Karena wrote:
vtec> Also, I want to go to school because of the people. I can't get into a
vtec> summer program without having references, and how do I get references
vtec> unless I'm working with more professionals than just my voice teacher?
vtec> How do I develop as an artist without more feedback than just from my
vtec> voice teacher? How do I get friends in the business who like me and
vtec> will go to bat for me if I'm not in school?
vtec> I DON'T want to go to school because I will be deeply in debt after
vtec> that, and I will have the life of a musician, which means money comes
vtec> piecemeal and sometimes not at all.
Karena,
If your main reason for going to school is contacts, let me suggest
joining a community group (chorus, opera company, whatever). I am 35
years old. Four years ago I decided to try a full time career as a
musician, both teaching and performing. I had zero contacts. I
joined a community chorus. Nearly every performing job and teaching
reference I got during the next two years came out of referrals from
people who knew me from that community chorus. I am now making as
much as I did when I was in the corporate world, and a quarter of my
income comes from performing. And the more performing I do, the more
contacts I make, which leads to more jobs. (Also, teaching and
performing create cross-contacts).
If your main reason for going back to school is to learn, then do it.
I am now going back for my master's degree, but I started after I
already had my career at a running start.
If your reason is something other than to learn, you may burn out when
you have term papers due...(which I do)...and the only reason I'm not
burning out is because I'm doing this for me, not for a career. It's
a fine line.
Good luck - you can do it, whatever you decide.
Vicki Bryant
nearly brain-dead mezzo-soprano in Naperville, IL
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