Work, Love to Hate It!

As an artist the idea of a “job” is something that brings a flood of negative emotions, it’s the one thing standing in our way of doing what we love. But for most of us it is a necessary evil that must be compromised with at some level. But don’t let what you need to do for money dictate your happiness or your creativity. Use the skills you have and build toward your creative goals by working in areas that are adjacent to your dream job.

In the pursuit of my dream job, I’ve spent twenty years working various jobs to pay the bills. Many of which were creatively painful others of which were just stagnant with people drowning in complacency. I know that we all make compromises from time to time but at what fork in the road do we compromise our dreams away? I have always been aware of the mass effect that decisions have on our lives which is why I’m very careful with whom I spend my time with and the work I spend my precious time here doing.

With each decision along the way came a time where a job was needed to survive or more often than not a decision was made to leave a specific job for fear of being dragged down to the depths of creative despair. For most of my life I thought, “I just need a job to get by.” So I took and kept whatever jobs came my way without much thought of where those opportunities would lead me later in life. The truth is the best thing that happened to me was meeting up with my now good friend, Greg Downs. He helped me gain access to working inside the world of live production (live sound, lights, stage hand work, etc.) that has now lead to a spot on a European tour in the fall. Now, more than ten years later, it makes perfect sense. Why wouldn’t I work on stage crews and get closer to where I wanted to be? Honestly, I just never thought it was possible for me to do these things. As it turns out these jobs were best suited for me because they kept me on my toes with different environments everyday.

Be aware that not only the decisions you make but also how you act and react to situations directly affects other people’s opinions of you. And, who knows, you might just miss out on a grand opportunity if you’re too much of a diva or drama queen. That “rock star” attitude you purvey is killing opportunities for you further down the road. Yes, that might get you a gig in a singular form and that might be a great opportunity at some point but isn’t that a gamble of long odds? Why not instead focus on maximizing your opportunities by using the skills you have to get you closer to your dream jobs little by little. For me these skills vary because I grew up in a place where I could work in varying situations and with large animals. Both reinforcing my work ethic and allowing me opportunities that I am only now getting to reap the benefits of. I owe everything I have to my work ethic. It is these skills that I’ve built upon over the years to create a unique resume including everything from branding cattle to stage hand work, to now driving horse-drawn carriages through downtown Indianapolis.

But outside of work we must continue to focus on the first-hand skills necessary to be ready for that dream job when it comes screaming by at 100mph. Because when it does come you better be ready or you may not even recognize it or be able to catch it. I don’t know very many musicians/artists that are capable of doing the one thing they are known for. Most professional musicians I know have a secondary income but usually closely related to their field. For instance, my professor Douglas J. Wolf is a percussionist with the Utah Symphony but has also been teaching percussion at the University of Utah for over 35 years. Another example is Kenny Hodges, who plays around Salt Lake City, UT as a freelance percussionist, sits in with various performances with Utah Symphony and Broadway touring shows as they come through town. But Kenny also owns and operates a business where he records audio books with various voice talent and authors. They both do what they love and have found ways to fill the billfold with varying creative endeavors. 

This kind of work definitely creates a scenario of endless work, but if you love what you’re doing, it is not work. I don’t know any artists that wouldn’t put in a fifteen or twenty hour day to accomplish their art. Why should this be any different on the path leading up to that goal? Don’t be afraid to work multiple jobs and after a twenty-hour day go home and practice your art.  I was once told, “In the 25^th hour of my day…” in response to a friend who had not put in the time to learn a few songs. Because he didn’t feel he had enough time in the day to accomplish the tasks necessary. The truth is we had different priorities in life because if its something you love you can always make time. Decide what is important to you, and go for it. I promise if you love it, the time spent working will melt away and you will no longer be working for the weekend.

Don’t ever tell me that you’re stuck and cannot get out of a situation. You might be stuck for a period of time but you can always work toward changing it, even if only in small ways. Even right this very moment as I type these words across this page I’m stuck in a place where I don’t want to be but every decision and move I make is toward getting to a better, happier place. You may not have a choice in what or how things happen in your life, but you always have a choice in how you deal with those situations.

The point I am trying to convey is, never settle for anything less than what you want. If you don’t have the skills go out and learn, ask for help, and most of all work hard. If you can show up on time, work hard, and be a nice person, nothing can stop you. Keep in mind that you have no control over what opportunities come knocking, but you do have control of whether or not you can put yourself in front of some. Life will never work out the way you want or expect. Drop your expectations of how the world should be live in the moment. Find what you love and let it rule your life.

The way I see the world. As long as I drum hard, love hard, and work hard I will love the work I do. Even if it’s the most undesirable job out there, if you’re pursuing your happiness, nothing will stop you.