I Need Your Horror Stories!

So, I've been thinking about this for a long time, and by 'this', I mean 'changing careers and becoming a musician/composer'. I'm currently what most people would describe as an 'amateur' musician; I'm pretty decent on the piano and euphonium/tuba, and have passable skills on most other brass as well. I've also written a fair few pieces for piano solo, brass ensemble and orchestra. My career as it stands is satisfying; I pretty much am my own boss and it's something I've trained for for over ten years, but lately all I seem to think about is leaving it and trying to make it as a composer. However, the rational part of me tells me this is silly and thus I'm in need of help to dissuade me. I'm sure some of you have known people in my position who've done the same thing and have failed - it's a tough world. What I'd like to hear is a kind of 'worst-case' scenario to put me off, or at least try to give me a greater perspective on how difficult it is to make it as a musician. Any other advice would be appreciated too!

Thanks,

Franklin

Haha, you want to be a professional composer. Enjoy your abject penury. Also you are dumb.

Was that effective?

what I would suggest is do both for now, and keep practicing in all aspects of music, so that you go from mediocre to great, and then do what you want. I can't really help you much more, since I'm only 16, but if you're unhappy where you are now, and would be happier somewhere else, work towards that. For my birthday, a friend gave me a book called "The Art of Non-conformity" I think it will help you a lot in this case. It's basically all about how to be successful doing the things that you love. On the more rational side, I'd suggest you write for concert band, if it's good, you will get MANY more commissions, and there are tons of good high school bands (like mine for example :) )

If none of these interest you, have you considered just composing for fun and earning a living doing something else?

This may be a good idea for you, but I'm doing that now (you know, with school and all) and right now, I consider half my life to be amazing, and the other half to be worthless poop, so that's the downside to that. But I am doing this so I could have a better chance to a good education and therefore (I'm taking the hardest classes available right now...it's hell)

Sorry I couldn't be much more help in an adult situation, but I just have to say, What's the point of living if you aren't happy? (THIS DOES NOT MEAN I CONDONE SUICIDE THOUGH)

It's not so much a matter of 'being happy' or 'being unhappy'. That's youthful ignorance. There is a certain reality that comes with dedicating your life to the arts: either one accepts it, or somewhere down the line they realize they've made a bad decision.

I have a strong urge to call you an old coot XD, but really, if that's youthful ignorance, I don't wanna grow up :( I understand if making it your career will be difficult, all I'm saying is that it may be worth it. Again, I recommend you read Art of Non-conformity by Chris Guillebeau. He can answer your questions better than I can

"The only composers that truly make a living off their music, are film composers and of 'new' sacred music as well for high school concert band."

Not the case. There are penniless composers and there are concert music composers making a living at it who don't work in any of those three areas.

My career as it stands is satisfying; I pretty much am my own boss and it's something I've trained for for over ten years, but lately all I seem to think about is leaving it and trying to make it as a composer.

If you're your own boss and are satisfied with your career, you already have something that most people want and don't have. I think you should cherish that, and just moonlight, as they say, on the side. See if you can get any promising leads as a professional musician if that's what you want, but meanwhile don't fall into the trap of resenting your day job, getting restless and miserable. That will only stifle your creativity.

If time is the issue here and you're essentially your own boss, couldn't you cut back your hours somewhat? That might be all you need to strike a proper balance.

My dear mother loves musicians, but she warned us about having children with them. ;)

Being a composer? Well all I can say is, if you wanna make music of your own, look for inspirations and make connections with your daily life to a piece you're making, it's what I know to be the very most important thing in composing, I mean, you wouldn't be making songs randomly if you don't know what they are based or inspired off. xD

I had a really cool horror story about a weird little light house that came alive and destroyed a seasicde town and then broadened its focus over north and south America and sizzled everyting there before blasting its light into space, blowing up the moon and other celestial orbs and stars and whatnot. But this is about music. so , pratice practice practice.

Gutenberg press has Poe, Lovecraft, stoker and Shelly. I would recommend reading them for mood and aura. Modern horror: Stephen king i heard is very good at what he does.

I'm sure you can balance the two. Most composers do something else on the side, teaching, conducting, performing, or something completely different, and I don't think you'd be any different.

I'm sure you can balance the two. Most composers do something else on the side, teaching, conducting, performing, or something completely different, and I don't think you'd be any different.

This is true. If you consult biographies of composers (or even look at their Wikipedia pages), you'll find that most composers throughout history have been concert performers (Mozart and Rachmaninoff), conductors (Mahler and Berlioz), or music professors (Schoenberg and Hindemith).