Title: I Am Finally Living My Dream! (How I left the corporate world at
age 44 to pursue a career as a musician.)
Author: Jim Hudak
Article:
Even in grade school, I knew I wanted to be a musician.full
time, as my career. I firmly believed it was my "calling". Early
on, I determined that in my case, as a musician, there could be
three sources of revenue: live music performances, record sales,
and songwriting royalties. It took many years, but finally it
has happened as I envisioned it as a young boy. As I near the
age of 50, I can say I am living my dream as a
musician.performing, recording, and songwriting!
This wasn't by any means a direct route. I forgot about
following the yellow brick road.
Along the way, I have taken a few side roads.newspaper delivery,
landscaping, outdoor maintenance for a school district,
restaurant busboy, boxing and stocking groceries, bartender and
tavern manager, lumber yard and hardware sales, real estate
sales, selling entertainment discount books door to door (and
successfully, I might add!), doing voiceovers for commercials,
acting as an "extra" for films and television, concessionaire at
sporting events, umpire for youth athletic games, painting
houses and remodeling buildings, apartment manager, music
librarian.. and the "big three" long term: 1. 16 years as an
executive with ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors,
and Publishers) and SESAC where I received an incredible
up-close view of the songwriting and legal side of the music
business. 2. Five years as an employee and store manager for a
six-store chain of record stores, learning just how many
thousands of recording artists there actually are and getting to
attend an unlimited number of free concerts. 3. Four years as a
traffic, news, and sports reporter for over 50 radio and
television stations. This reporting experience was invaluable.
Besides all the behind the microphone experience, I saw the
competitiveness, professionalism, (usually) low paying,
corporately controlled world of broadcasting - firsthand. The
highlight was flying daily in Cessna planes and helicopters,
providing traffic reports for stations in the San Francisco Bay
Area.
Wow! That's quite an assortment of jobs. Talk about a diverse
view of the world.
But.all that time, I saw it only as a means to an end. My real
goal was to play, record, and compose music, FULL TIME. It was
just so hard to do on an ongoing basis and still pay the bills.
I would get gigs from time to time that would last anywhere from
one night to three months. I never played "Top 40" radio hits,
but insisted on playing what I believed was music with integrity
or at least music close to my heart. While I wanted to perform
mostly my own compositions, I was willing to also play songs by
my musical heroes. You know, those singer-songwriter types that
were not always household names: John Prine, Bob Dylan, Gram
Parsons, Jerry Garcia, and of course the Beatles and James
Taylor.
But whether I played as a soloist or in groups, sustained income
just wasn't there. Finally as I neared age 30, the thought of a
steady paycheck became too good to pass up. I took a job as a
Field Representative for ASCAP. It required my selling
copyrighted music licenses to all types of businesses who
provided music for their customers. I spent the next 16 years
never having to worry much about money. I also enjoyed the
varied experience, the travel, and the solid education in
learning about that part of the music business that so
interested me - it was a valuable chapter in my life. But
although the financial worries were gone, I spent so much of
that time unhappy! I knew I had to get back to the artistic
pursuit of my music.
By 1996, I was on my last legs as a music business executive.
I'd lost the fire and couldn't let go of the urge to follow my
dream. Finally in late 1996, I left my position as Vice
President of SESAC to get back to being a musician. The 15 - 20
hours a week I spent as a traffic and news reporter bridged the
financial gap.
In the meantime, I began rounding up gigs, hustling, and
learning all the new songs on the piano that I possibly could. I
knew I was getting about a 20-year late start compared to all
the hot young players out there. But I figured I could make up
for at least some of that through sheer hard work and
determination. Because of my previous work experience, I was
comfortable telephoning and meeting with people of all levels of
business. I began working with hotel, restaurant and country
club managers, wedding planners, and any venue that might be
open to having piano music.
Systematically going through the yellow pages, I would keep
meticulous notes about which businesses had a piano, who I'd
spoken with and when to follow-up. Soon enough I was performing
regularly - an average of three times per week.and earning
decent money. Often I would find performing opportunities in
unexpected places: libraries, museums, senior citizen
facilities, and lots of corporate parties. Eventually, I was
fortunate to land a four day a week steady job playing piano at
a couple of Nordstrom stores.low paying, but great exposure and
experience. I was on my way!
Now with two CDs available on Brainstorm Records, MY independent
record label, the dream is being realized...the dream is being
lived! The CD sales combined with my constant gigging six or
more times per week nearly equal the income I earned during my
peak years as a music executive. Meanwhile, I am putting a new
emphasis on generating songwriting royalty revenue, with a
three-year plan underway designed to round out that third source
of income I have planned on since grade school.
It hasn't been easy...but it has been worth it in every way! My
little musical empire, now five years old, has seen steadily
increasing in revenues each year. I have felt surges of joy and
the ultimate in frustration. I am always eager for new
challenges.and sometimes ready to quit. But, awhile back I came
across a sentence that sums it all up perfectly. The statement
comes from John Madden, the highly successful former football
coach of the Oakland Raiders (who has become an even more
successful football broadcaster). He was talking about the
insecure, volatile occupation of being a National Football
League Coach, a profession where one can almost guarantee they
will be fired - often more than once. In determining whether or
not someone is suited for that difficult profession, Madden
said: "You shouldn't be doing it unless you can't live without
it."
I would say the same applies to one's pursuit of music, or
whatever their particular dream may be. If you can't live
without it you simply have no choice but to pursue it.
For me, pursuing my dream was the best and most rewarding thing
I have ever done.
If you've got a dream, I say, LIVE IT!!
About the author:
Jim Hudak is a pianist, singer, guitarist, and songwriter who
lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. His latest CD, Gratefully
Yours, is currently receiving international acclaim. For more
information, you can contact Jim through his website,
www.jhudak.com, or by phoning Brainstorm Records at (925)
673-7293.
