I don't want a 9 to 5 job.

Well here's my opinions. I don't like school either, I considered dropping out of high school for a long time, I barely survived is what I feel like. But I decided not to go to college. I guess I have had some similar thoughts to you, but there are many issues with your situation.

It kind of sucks, because it can be hard to find many jobs until you turn 18, and even then, in todays economy, a $10 an hour gig is not enough to afford the costs of living. I'd invest in a bike, a car and gas will be too much money, renting a place will be hard, and sadly CA is about the worst place to go if you don't have money right now. Although more jobs are found in cities.

to move out, you will each have to have about $2000 on hand, and then a steady way to pay for rent. The more people you have the better, and you better be very certain that the people you have met online are really committed to this. Not to say what you're doing isn't possible. But don't think it will be the easy street, you may have to work harder to get to a good place, but once you get there, you've probably ended up learning more.

Find a good alternative though, just because you're out of school doesn't mean you shouldn't be learning. Try volunteering around places near you, pick up a cause, this will make it way easier to get a job too. Connections is your best bet, and it is a good start to have met these people online, have you seen each other in person yet though?

 

So you still have 2 years before you can go ?

Yes, I had enough of being told what to do and I learn a lot better about my own interests than I ever did in school. In the last 2 years my results weren't as good as the previous years, but there's prob knowledge and skills you can use later for your own ends.

I'm going to say what you don't want to hear.
Please try to finish HS.

 

^Agreed. Look man, I hated school. My last years I started cutting classes and smoking pot and dropping acid. And I got by, it's not that hard. I sucked at tests, I didn't do a lot of hw, and I got out. And I can't tell you how great of a feeling that was. And again, I have to express, everything is about connections, meet people in your situation at school. I have friends who didn't go to college, they have fun ideas that get you to start thinking what you are going to do.

It's not a bad idea to have an album planned, but don't rely on it for survival. The truth is we all have to work jobs we hate until we get somewhere. But don't you think you'll meet people that have similar ideas? Having a fun co-worker will mean more to you than us on these forums. But if you really branched out, that could change

 

Being a musician is a noble trade, but have a look at the top touring acts, except a few scattered pop shit acts, do you see anything but old school? No. That's because it's the boomers with the dough they are after... the music industry is in the pits right now due to a tumultuous transition to digital distribution, and with all the piracy and illegal downloading, live performance is the only way to make money, your recordings serving only as promo.

Clubs are closing everyday due to the down economy, more musicians than ever are fighting for less and less gigs. In todays economy you will "pay to play" for a good bit, then it's still a long hard road with no guarantee you'll ever break even. believe me, financial hardship is one of the worst things for a bands moral.

Believe it or not, most upstart touring bands have someone in the group with daddys plastic keeping the ship afloat...
If you think you are good enough why not try being a street musician? I used to make 50-100 bucks a day when I lived in the city...2-3 hours total playing time.

's all I got, good luck and have fun!

from wiki;
Rank Actual gross Inflation
(adjusted 2012 gross) Artist Tour name Year(s) Shows Attendance Average
gross (millions) Average
attendance Reference

1 $736,421,586 $760,823,721 U2 360º Tour 2009–11 110 7,272,046 6.7 66,110 2 $558,255,524 $625,719,239

The Rolling Stones A Bigger Bang Tour 2005–07 144 4,680,000 3.8 32,500 [3]

3 $441,121,000 $470,134,147 AC/DC Black Ice World Tour 2008–10 167 4,846,965 2.6 29,023

4 $407,713,266 $441,673,561 Madonna Sticky & Sweet Tour 2008–09 85 3,545,899 4.79 41,716 [7] 5 $389,047,636 $448,515,796 U2 Vertigo Tour 2005–06 131 4,619,021 2.96 35,259 [8]

6 $377,368,148 $377,368,148 Roger Waters The Wall 2010-12 192 3,056,048 1.9 16,700 [9]

7 $358,825,665 $387,332,062 The Police The Police Reunion Tour 2007–08 156 3,300,912 2.3 21,160 [10]

8 $336,017,048[e] $468,786,069 The

Rolling Stones Bridges To Babylon Tour / No Security Tour 1997–99 143 5,576,032 2.3 38,993 [11]

9 $316,365,576[f] $482,528,321 The Rolling Stones Voodoo Lounge Tour 1994–95 124 6,336,776 2.6 51,103 [12]

10 $299,520,230 $378,409,784 The Rolling Stones Licks Tour 2002–03 115 3,470,945 2.6 30,182 [13]

