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So I've recently split with my partner of 12 years and had a lot of time to mull things over. A few months ago I'd started looking into going back into education to fulfill my dream of becoming a professional singer but believed it was unfeasible whilst trying to just do normality. I've been restless our whole relationship because I never went off and did it way back when and found it easier just to be kept. I ended up a chef and after 6 years just became embittered by the long hours, shit pay and stress that ended up triggering long standing anxiety I've suffered since young. What's more I developed a coke habit on top of smoking weed and drinking too much. I also just buried my head in whatever, including way too many videogames. I didn't ever really deal with any of this though I've made in roads in performance. I'm in a couple of projects and I'm always working on something, I just always felt I should do more. Anyway, the short of it is, as a 35 year old guy with talent am I going to just accrue debt to no end and come out near 40 with a useless degree in music performance. Has anyone else done a degree to change their path at my age and made a go of it? The guy at ICMP in London who phoned me for an audition seemed genuine that I can achieve what I want but I have to consider that my enrolment is money coming in, it's not like the old days of grants. Thoughts? |
Uni in your mid 30s. Foolhardy, irresponsible or valid pursuit of self fulfillment?
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Blurp 1,447 posts
Seen 10 months ago
Registered 5 years agoFoolhardy and irresponsible.
Do whatever you feel like man. -
TheJackKetch 171 posts
Seen 5 days ago
Registered 14 years agoI did this at a similar age and don't regret it one bit. You still have a long time to work, so may as well be doing something that you enjoy. Do it. -
Why do you need a degree to be a professional singer? Surely doing loads of gigs and getting experience would be much better?
I don't know much about it (obviously) but it doesn't seem the sort of skill you would need a degree for.
Edit: But in general, I'd say going to uni at any age is fine if you can afford it and you think it would be a good investment. Education is always a good thing.
Edited by Jyzzy-Z at 16:45:34 16-11-2017 -
They wouldn't let Mic Jagger in the stones without a 2:1 -
Jyzzy-Z wrote:
It's more about finding yourself in the right environment plus being taught proper technique rather than picking up bad habits. It's as much about being in the right place. Southampton is a bit dead and living in London as a student seems more feasible to me.
Why do you need a degree to be a professional singer? Surely doing loads of gigs and getting experience would be much better?
I don't know much about it (obviously) but it doesn't seem the sort of skill you would need a degree for.
And for clarity I have no allusions of grandeur, I'll take session musician work afterwards. Singing and performing is when my mind is at it's quietest and I still want to believe you don't have to settle for the rat race if you have potential to do something else. I don't want to dread Mondays and I don't care how much money I earn, as long as I get by.
Edited by JiveHound at 16:47:54 16-11-2017 -
spamdangled 31,803 posts
Seen 3 days ago
Registered 13 years agoI've thought about whether it's viable to go to Uni at my age as well.
Isn't Scotland making moves towards this being a valid choice? -
nudistpete 1,273 posts
Seen 11 hours ago
Registered 4 years agoAs long as you can find some way of meeting your financial obligations (food, heat, rent etc.) go for it. If you don't you'll always be questioning "what it?" -
@whatfruitlivesagain Is that his cocaine to blood ratio or his degree award? -
I would say definitely leave cheffing if you are not committed to it and hate it.
P.S I would rather eat shit off an AIDS ward floor than step back into a commercial kitchen.
Edited by whatfruitlivesagain at 16:51:27 16-11-2017 -
Decks 31,013 posts
Seen 10 hours ago
Registered 6 years agoI thought this was a WHY ARE THERE NO SOCIAL GROUPS IN THEIR 30'S IM SO ALONE threads when I glanced at the title. I miss that guy. -
JiveHound wrote:
Fair play. Good luck to ya. I've just finished a bachelors and have started a masters, both on the OU while working and I'm 33. You're never too old.
Jyzzy-Z wrote:
It's more about finding yourself in the right environment plus being taught proper technique rather than picking up bad habits. It's as much about being in the right place. Southampton is a bit dead and living in London as a student seems more feasible to me.
Why do you need a degree to be a professional singer? Surely doing loads of gigs and getting experience would be much better?
I don't know much about it (obviously) but it doesn't seem the sort of skill you would need a degree for.
Edited by Jyzzy-Z at 16:49:25 16-11-2017 -
nudistpete wrote:
Aye, that's what I thought.
As long as you can find some way of meeting your financial obligations (food, heat, rent etc.) go for it. If you don't you'll always be questioning "what it?" -
@Decks Ha, I thought that too. I mentioned him in a thread the other day. He's probably severely decomposed by now. -
JoelStinty 9,530 posts
Seen 14 hours ago
Registered 8 years agoDo whatever you feel is best for you. Being in you thirties is weird as you feel like you should be getting your shit together, but I think it is probably the best age to put your mind to something. Older , more experienced, etc
I’m saving to take a year out next year to go travelling. Figured I spent all my years since uni trying to be an adult (not very well) and decided to give myself a break and come back refreshed.
