Musicians, Artist career changers?

RNator · Feb 22, 2016

Do you still do music?

Yes I do, but cover band stuff. It's fun, but not the same as pursuing a more creative life. I actually envy some local musicians that I know, who live a very meager existence, but live music, and live very simply. I've been caught up in the whole trap; "go to work, have a nice house, have a nice yard, have a nice car, appear successful," while living a boring calculated life, and it's past my time to get out of it and pursue a life of music as a way of life any longer. I do have a wife and children and a grandchild, I wouldn't trade any of this, but it's not an acceptable substitute for the artistic mind... It's not easy to verbalize....

Farawyn · Feb 22, 2016

Yes I do, but cover band stuff. It's fun, but not the same as pursuing a more creative life. I actually envy some local musicians that I know, who live a very meager existence, but live music, and live very simply. I've been caught up in the whole trap; "go to work, have a nice house, have a nice yard, have a nice car, appear successful," while living a boring calculated life, and it's past my time to get out of it and pursue a life of music as a way of life any longer. I do have a wife and children and a grandchild, I wouldn't trade any of this, but it's not an acceptable substitute for the artistic mind... It's not easy to verbalize....

Music makes us feel young and free. I get it.

magickbubble · Feb 23, 2016

Great question! I am from a dance and visual arts world. I find many performance opportunities in nursing. Starting an IV during a code is almost the same feeling as walking into a stage. Everyone is watching and you have to nail it. Dressings require a certain artistic eye to be comfortable and practical. Teaching family and patients is a verbal performance. Also, just having he poise and endurance to gracefully endure the long hours is a marathon of athletic skill and performance determination. Being a nurse is a role. I find I am able to provide unconditional positive regard because I know what being in character means. Without art, dance, and theatre there would be no nurse me. I would not kno where to begin to do all this!

jobellestarr · Feb 25, 2016

I was an art major in college and changed to nursing so I could feed my family. Although, I have always found time for my art (fiber), I wished I had chosen my career a little more carefully. I think I would have chosen Occupational Therapy. It seems to fit me more and not all the crazy hours and all the rest of the "stuff" in nursing.

maggiesulfate · Feb 25, 2016

Interests change, priorities change, let your dreams and talents change too!

Wrench Party · Mar 2, 2016

I absolutely despise this idea that our identities are our careers. That crap got fed to us again with the rise of the New Tech/Apple cult in the past few decades, and it's infected the whole Millennial generation (i.e. the concept that you can't work a job that you don't find absolutely filling).

You Are Not Your Job. Repeat after me.

That being said, nursing allows me to make a decent living for hours worked, and pursue all my other interests (gardening, sports, community work, etc.). I love the fact I get to punch a time clock and leave all that ish at the hospital. My former career made me take my work home at night/weekends/odd hours, so I enjoy the fact my work (the patients) stays and I leave!

nursewandy · Mar 2, 2016

I absolutely despise this idea that our identities are our careers. That crap got fed to us again with the rise of the New Tech/Apple cult in the past few decades, and it's infected the whole Millennial generation (i.e. the concept that you can't work a job that you don't find absolutely filling).
You Are Not Your Job. Repeat after me

Though the idea that our identities are our careers or defined by them may be despicable it didn't get passed to us from the tech Apple cult. Long long before this century people were known by there jobs. The butcher, the baker, the plumber, the doctor, the carpenter, the banker. I grew up knowing that Mr B was the plumber and Mr J the electrician. My dad was the doctor. The tech world if anything liberated us from those confines. You didn't have to do what your parents did.

I don't want to and never will be defined by my job, I've had too many, lbeing defined as a nurse isn't too bad if I had to choose.

RNator · Mar 4, 2016

I think I stated myself clearly, but if not, here goes. I am a nurse, always wanted to be. But first I fell in love with music...right from the womb you might say. I could not live without music. Music, listening or performing is the ONLY thing that makes me feel THAT WAY. Family, job, etc are all good, but nothing takes the place of music. It's an unshakable obsession/love.

Farawyn · Mar 4, 2016

I think I stated myself clearly, but if not, here goes. I am a nurse, always wanted to be. But first I fell in love with music...right from the womb you might say. I could not live without music. Music, listening or performing is the ONLY thing that makes me feel THAT WAY. Family, job, etc are all good, but nothing takes the place of music. It's an unshakable obsession/love.

:inlove:

Rocknurse, MSN, APRN, NP · Mar 4, 2016

I think I stated myself clearly, but if not, here goes. I am a nurse, always wanted to be. But first I fell in love with music...right from the womb you might say. I could not live without music. Music, listening or performing is the ONLY thing that makes me feel THAT WAY. Family, job, etc are all good, but nothing takes the place of music. It's an unshakable obsession/love.

Bravo! I feel the same. I'm so lucky in my current informatics job because I get to have my headphones on all day and I am permanently tuned to Spotify. It makes even the worst of days tolerable. Music changes the mood, enhances the mood, lifts the soul and speaks to the depth of us.

BookishBelle · May 7, 2017

Hi! I found your post today, and wondered what you have been up to? Any thoughts about artistic vs. nursing aspirations and how they work together now that you are a year farther along? I have been a part time classical piano teacher as well as doing weddings and playing with our various church bands for the last few decades, raising kids, enjoying my non stressful but poor life, but now headed to nursing school this fall so that I have some hope of retiring some day. (My husband is self employed) wondering how life is working out for you. I do appreciate everyone who has offered their perspective on this thread. My hope is I can bring different elements such as attention to detail, discipline, flair, to nursing and thus enjoy it, while still creating music and possibly teaching some select students? On the side. But it seems the 12 hour shifts are pretty random, so I don't know how I could schedule students. And if I worked clinic hours I would probably be too tired and needing to catch up with my family. Anyways, wondering how it is working for you?

Here.I.Stand, BSN, RN · May 8, 2017

Not a career change exactly, but I changed majors from music (vocal) to nursing when I was 20 or 21. I wanted job security and frankly my music program was sucking my joy. I still sing in church, although that is contemporary vs classical. I sing in the car -- it's a great way to de-stress after a shift! I have the desired job security. I'm mostly a SAHM now, but work weekends because I love nursing...but I know that if something happens to my husband I will be able to support my family. I recognize that the arts are important, and it feels good when someone tells me I "have a beautiful voice," but compared with someone gives me a hug and thanks me for caring for their loved one, who has been brain dead for several hours and is ready to go to the OR for an organ retrieval? Or thanks me for (with my team) saving their loved one's life? No comparison! :)