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kasper777 Regular user 144 Posts |
Today I'll probably put in my two weeks notice so I can street perform full time. I've saved enough to cover my butt for a month on rent and bills. Also, I have a restaurant gig on the weekends. I'm trying to reach the point of performing full time. I know it's going to take a lot of discipline to go out there every day and stay out there when no one is even out there. Driving 45 mins to work my pitch everyday will get old too. Any tips or comments for this hard road ahead?
Thanks Nolan |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
Kasper....it takes courage...and you my friend have it. Not many can say that. but I think soon you will find yourself not working everyday. It needs to stay as fresh as you can keep it, you will soon be really good. Your show is going to improve by the minute for a while and then as time goes on. See now you think you have it, but as time goes on, at leaast for me, I find more and more and more and more and more wrong with it.
I also think you will soon leave the restaurant thing. Unless you really like doing it, because you can make more money on the streets! A lot more money. I know this is your dream it takes courage to go after dreams. A dream like yours that no one thinks is or ever will be a reality, that people around you discourage, but its real, its there, go it get it, I wish you the very best. I'm looking forward to seeing you out there in our travels for soon you will be travelling the world with your wife Boulder, Aspen, New Orleans Europe, Amsterdam, oh Amsterdam it's all there for you bro. Go out there and see the planet. What a blessing this is, to be able to do as you want, go where you want. Doing what you want to do to make your living. God has blessed me in so many ways, and soon you will see those same blessing too..... koz |
kasper777 Regular user 144 Posts |
Thanks for those kind words, Koz. I'm just scared of not making enough to pay for bills and rent. I figure with the restaurant job I know I have a certain amount coming in. Whoknows, maybe the streets will be nicer to me than they already have been.
p.s. I haven't turned in the resignation letter, it's on my computer still, waiting to be printed. Still pondering doing this.. hmmmm |
BroDavid Inner circle America’s North Coast, Ohio 3176 Posts |
Nothing worth doing is easy.
And I have never seen anything good, that wasn't harder than it looked at the beginning. In fact, for many (Including me and my business efforts) when you get a ways down the road, you will find yourslef saying, "If I knew it was going to be this hard, I wouldn't have done it." And you may not be able to hang with it long term, the first time out. But that is OK too. Because you can always go back to a day job for a while, and then when you get built back up, strike out again. But once you quench your thirst with the sweet nectar of freedom, you will never again be satified with the luke-warm water of a daily job. If you have made the decision to strike out. Do it, and don't look back. Don't ever fear failure, or it will always cast it's dark shadow over you. Embrace failure as a gift of a lesson better learned, and use it to build the foundation for your success. So when things aren't quite right. And the money isn't there. Know that you paid for the lesson, and purpose that you will not be denied the benefit of that costly knowledge. Examine every action, every response, every failure, and you will grow as Kozmo said, and the money will come! There will time when you wonder if you are doing the right thing. But once done. It no longer a question. It is done. So move forward and do it! And keep doing it! And laugh as you pleasure in your freedom, and remember what you don't want to go back to. Just ramblings from a risk taker.... But I hope you find encouragement for now, and support for later.. Good Luck, and God Bless! If it was easy, everyone would be doing it! And that is why it is the road less traveled. BroDavid
If you stand for nothing, you will fall for anything.
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xicepik Regular user Montréal 117 Posts |
You are just lucky.. Here, there is a pretty bad winter, so there is almost (or no) street magicians because they would work only in the summer. Try to make a sleight of hands with gloves at -30. Not easy !
Anyway, the only thing I can do is wishing you good luck! If you wait for the perfect moment to do it, it may never come! So good luck, enjoy your freedom ! Mark |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
See the thing is it's warm someplace it's winter in Australia but it's summer in boston, and its too hot in New Orleans but it's nice in the big easy in the fall or winter in Key west, or Miami or Orlando, and there always Europe. What about Boulder and LA it never ends. You have to move with the weather so that's a good thing. People work their whole lifes to retire and be able to go from the north to the south NY to Florida in the winter. I just stated doing it a little early in life. Oh ya, kasper, how old are you? 22?Right something like that? so what the heck, you cant get another job?
