Is 26 too old in this industry????

[girasoledonna]

Very simple question I am pondering today. I am 26, and honestly, have just taken my first real day job. I am not thinking of it as the end of my music career, but at the same time, as I am getting older I am recognizing that I can't live with my folks into my 30's.. hoping to get my break. It's not fair to them and its not good for me. I need to make a living. So I'm going to be a middle-school music teacher come February.My question is - is 26 too old in this industry? Where is the cut off point? Everyday I wake up a day older and think I am becoming ever-less valuable in this industry...I don't do pop music - i'm more like a Fiest or Regina Spector type, and its deep music with a poetic message that sort of appeals to an older crowd anyway, but still... I wonder. I wish there were a way to make this all happen faster, but truth be told - there aren't enough hours in the day to work my day job, and full time promote, manage, book, writer, record and and market myself to get ahead much faster than at a snails pace. Not to mention my new job composing too. Secondly, I'm trying to think of creative ways to spread the word faster to take some of the burden off of me... and thought of maybe creating an "I-SQUAD" which would be a group of INTERNET TRUE FANS whose job it is to recruit 10 new subcribers to my newsletter a week through social networking sites. Even at just 10 true fans that's 100 new people a week!!Do think this idea has any potential? Could it work? I thought of giving away prizes like merch, cd's, autographed posters, free back stage passes and condert tickets etc, but didn't know if it should work on a tally system - the more pepole you recruit the more stuff you are elegible for - like on levels?Feedback would be appreciated!!-Anj

[matthoggard]

Hey Anj.Thats the million dollar question. I just turned 40 this year and I just now feel that I am mature and smart enough to handle a go at this career.Your music speaks for itself. Its wonderful and you have a great headstart on self promotion.Your new dayjob is just another extention of your career. Id love to teach music. To be able to give back or pay forward your gift is just awesome. In my 20's I was all about "making it big".The older I get I realize that there are so may ways to be successful here. Look at some of our fellow members. Maybe not getting rich, but making a living doing what they love.That is success!! You are already successful. Look at your track record. Listen to your music.There are hundreds if not thousands of artists/writers/musicians who would love to be where you are now. A dream doesnt have to have one goal. As long as you make the journey the best it can be, the destination is just another stop along the way.You still have loads of time. Music trancends all ages. Enjoy your gift and keep sharing it.M~

[sgs4u]

Dec 28, 2008, 8:24am, girasoledonna wrote:My question is - is 26 too old in this industry? Where is the cut off point? Everyday I wake up a day older and think I am becoming ever-less valuable in this industry...-Anj Every moment you spend wondering if you're too old, confirms your fear. but every moment you spend planning for your version of success, brings you closer to it. How do you want to live? btw - I'm 48 and just hitting my stride.

[elser]

Hi Anj, that was a good post by Matt and I agree with it completely. If you're going to work as a music teacher then you are in 'this business'. This business really is not what it is often imagined to be. I've been supporting myself in it for about 30 years and one of the things I have done which I am proud of is being a music teacher. I've known quite a few guys that 'made it' but that type of success is almost always short lived so most end up doing other things like working in kitchens or on construction sites, those types of jobs outside music.It'll be a great thing if you 'make it' but what your doing is also providing for what comes after. Very few bands have a career like the Stones that lasts a life time. Most end up like maybe The Violent Femmes, or The White Stripes, one hit and your outta here, see ya, don't come back. I hope that when you start teaching you find a strong sense of purpose in that, focus on your students and recognize that what your doing is at least as important and influential as having one hit song.Wishing you all the best, Elser

[mazz]

Sure, 26 might be old for a teen pop star but as a human being and an artist, it's still early in the development cycle (which never ends, BTW).Remember that you are going to be composing for TV, which, fortunately, doesn't come with any age limitations. As long as you can deliver the goods, anything beyond that doesn't matter.

[nomiyah]

Dec 28, 2008, 9:22am, fretnoise wrote: Very few bands have a career like the Stones that lasts a life time. Most end up like maybe The Violent Femmes, or The White Stripes, one hit and your outta here, see ya, don't come back. Elser, you make lots of good points but I'm going to disagree with this one. Chances of being a legendary super star are slim. But if you have a hit, you can perform the rest of your life and make a living. I was on tour with Eek-A-Mouse who had one Reggae hit in 1981. In 1999, when I was with him, he played over 150 gigs a year internationally and he's still doing that today, playing to full houses. I'm not saying the level of income from one hit is enough to retire on. I'm just saying that one hit can be used to create a lifetime career.That said, I agree that teaching music is a valid important aspect of being in the music business. There are so many ways to be in the business, Anj, that I wouldn't stress about that. But if you want to be an artist who has a hit song, 26 is still young but age is definitely a factor and you'll have to work harder and harder the more time that goes by. But age won't affect your ability to gain fans and have a substantial performing career. Basically what I'm saying is, there are lots of ways to be in the music business and you can stay in it for life if you have drive and talent. And I know you have talent!!!Nomi

[elser]

Hi Nomi, Actually we don't disagree. I know lots of bands that are touring and maintaining a career based on a couple of hits. But I would point out that most of the guys, if not all, in the band are usually not the original members. And the guys that are doing it, original members or not have reconciled themselves to the reality that it's not really the big time anymore. I did a show with Great White a couple of months ago at the Hard Rock in Vegas and those guys have a great attitude about what they're doing. They came from the bars before they made it and after the coliseums that's where they went back to. The thing is, is to recognize that even if we're playing the bars, we're still in this business and hopefully enjoying it.

[squids]

Hi Anj,I don't know what all everyone else does. I do know my career ain't ova yet and I'm 49. As I've aged, I've changed my priorities ta betta suit what was appropriate for me and now I write for film/tv and do solo projects (which still sell very well). I suck at PR so consider that as well. You'd do betta to spend some time on that, jes cuz you'll sell more. But that's jes me. Keep on keepin' on. Unless, of course, you don't wanna at some point. Then you can stop thinkin of it as a career and mo as a creative endeavor. That works fo me too. The end result can be the same.

[mojobone]

Maybe you should ask Sheryl Crow.

[sgs4u]

Dec 28, 2008, 12:58pm, mojobone wrote:Maybe you should ask Sheryl Crow.Yeah but can she sing? [img][/img]