I went back to school for jazz guitar performance at the age of 36 after having a master’s degree in engineering and really hating the office job. Everyone else was 17 or 18 years old. But for those that want a somewhat higher standard of living while they do music I would suggest trying to find a way to make the most money per hour so that you can minimize your time working. This takes some creative approaches, belief in yourself to get these higher rates (ie. being able to ask for them), and potentially getting the required education.

In my case I decided to focus on a niche area in the IT world so that I can get higher hourly rates. So if I work for 3 months I can make $40K which can last me over a year. Another thing is to try and not have debt so I paid off my house and car with the money from these contracts. Many people will raise their lifestyle as they make more money instead of saving it. Imagine if you made $10/hr and worked 40 hours a week, then you figured out how to get $40/hour and worked 10 hours per week. Many people won’t believe they can make that hourly rate and so they have self-limiting beliefs.

I sell guitar lesson products online, it doesn’t make a ton of money but I enjoy sharing my knowledge and experience with people. So I rely on the savings I have from the IT contracts for the most part. I’m not really into travelling for gigs or band dynamics so I prefer to go it solo and be mostly internet based. I’m even focusing on remote IT contracts so I can work at home.

Now I practice, play guitar and write songs on my own for many months full time without working and I just turned 41. It can feel weird to be one of the only people not working all the time and stressed out. You start to wonder if you’re missing something.

What a beautiful, well-articulated post.

I feel exactly the same way. I’ll never return to a blue-gray office if I can avoid it. The benefits of working from home for the past 5 years has far outweighed any benefits I gained from the “stability” of the corporate world.

Hegemony and monotony kill creativity in my books and the corporate world sure serves these two terrible twins up by the heap.

Let’s be honest: The Muse has us by the short and curlies and she’s not one to let go. ;-)

Luckily the Web makes life a whole different freak-show for creative people. We can now do so much more for so much less. Only our beliefs, attitudes and lack of persistence can hold us back now. The rest are excuses.

I applaud your courage. We must encourage artists and creative people to follow the same Renegade Route.

Thank you for this post. I’m sure it connects on a deep level with many artists as it does with me.

Keep shining it up!

All the best,
Marius

I am someone who knows what I really want to do and I also know that I am wasting my time with the “secure” day job I am having.
Just this year I decided to stop wondering if I can follow my dream or to worry if I do not make it all the way through. I am going to have to work hard to eventually become a graphic designer. Just thinking about it already makes me feel happy.

I hope you get to where you want to be while following your dream and passion!

Take care and best of luck!

J-ONES