While the phrase, “Don’t quit your day job” is often used as an insult meant to inform someone that they are horrible at what ever they are trying to do, and should not make a career out of it, it can sometimes actually be advice of great value in many circumstances:
YOU MAY VERY WELL NOT BE VERY GOOD… CURRENTLY.
Think about starting out at learning an instrument or a foreign language. You probably weren’t naturally born great at it and probably kinda sucked at it initially. That’s where practice kicks in. There are SO many aspects to media composing. It really is okay if you are kinda lame at them right now.
You can be kinda lame at it even with a college degree. You can be kinda lame even if you really wish you weren’t. That’s where constant practice is your best friend. Practice goes a long way at diminishing lameness.
CROSSING OVER FROM STUDENT/AMATEUR/HOBBYIST TO PAID PROFESSIONAL
There is often quite a journey from starting down a path to arriving at a particular junction. This is especially true in pursuing a career as a media composer since experience, opportunities and relationships are typically required to practice and develop your compositional, dramatic and collaboration skills.
And you must typically rely on applying your music on somebody else’s media. So you are usually highly dependent on finding projects and collaborators on which to practice. For these and other reasons, there is usually quite a ramp up to becoming a paid professional.
GOTTA PAY THE RENT
Because very few media composers are at the level of paid professional straight out of the gate, they often need to have a “day job” to support themselves. Sometimes those jobs are still in the music industry, and sometimes they are not. And there are pros and cons to each approach.
And once you arrive at being a paid professional as a media composer, work is often sparse enough and compensation low enough that relying on supporting yourself solely as a media composer is often still not yet an option. That day job can often be your primary source of financial stability.
MAKING THE LEAP
If your goal is to support yourself solely or primarily as a media composer, there is a tremendous personal leap of faith to be made that you are going to continue at your current financial level if that level is enough, or believe your circumstances are going to improve. Giving up the security of that day job is a tough and highly personal choice.
LOSE THAT DAY JOB SHAME
Some folks feel embarrassed if they currently rely on a “day job” to support themselves (and, often, their families). Why?
It is admirable to be a fiscally responsible. Why paint yourself into some bind of feeling like a failure if you can’t just snap your fingers and instantly pull off the magic trick of learning, practicing, building skills and relationships, gaining clients, establishing a reputation, learning to run a business AND fully meeting your economic needs ALL AT THE SAME TIME, RIGHT AWAY?!?!
CUT YOURSELF A TON OF SLACK
In reality, very few people with green thumbs support themselves through the business of running a nursery. Few people who bake delicious desserts open and run a successful bakery.
Few people who love acting, singing, painting, writing, telling jokes, playing an instrument and taking photos are equally in love with, and as good at, the business of turning these passions into the primary means of supporting themselves. And that’s okay.
START WITH DOING IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT
There really is almost always a long and challenging path towards supporting yourself as a media composer.
Enjoy that journey. Embrace the obstacles. Be grateful for the process. Love making music and collaborating with others. The money will or will not follow.
Some day it may or may not be enough for you to quit your day job. Over time, that will be revealed. But, be sure start all of this with your love and passion for doing it.
