Many years ago one of my college students said that he'd like a career similar to mine. One that focuses primarily on teaching, with perhaps a bit of playing on the side. Then he asked the "million dollar question"........"How did I get started?" That was when I first confronted the truth of my story. I never set out to be a teacher. It was never part of a plan. I never applied for a teaching job, they all asked me. Deep down I had wanted to be a composer/performer.....I thought. But when I was in my early thirties I realized that I had made more money the previous year teaching part time than all of the money I had ever made performing or composing. It was a career waiting to happen. So I had to 'fess up, say "I don't know", and explain myself. That's hard to do when someone admires you and is looking for the wisdom of experience.
When I was a child I knew nothing of the music business. I thought performers all had a nightclub that they played in. Sort of like my dad going to work in the morning, they would just go to the club at night to work. Then, when I became older, I became aware of musicians going on tour or "on the road" and I thought that was what I would need to do. Wrong again. Most of my performing has been for special events, mostly private, that are scattered about my calendar.
Until recently I thought of my performing career (such as it is) as a complete flop. Most of my friends are in bands playing in various clubs and casinos. That's something I was never able to do. But then I realized I make more money per event, with less equipment, and fewer demands on my time. Truthfully, I've been pretty busy the last few years. I'm as successful as they are, but in a different way.
"If I had only known then what I know now"... That's a saying that haunts me. It seems that I've been stumbling from one circumstance to another for most of my adult life. So I'm always surprised to see "Life Couch" as a profession and the practitioners are my grandchildren's age. How did they get to be so smart?
There are those who make plans early in life and enjoy watching things work out as life goes on. Of course they stumble or have unpredictable circumstances disrupt things, but usually the plan stays intact. But that certainly was not my case. Plans were totally derailed and new courses set on more than one occasion. If someone were to ask me to be their coach I would laugh, wish them luck, and send them on their way.
Looking back I'm not sure I would have liked the career that I thought I wanted. The work I'm doing now is generally satisfying and I'm continuing to work well past retirement age. I realize how fortunate I am to be able to continue to play and teach. I still feel useful and relevant, which is not always the case for some people my age. I'm still growing as a musician and still have dreams. Yep! Fortunate indeed.