Not everyone can do this, CAN YOU? Do you have the personality? Can you take rejection? Can you control your spending? Can you avoid the pitfallls drugs alcohol all the things that come with this? If you can. DO IT! koz |
kasper777 Regular user 144 Posts |
You're right Koz, I'm 22. Well, my last day is June 10th. I have saved up enough money to get me through July incase things don't work out. I believe I have the personality and I've taken my share of rejection thus far. I'm just scared of those days when I wake up and say, what's the point in driving 45mins to my pitch when I've made barely enough in the past few days. I fell that I am going to have to make the most of my money on the weekends when the pitch is busier. I know I must be confident, but I can also relise reality. I'm also prepared to make trips to Key West, Clear Water FL, Daytona, and other pitches to make money. This "journey" before me is unknown but it is a path that has choosen me.
I've even thought about performing at bars around here when the band takes a break and perform, just to try to make a few bucks. Any other tips, advice, warnings, from those on the bricks daily? Nolan |
Bird Brain Regular user 161 Posts |
Nolan,
Way to go, buddy. I admire you greatly. I plan on doing the same thing with music. While many people try, and are going to try to tell me to get a job, it's as if they don't see the sweat that goes into an artform...as as if they don't trust me enough to know that I won't NEED a fallback! True, you might need to load trucks for a day to eat...But that sweat is cool, cause it's getting you to where you need to go! Just don't let it take you back, don't give up. Enjoy it, and you've already made it...! Not many people can say they have the courage to fly... Fly high, my friend. 5150, Josh
Yes I know my enemies
They're the teachers who taught me to fight me Compromise, conformity, assimilation, submission Ignorance, hypocrisy, brutality, the elite All of which are American Dreams, All of which are American Dreams |
Rover New user Arizona 49 Posts |
Keep us informed.... Good Luck!
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Tony Chapparo Special user Albuquerque, NM 704 Posts |
Good luck to you...
You are very courageous to follow your dream!
Tony Chapparo
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Patrick McKeever New user 79 Posts |
As the song goes: "time is on your side." Kasper, it is hard for any 22 year old to appreciate just how young 22 is. You could do anything you want for the next two years and even if it is wrong, in a few more years, you'll never have missed those two years. But, you'll have the memories.
Those of us who are from my generation were all subjecrt to the draft. We did our thing and moved on with our lives. I was in Israel when I got my draft notice. I had been traveling for 3 years in Europe, North Africa and the Middle East. Living by my wits. If I had been a magician during those years, my travels would have been all the richer. If this is something you feel you have to do, now is the time to cut the umbilical. You will never regret it. Once you have the responsibility of a family, it becomes a much tougher choice. As you travel and become part of that life, you will learn a whole new economy. I have lived in buildings that were being demolished and in storm drains in the south of France. Camping areas are great anywhere in Europe. Remember, at this time in your life you are not only young but you have no responsibilities. You have a great adventure before you. Best of luck. Patrick |
Kozmo V.I.P. 5473 Posts |
key west is not good...dont go there...you will not get a good spot...PERIOD!@!!!!...clearwater is only good sometimes....my suggestion is you find a place that know one knows of....and work it for a long period of time....and be quiet....dont tell people about it....they will find out soon enough....plus....think about doing festivals?.....lots of people there...i do a bunch of festivals every year....try that....
koz |
mrlavaboy New user Indpls 94 Posts |
I am jealous. I am 32, engaged and trapped in a 9 to 5...lol. I have lived many places in the US and have done lots of things, but I have never had the guts to try entertaining full time. I want it so bad. I am engaged and she has an 8 year-old. I know that I need to test the waters, but I need to be very careful. I need a certain income to maintain our family.
Go for your dreams. You won't be disappointed. I didn't dream big enough. By the time I was 30 I had accomplished most of what I set out to do in life. I am refocusing now and setting new goals. F/T entertainer is #1. It will happen. I am putting my plan together. For now I will just have to be jealous. andy |
keeblem Inner circle Essex, UK 1167 Posts |
Andy, I'm right with you there!
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