Author: Ralph Katz
Date: 2008-11-08 23:58
Musicians are like athletes and there are more aspirations than jobs. We are filled with dreams as children, based on our limited experience. Those people whose extended life experiences have validated their childhood dreams are indeed fortunate, and mostly have great parents and teachers to thank. But I also know there plenty of people with the sense to move on.
Quitting is hard, even when there are concrete rewards for doing so. I know plenty of talented musicians who have quit and moved on to better jobs, but also know plenty who have hung in there over the decades, cobbling together their lives.
It is very difficult to face quitting. We are told not to quit, and there is an implicit shame in doing so. I quit a job in 1974 and my friends and relations all told me what a stupid thing I had done. When shortly thereafter, my former employer laid off people with way more seniority than me, it became apparent that I had done a smart thing. I have had a hard time talking to all those jokers ever since, but those who hung with me are still golden.
I quit playing clarinet altogether in 1976. When I started again 4 years later, I had a much better job, some stability, and a good relationship. The relationship went out the window when I started playing clarinet again. My playing sure hasn't been the same since I quit. But I have also learned a lot since then, too.
I knew plenty of people in my parent's generation who would have stuck with their career no matter what, right up until their early demise. Look around; you are likely to see a lot of vibrant career-changers.
A relative's husband quit practicing law to pursue his dream of teaching elementary school, and made a go of it, but ended back in law. It is easy to label people who do things like this as "flip-floppers", but few of us are running for public office. This lawyer is a really cool guy, who has been doing an unbelievable job raising his son since his wife died. Was his stint in the classroom really some sort of training ground, a result of divine providence? Sure looks like that to me.
Post Edited (2008-11-09 00:12)
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