Plenty of people change careers or retrain at our age so, no, don’t think it is fool hardy, may feel like it , but I think It is natural thing to do.
Good luck!
Edited by JoelStinty at 16:51:40 16-11-2017 -
Decks wrote:
If it helps I'm possibly as sad?
I thought this was a WHY ARE THERE NO SOCIAL GROUPS IN THEIR 30'S IM SO ALONE threads when I glanced at the title. I miss that guy..gif)
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Decks 31,013 posts
Seen 10 hours ago
Registered 6 years agoOk can we stop saying good luck please. If you say it three times he appears. -
Excellent, thankyou guys. I feel less foolish for seriously considering this.
I promise I'm an okay singer too so it's not like I'm trying to do something completely out of my skill set. -
whatfruitlivesagain wrote:
Yup, I've learned a lot about cooking but mostly I'm just overworked and under paid.
I would say definitely leave cheffing if you are not committed to it and hate it.
P.S I would rather eat shit off an AIDS ward floor than step back into a commercial kitchen.
I'm going to have to continue for a year until I enrol but having something to look forward to will help.
My ex and I were trying for a baby in the last 18 months and we ended up having an ectoptic (she almost died) and subsequent misscarriages. We had discussed giving up a few weeks before the split so I felt like there was nothing in my future.
This has given me something to look forward to. -
quadfather 39,069 posts
Seen 3 days ago
Registered 11 years agoI'd do it as otherwise, as nudistpete says, you'll always wonder what would have happened if you didn't do it.
I threw away an IT career once because I was so fucking sick of it, and did tropical plant indoor landscaping for a year, travelling about the east midlands. It was shit pay but it was a fucking great job. Totally glad I went for it, even if it was just for a year.
Admittedly, I'm back in IT now and I hate everything to the point where I want everything to explode, but that's not the point. -
JiveHound wrote:
So you decided to pursue a career in music?
whatfruitlivesagain wrote:
Yup, I've learned a lot about cooking but mostly I'm just overworked and under paid.
I would say definitely leave cheffing if you are not committed to it and hate it.
P.S I would rather eat shit off an AIDS ward floor than step back into a commercial kitchen.
o. -
THFourteen 54,987 posts
Seen 2 hours ago
Registered 16 years agoAs someone who has spent their whole life working "for the man" i always have respect for people who do something else and follow their dreams.
I have always played it safe, my life is incredibly safe, and never really had the balls to try anything different.
So go for it, worst case scenario you will die one day knowing you followed your dream, best case scenario you are happy and ultimate case scenario you are a millionaire.
Also side scenario we see you on xfactor in the future in the "oldies" category and lose all respect we ever had for you. -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoFriend of mine did it. Went from mowing lawns to making big bucks in IT and is so much happier for it. -
whatfruitlivesagain wrote:
Haha, true that.
JiveHound wrote:
So you decided to pursue a career in music?
whatfruitlivesagain wrote:
Yup, I've learned a lot about cooking but mostly I'm just overworked and under paid.
I would say definitely leave cheffing if you are not committed to it and hate it.
P.S I would rather eat shit off an AIDS ward floor than step back into a commercial kitchen.
o.
I'll take just a bit more fulfillment. -
@THFourteen Rest assured that I am allergic to Xfactor.
I did something like it years ago, basically to know my enemy and show that I knew what I spoke when criticising the whole talent phenomenon.
Needless to say even at grass roots these things are viciously exploititive. Won't be going down that road, I'll take backing singing the latest Ed Shitman if I have to. I just love singing. -
quadfather wrote:
Ha, not entirely sure what the takeaway from this is but thankyou all the same!
I'd do it as otherwise, as nudistpete says, you'll always wonder what would have happened if you didn't do it.
I threw away an IT career once because I was so fucking sick of it, and did tropical plant indoor landscaping for a year, travelling about the east midlands. It was shit pay but it was a fucking great job. Totally glad I went for it, even if it was just for a year.
Admittedly, I'm back in IT now and I hate everything to the point where I want everything to explode, but that's not the point. -
Tonka 31,979 posts
Seen 3 hours ago
Registered 18 years agoAlternatively there's a huge need for chefs in Sweden. Move here and get money for your long hours. -
spamdangled wrote:
I don't know but isn't it still free to go to Uni in Scotland? I think grants but being strict on who gets in is preferable to letting anyone in and accruing untenable debt.
I've thought about whether it's viable to go to Uni at my age as well.
Isn't Scotland making moves towards this being a valid choice?
Plus I can add skag to my list of addictions.
Edited by JiveHound at 17:06:24 16-11-2017 -
Tonka wrote:
I'll file that under Break-in-case-of-emergency
Alternatively there's a huge need for chefs in Sweden. Move here and get money for your long hours. -
You only live once.
If I had a talent I'd try to make a career put of it.
But apparently the world has enough fat wanking tramps.
.gif)
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