Navigating Dual Careers: Balancing Music and Business

I've been playing the violin almost my entire life and majored in it in college. Now, at 23, I'm considering going back to college for a degree in business administration. How do I face my teachers, mentors, and students? Here's how to navigate this exciting but complex journey.

Finding a Balance

Just because you're not doing music as your full-time job doesn't mean you have to give it up or stop playing unless you want to, of course. It's entirely possible and even beneficial to have a second career or, rather, two parallel careers: one art-based and one not-art based. In today's economy, it's increasingly hard to have just one art-based careermost artists do more than one thing or have a ‘day job.' Fine arts might be less marketable than graphic design, or metal music might not be as popular as commercial jingles. However, there's no reason you can't combine these two paths.

Combining Your Passions

A business degree could open up a range of opportunities within the music industry. For example, record labels, recording studios, and venues all need individuals with business acumen. Your knowledge as a player can inform better business decisions. For instance, in answering questions about realistic timetables and budgets, you bring a unique perspective that a non-playing businessperson might lack.

Specific Opportunities

Record Labels: Understanding the creative process from the musicians' perspective can help you make more informed decisions. Budgeting, scheduling, and creative direction are all areas where your experience can contribute significantly. Recording Studios: Knowledge of musical performance can inform better client relations and production decisions. Understanding the nuances of different music styles can help you tailor services to meet diverse client needs. Venues: Managing live performances involves not just the logistics of the event but also various business aspects such as booking, marketing, and financial management. Your musical insight can help ensure that performances are both artistically and commercially successful. Orchestras and Concert Venues: Your experience in the field can be invaluable in strategizing and implementing marketing plans, audience engagement, and scheduling.

Challenging Expectations

It's important to challenge any preconceptions about dual careers. People often have trouble accepting that someone can be both a professional musician and a business person. As an artist-scientist, I often face the pressure to be pigeonholed. But the key is to stay true to your ambitions and yourself. Balancing these two interests requires acceptance and support from your teachers, mentors, and peers. It's also crucial to recognize that your students might not understand at first. I used to share this disbelief, but life and the industry have shown me that the dual path is perfectly valid.

Decision-Making

Ultimately, the decision to step away from a full-time music career is a personal one. It's valid to love music and want to continue pursuing it, even if it means not becoming a professional violinist. You owe no one an explanation, and it's a decision that only you can make. Whatever your path, know that navigating dual careers is not easy, but it's rewarding.

Amidst the challenges, remember to stay true to your ambitions. Overcoming others' confusion is a part of the journey. As long as you're committed to your goals, the path will be worthwhile.