Klarinet Archive - Posting 000127.txt from 2001/03

From: Neil Leupold <leupold_1@-----.com>
Subj: Re: [kl] Careers
Date: Mon, 5 Mar 2001 13:34:18 -0500

--- Sherry Katz <slkatz@-----.com> wrote:

> When I was in high school, even in college I thought that business was
> a boring subject and wouldn't be something that would be that would in-
> terest me. As an adult I have found that the business world is infin-
> itely variable and exciting, and that the process and functions of bus-
> iness are intellectually challenging.

I echo the comments above, however....

> A lot of musicians do seem to be talented with computers though and
> it certainly offers a better path to a living than music.

...I don't fit the stereotype of the musician with natural
spatial and math talents, which is frustrating, because I
wish I did. 'Ironic, since I'm about to become Project Di-
rector for an accounting software company.

> I'm very glad that I'm not a professional musician. It's a tough life with
> a lot of struggle for the few positions that pay even reasonably decently.
> The struggle of it can take a lot of the fun and joy out of it.

But "the struggle of it" is also what makes it so rewarding. Whether
it's "worth it" really depends on the person. Maintaining artistic
integrity, navigating political eddies, managing the business aspects
-- I crave the entire package, passionately, and I may die in the pur-
suit without ever achieving it. I live for the process, so I am al-
ready successful, simply for being engaged. It's a glorious existence
and I have never been happier. Being a successful musician can be as
variable and exciting as any business process or function. Much like
in business or any other endeavor, the level of your fulfillment is
related to how deeply you commit yourself.

> Instead, I can come home from whatever hassles I've faced to make my
> living in the day

I imagine if you had a choice, you would rather not deal with the
hassles to which you refer. If they were musical instead of busi-
ness related, would you feel differently about them? I think I
would.

> I play and have played locally with a rehearsal band (swing) and
> sometimes a community band. I also play with small groups of friends
> and by myself. It never has the taint or pressure of being something
> I "must" do.

Does your day job have this taint/pressure? The difference for me is
that the pressure to pursue music comes from within instead of extern-
ally. Being a musician, constantly in pursuit of greater excellence
and success, is something I "must" do, viscerally. I left a very good
MBA program, and sacrificed the likelihood of earning $100K+ per year,
precisely because I could not live or function without a significant
opportunity to be musical. The day job is necessary, of course, and
thankfully I also find stimulation in business processes. But every
spare moment and brain cell beyond the job is dedicated to moving for-
ward and developing myself as a musician.

Perhaps our young high school friend, on the cusp of his college
decision, feels passionately this way as well.

-- Neil

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