DRUMMER CAFE

I just got a call to do a short run on a cruise ship as a replacement for a guy who isn't cutting the gig. I was recommended by a friend and former ship Musical Director of mine who is currently in the band on the ship. It's only a 17 day gig, and the money is okay. Not amazing, but better than what I'm turning teaching at the moment. Essentially, I've been trying to build a teaching practice on land for a few months now and I have one regular day at a high school that's been running since November, a few private students and some spot work at other high schools which is about to turn into steady weekly work like at the first school.

My main concern is re-jigging my schedule to make both the Head of Music at the long-running school and the parents of my students happy. I'm considering offering them extra lessons in my private studio essentially free of charge during the next half-term to make up for 2 weeks of missed lessons, which are prepaid, etc. But I'm primarily worried about the effect on my reputation with the schools, and with my students. I'm unsure how to approach the HoM with this. He's an unpredictable chap who often remarks that he appreciates my consistency and how I run my tutoring at his school. The last thing I want when I'm building a teaching practise in a new city is to be known as someone who skips out at the drop of a hat, but I also need to keep my hand in the playing game for a variety of reasons.

I feel an obligation to my students, too. They've put their trust in me to guide them along and I don't want to give them the message that you can simply pick up and leave people hanging.

Oh, and I'd have to miss an audition which could - possibly - lead to a few paying gigs a month here in the UK.

Bird in hand, or the one in the bush?

Anybody had similar experiences balancing a teaching practise with touring? How did you handle the situation?

can you feign illness for 17 days?


man--that's a toughie. my inclination is to tell you to take the ship gig, mainly because while your gig at the school is steady, it's only one day a week. you could probably make that up in private lessons alone upon return [over time, at least].

do you think the ship gig will open some doors for you? and is your heart more into playing than teaching? if so, I would strongly consider climbing aboard the cruiser.

as for the students, I wouldn't worry too much. you could either get the lessons in before you leave, or when you get back. you can give them a little extra to work on while you're gone so they stay challenged. I used to go months without a lesson coz my teach was touring. it can be validation for the student [and parents] when they know the instructor is actively gigging. 


**taps chin and looks upward**


this is a fairly short-term gig, so I think the reward outweighs the risks. go for it.

I've been in similar transitional periods several times.
I find it's best to sit yourself down and decide what your priorities are and what your future is going to be.
I'm guessing you've done the cruising lark.
With a relationship on the go and a new country to get to grips with, you might continue to put all your energies into establishing yourself.

Back to my first point..........
If you LOVE cruising, your partner doesn't mind and you see the occasional cruise in your future......do it.
If you want to establish the teaching thing........you have to be 100% committed.
If you want to advance your giging potential on land, I would also not miss that audition.

 

People's perceptions are not tied to reality.
When I semi-retired from drumming and interviewed for film scoring gigs, I found film people thought my drumming career was a real negative. They assumed I was just playing with the idea of being a composer, and would drop the ball at the first plum drumming gig that came along.
When I moved to Australia and interviewed for teaching jobs, the first question employers asked me was if I was in Oz for the long haul, or likely to disappear back to the UK if things didn't go well after six months.

Even if people aren't hiring you for a long term gig, or don't even have a job for you right then and there, they want to know you are 110% committed to the career path you've chosen.
Don't ask me why. 
I guess there are generally too many applicants for two few jobs, and the bar keeps getting pushed higher for newbies.

**doink**


okay--I lose. 

though I did ask where your heart was [eg; determine your desires/priorities].

it sounds like you made the decision that sits best with you, and that counts for a lot. it's always rough when you wind up second-guessing.

believe it or not, I was offered a drumming gig overseas. actually it was drumming and percussion. all-expenses paid, daily stipends, a chance to see the world...and I totally turned it down. why? because I have a good thing going on at my job, I got a big promotion, I NEED to get grounded and stable at this point in time, I don't do percussion, and I wasn't really into the music.

my friends all thought I was nuts, but I did the right thing for me. the whole econonomy is too crazy right now for me to throw away a steady job with good pay for 4 months of "glory." I want to reach other milestones first.

enjoy your choice!