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How do you ensure you'll get a career after university (especially in the arts)?
I am an aspiring musician looking to make connections!
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Deborah’s Answer
Life itself has NO guarantees. People are even starting to forgo College and Universities just for the sake of Doing it on their own . Especially with Student loans hanging over their heads for YEARS. My niece just because a Doctor in Atlanta. She looked for jobs for months and ended up taking a job teaching kindergarten until she can find something in her field. When I got my music degree I'm glad that I was smart enough to get a back up in Music Education instead of simply music performance. I've never had to use the music teaching thing but I have done Substitute Teaching a lot when I'm in between gigs on the road. It's a side hustle that I don't have to quit when I leave town. When I get back if I need income coming in it's always there. Of course none of this answers your question. The key to getting GIGS is networking. Jam Sessions, Open Mic's , Wedding Bands, Sessions for producers, etc. You have to be seen to get contacts and to perform at any and every opportunity to start with. I've found that no one is in the audience just waiting to "sign" you so every gig I've ever gotten I CREATED. There a lot more musicians and singers graduating from music programs than there are "gigs" so that does mean that you have to make it up as you go along and always think outside of the box.
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Kyran’s Answer
Hello. There's never any guarantee to working in your field post college degree but having your degree and using the tools provided while gaining it can at least give you the knowledge to have an edge on those without. Continue to hone your craft and more importantly network with those in the industry you want to be in. In your case other musicians, directors, venues, producers, etc. The saying "it's not so much about what you know but who you know" holds true in so many ways. Find yourself a ball and don't let it leave your eyes, do what's legally necessary to hit it out of the park and generally the work will come to you if the talent is there.