According to an article on Huffington Post, “a new survey has found that hiring managers and recruiters believe it is easier to place a candidate who has a job — but who also has a criminal record — than a person who has been unemployed for more than two years.” 

They suggest doing volunteer work, taking on part-time work - anything you can add to your work experience instead of leaving long gaps of unemployment. It’s definitely something to consider - especially for new artists who think it’s a great idea to give up their jobs and throw caution to the wind! - more via HP. 

I am giving my two-weeks notice at the j-o-b in the morning. Years of frustrating research projects and work, strictly for pay, have taken its toll on me creatively. At one point, I had enough purpose in my side work to balance it out - or at least I believed I did - but the music industry can move rather unpredictably at times. With some new opportunities, a fresh outlook, and a desire to push forward on some independent projects, I haven’t lost all hope… 

I feel like it’s time to let the safety-net go; lose the “plan b,” see where things go and how it all progresses. The past year, as a whole, has been full of sacrifices, some disappointments, the death of my father, and an uphill climb towards a glimpse at financial freedom. It’s been bittersweet getting to that final point, and that’s because work still comprises the majority of my day(s) … why suffer through it?

So … I think I need to up the ante.

I’ll still be doing consulting work, privately funded or operated research, and exploring additional opportunities in the music industry. It’ll be interesting to be my own boss. I think? Time will tell - and I’ll be documenting it. Hopefully this will also allow me the opportunity to work on some independent research (passion projects) and volunteer work. It’s all about balance and freedom. Right?

‘Take away my factories, but leave my people, and soon we will have a new and better factory.’ - Andrew Carnegie

The more I speak with people in various industries, the more I get the feeling that some people have not yet gotten the memo that the economy is not changing; it’s changed! The spirit of growth and innovation is so exciting to some and very frightening to others. As many factories have closed, jobs have been outsourced and/or automated, the artist in each of us has the opportunity to leverage our inner passion(s) and create…

What you create is entirely up to you, but many of the walls and barriers of entry have been broken down and new and better “factories” have sprung up in its place. The power is in the hands of those who create & those who consume … or to relate it to many of our readers, to the artists and the fans …  if you should choose to embrace the opportunity.