I moved from Boston to Portland, OR earlier this year to pursue music. While not as big a city as New York or Los Angeles, I think the basics of networking are the same. For me, it involved going to jam sessions and scouring Craigslist (in the final analysis, the musicians I met in person translated into me getting gigs; things didn’t really go anywhere with the people I met on Craigslist). What are your goals? Do you want to put together your own band? Depending on what you want to specifically do, it will affect how you network. From your post, it seems as though your own original music is what you’ve done the most of in the past. I would suggest getting involved in a music scene. Open mics typically have a musicians community that revolve around it. There’s strength in numbers.

As far as grad school goes, if you want to teach at the college level, you will need to get a masters degree, if not a Ph. D. I think it’s only worth the money in that case.

Lance
[url=http://www.lancevallis.com]www.lancevallis.com[/url]

Hi Tyler,

I think you’re in the right place to learn about this kind of thing. This whole website is about doing what you’re trying to do.

When you play your original music, expect to pay your band, even if it means out of pocket, and especially if you’re looking for sideman work as well. That’s how I operate, as well as everyone I work with. We joke about how we’re all just passing the same $50 around, but it keeps everyone professional and dedicated to the music.

Like Lance said, the main thing to do is just get out and start meeting people. Go to shows, talk to the performers, talk to the people in the crowd… there’s a good chance half the audience plays too, and are just out to support the scene. All of my best gigs have come through face to face networking.

A day job will definitely help, especially when you first move up here. I’d recommend temp work, if you can get it. Make appointments at every temp agency you can find. It’s usually very dull work, but punching the clock like that pays the bills and then you can go home and practice before heading out to a show.

Good luck!
Cameron

Some of the coolest non-musical jobs I’ve had were through temp agencies. I did these jobs over the summer when I was home from college. I worked as a mail clerk in my hometown’s school board. It was a very pleasant job, everyone was incredibly nice, and I looked forward to heading there every day. When I started teaching around the district, I knew many of the important people. For a month, I worked as a construction worker building sound proof interiors and setting up office furniture at Kennedy Space Center, less than 100 yards from shuttle pad 39B. I saw the pad, one of the shuttles, and the crawler that transports the shuttle from the hangar to the pad. It was an awesome sight that very few people ever get to see. And I wasn’t allowed to take pictures for security reasons, so the memory is only in my head.

The great thing about temp jobs is they’re diverse. Just when you get tired of one job, it ends, and as long as you did your job well, there’s another one waiting for you right as one finishes. You might have a day or two off, but if I were you, I’d take full advantage of your days “off” to network and shed.

Dave wrote this article a while back. It’s right up the alley of what some of your questions tend to be:

http://www.musicianwages.com/the-working-musician/best-and-worst-day-jobs-for-musicians/

As for finding a $400 church gig, I’ve been in Orlando for over a year, and only have one sub spot at a church. I was turned away with most local churches, telling me their musicians are volunteer only, then find out later that it is a paying gig. You may or may not have better luck, but realize that with a higher paid city comes much higher rent. But, if you think you could do it, by all means, head out there. I think living in a large city would be beneficial to your musicianship, even if it isn’t for your wallet. If it doesn’t work, you can always leave. But at least you tried.

Great, thank you all so much for your helpful pointers.

I was worried that I might get a bunch of “You have NO idea what you’re doing” responses. I’m pretty sure I’m ready to take some sort of leap of faith, get to a bigger city, make the sacrifices necessary, and try out the lifestyle of a serious musician. I’ve been doing a lot of planning, and looking up information on it, and I really think I’m ready. The next step is the biggest one, and that’s actually going and doing it!

Thanks, Joshua!

My years of touring and trying to sell my old band’s CD’s and T-Shirts taught me a few things about business. The only problem I faced was convincing promoters and venues that my music was worth paying for. We played a lot of DIY venues, and there really wasn’t much payout. When I would even ask for something like $50 to cover gas (which isn’t even enough to cover half of a 6 hour drive with a van and trailer), I felt like I was being a jerk, and we usually never got paid what we asked anyway.

I suppose, once I get connected with a more active music scene in a city that has more to offer, payout will be more sensible.

Which brings me back to my point – I guess I need to relocate. (Takes deep breath)… it’s time!