audio degree/life rant

[kismet110]

^^^

MANY people have been in similar (or worse) situations, you probably won't appreciate this right now but you have one major thing on your side - your age.

Anything is possible so don't get down about this sh*t, take it for what it is. I ALWAYS wanted to be a rock star, formed and played in a band many years ago (did a few gigs and loved it!) but also had a 'normal' job so wasn't reliant on it.

Then things went South so sold my (gorgeous) Fender Strat, split the band, worked/had kids/bought a house etc.

No regrets man, you shape it yourself but, if I were you, I'd take option 5. Time to clear your head; have the things you want, do the things you wanna do and be what you wanna be.

If it doesn't work out at least you won't be the miserable old man thinking what might have been ...

[AndyHD]

Hey brother, sorry to hear that life's dragging you down!

I was in a similar position a while ago; and I'm sorry if any of this makes me sound like a uni ****** (worst nightmare for me :S)...

Go and study! Find a degree that lets you be creative, gives you free time, is challenging and is in a totally new, awesome town. I studied at Sussex Uni, so lived (still do) in Brighton, got to make films/do sound design and help out in local studios just by being a part of the 'scene'. It was an excellent escape from life and you can really steer yourself in the direction you want; you'll probably even find whole new avenues to explore for a career. Think of it as three years off, with the added bonus of learning.

It'll help your social anxiety too mate. You'll meet brilliant people and get involved in as much as you want. Plus you'll get to flex your writing muscles in terms of uni work; I got an unexpected First for what I can only assume was my creative approach to writing academic essays - tutors love original and critical ideas.

I don't think there's a quick fix for your situation, but aiming in the right direction is the best thing that you can do, and let things play out. Luckily life isn't a self fulfilling prophecy, as you've got control over your decisions and the ability to shape your future (have you been watching Todd Solondz films?!). Even Nietzsche, that most misunderstood of dark philosophers, agrees that you can change your life with the will to do so.

And yes, I've just used Nihilism to encourage you to change your life for the better.

[asagaai]

Originally Posted by InfinityFear

Here are my options as I see them:

1) stop studying audio altogether, get a full time job I hate, but use the money to build a sick home studio where I can compose my own music and record other peoples as a hobby.

2) stop studying audio and start studying something with more job prospects which I still enjoy to an extent (despite the angsty drivel you're reading now, I've always enjoyed english and writing) perhaps that?

3) take the foundation degree and work my arse off to find a related part-time job in a crappy local venue or studio at the same time, and try ignore my nagging doubts about it all being in vain when it comes to finding a steady income.

4) stay on the BTEC for one more year, simply because it means I have free access to several high-end studios which I can use for anything I wish out of lesson hours, and hope that I can bring in enough bands in the evenings to hone my own skills and network/build a reputation. when the BTEC finishes, I then decide what to do next.

5) leave education, and take a year out to properly focus on and tackle my personal issues which seem to be affecting my whole life, before making any big decisions such as dedicating myself to years of education.

To conclude this boring, self-obsessed and embarrassingly-pitiful post, I will say that I'm thinking I should go with 5 but I'm just scared that my 'year out' will quickly become a slippery slope towards giving up on what I enjoy and instead settling with 9-5 mediocrity.


So, er yeah.... help?

To me you have analysed your situation and you actually provide your own answers. Really you should trust your own mulling- the intellectual stuff- not that green stuff.

Seems that you perceive a futility in terms of pursuing academic audio as you conclude that it will be very insecure financially- you are obvioulsy intelligent..

Perhaps your sense of despair and futility has caused you to hit the dope harder than you would otherwise have done-unfortunatley that stuff will only make your lethargy/depression worse.

You suspect that taking a year off will be worse, a slippery downhill slide. Your gut is telling you that if you take a year off- you will hit the dope harder than ever and you will spiral downwards - you know yourself - trust your gut instinct on this one.

You like english and writing- what about getting a degree in journalism or something like that - it will be creative- you may develop a passion for it, and you will certainly earn a more secure financial base.

Then with your savings build your own studio and track bands on the side.

Do not be a victim- take control, your life will only be enriched if you achieve a vocation you enjoy that pays well, and at the same time you have a secondary vocation through your own studio (music) development of other artists.

Just remember to keep pushing and have no regrets late in life.

GJ
Newcastle/OZ

[Jim Williams]

Option 6.

Stay in University, get a law or MBA degree. Then get a cush job, make lot's of money and build a nice home studio.

Those gigs will allow you the income AND spare time to enjoy it. Otherwise, go audio pro, suffer and compete and turn audio into another drudge job.

That ought to take the passion out of it for you.

Jim Williams
Audio Upgrades

[joeq]

you seem to have a handle on things actually. While you still have decisions to make, your thinking is pretty clear.

I would say however, that option #5 sounds suspiciously like a cop-out. What does it mean to 'tackle your personal issues', how will you go about doing that, and how will you turn things around if you end up not tackling them but just hanging out and goofing off? This type of path can not be left vague. It needs to be backed by a solid plan.


I like your attitude in #4
I teach audio in a college media studies program here in NY and I am always amazed at how few of the students seem to ever take advantage of the amazing facilities that are available to them. But there are some, and those students are there every chance they get and making the most of their access. These are the ones who will have the competitive advantage in the shrinking job market, not only in terms of knowledge and skill but also in terms of drive.