched for maximum anger ;)

By the way, I still haven't been able to find your "Jailbreak Jazzy" album yet...hmmmmmmm

Thanks guys!!! I guess im just a little scared to make the leap into a "professional guitarist" life style. But im so excited at the same time... I might get to tell this cubical lifestyle to F#$% off!!!!

I live in a cubicle prison. I'm 46 with 2 kids and a wife. Don't get me wrong, I love my wife and kids and my job, but my time to do what your going to do is over. I dont have the choice.

Take a leap! The cubicles will be there when you get back!

If thats what it makes you happy and complete.. GO!!

DONT DO IT!! it could... make you a hell of an guitarist!! :D.. Its life man, if you lose your current job, well... so what, if all else fails, man of your caliber gets another job as easily as you leave one anyway. We live only once or if you are lucky, twice... use your possibilites to enjoy your life. If its dreamjob for you, money do not count....and when you get famous as AGC guitarists, you get more profit anyway haha... Best of luck man and take care.

Empirism

@ Empirism, hahaha good one dude!

@ Case, whaaaat? I told those damn lawyers to publish "Jailbreak Jazzy" already... they're FIRED! Psh, just when you think you're getting somewhere in life... a lawyer sneaks up behind you and does the funky chicken. -_-


@ Crash, DEWD Go for it!! *does the jedi wave* you WILL join this awesome band and give me your profit then publicise my awesome name to everyone... *cough* what? o.o