Becoming a professional, performing, career musician is often associated with struggling for life.
Most people have heard the stereotypes. It's tough to make a living, there are no jobs, so on and so forth.
But, this is based on outdated information.
For a long time, the only career paths after music school were getting a college job, winning a competition, or winning a seat in an orchestra somewhere.
If this didn't work, you could always teach. (Sigh...so not cool...)
And if you didn't succeed at all of those things, you could always go back to school and change careers. (Sad and also not cool...)
It's not just music. Most of the other arts have had their gatekeepers as well.
If you wanted to be a writer, you had to hope that a publisher would deem your book worthy. If you wanted to direct a film, you had to work your way up through a number of gatekeepers.
That all changed with the internet. And outside-the-box thinking.
If you want to perform, you don't have to get an agent or hope a concert series will take a chance on an unknown.
You can create your own performance venues that college didn't consider "legitimate." Retirement homes, libraries, prisons, outdoor spectacles...use your imagination. Create your own YouTube channel, at least! Admission is free.
The same goes for writing. With so many self-publishing options, you don't need to beg permission from the gatekeepers to share your work anymore. You can do it yourself.
Books that were denied by every publisher have gone on to become bestsellers because of this freedom.
Anyone with an iPhone and a few lights can create a film now.
If you have a passion and want to make a career out of it, you don't have to wait for someone to pick you anymore. You don't have to run the rat race. You can do it yourself now.
So don't wait. Pick yourself today. We can't wait to see what you do.