11 $279,200,000 $301,380,649 Celine Dion Taking Chances Tour 2008–09 132 2,600,000 2.9 27,424 [14][15]

12 $251,112,882[e] $267,628,928 Eagles Long Road Out Of Eden Tour 2008–11 155 2,001,773 1.6 12,915 [4][5][6][16]

13 $250,000,000 $392,007,185 Pink Floyd The Division Bell Tour 1994 110 5,500,000 2.3 45,000 [17][18] 1

4 $235,000,000 $253,669,243 Bruce Springsteen Magic Tour 2007–08 100 2,198,353 2.4 21,983 [19][citation needed] 15 $227,400,000 $234,935,148

Lady Gaga The Monster Ball Tour 2009-2011 201 2,500,000 1.13 12,438 [20] 16 $221,500,000 $279,840,087

Bruce Springsteen The Rising Tour 2002–03 120 3,232,384 1.8 31,081 [21][22][23]

17 $217,245,629[d] $231,534,179 Metallica World Magnetic Tour 2008–10 187 2,699,211 1.4 16,976 [24][25][5]

18 $210,650,974 $227,385,843 Bon Jovi Lost Highway Tour 2007–08 99 2,157,675 2.1 21,794 [19]

19 $205,000,000[g] $297,495,314 Cher Living Proof: The Farewell Tour 2002–05 326 3,500,000 0.6 10,800 [26]

20 $201,000,000 $214,220,052 Bon Jovi The Circle Tour 2010 80 1,909,234 3.8 36,023 [6]

21 $194,754,447 $224,523,780 Madonna Confessions Tour 2006 60 1,210,294 3.2 20,171 [27]

22 $185,175,360 $191,311,348 Take That Progress Live 2011 35[h] 1,806,473 5.3 51,613 [28][29]

23 $171,677,027 $244,792,229 U2 PopMart Tour 1997–98 93 3,870,803 1.8 42,322 [30]

24 $167,000,000 $180,910,191 Bruce Springsteen Working On A Dream Tour 2009 80 1,831,770 2.1 22,897 [5]

25 $165,000,000 $238,880,597 Michael Jackson HIStory World Tour 1996-97 82 4,500,000 2.0 54,878 [31]

26 $160,000,000 $215,930,435 Cher Do You Believe? Tour 1999–2000 180 3,000,000 1.31 18,750 [citation needed]

27 $151,000,000 $242,935,729 U2 Zoo TV Tour 1992–93 157 5,350,554 0.96 34,080 [30][32]

28 $149,900,000 $159,759,133 Pink Funhouse Tour/Funhouse Summer Carnival Tour 2009–10 163 2,331,756 0.92 14,305 [5][6]

29 $142,977,988 $147,715,720 Bon Jovi Bon Jovi Live 2011 57 1,519,598 2.5 26,659 [33][34][35][36]

30 $142,844,463 $187,488,391 U2 Elevation Tour 2001 112 2,162,282 1.3 19,306 [37]

31 $141,000,000 $158,039,480 Tim McGraw and Faith Hill Soul2Soul II Tour 2006–07 117 1,673,667 1.2 14,304 [38]

32 $135,000,000 $253,111,409 Pink Floyd A Momentary Lapse of Reason Tour 1987–89 199 4,250,000 0.68 21,250 [39][40]

33 $131,800,000 $142,778,222 Britney Spears The Circus Starring Britney Spears 2009 97 1,500,000 1.4 15,488 [5]

34 $131,388,461 $151,471,940 Bon Jovi Have A Nice Day Tour 2005-06 78 1,823,834 1.7 23,382 [41]

35 $129,059,653 $144,656,173 Genesis Turn It On Again: The Tour 2007 46 1,262,393 2.8 27,443 [42][43]

36 $126,165,542 $163,023,154 Paul McCartney Driving USA Tour/Driving Japan Tour/Driving Mexico Tour 2002 58 988,077 2.2 17,036 [44][45]

37 $126,000,000 $136,009,892 Coldplay Viva la Vida Tour 2008-2010 111 1,700,000 1.3 18,085 [46]

38 $125,738,964 $247,090,862 Michael Jackson Bad 1987-89 123 4,498,300 1.0 36,571 [47][48]

39 $124,790,787 $147,653,277 Madonna Re-Invention World Tour 2004 56 896,787 2.1 16,428 [49]

40 $123,101,131 $129,142,012 Taylor Swift Speak Now World Tour 2011-2012 111 1,631,957 1.1 19,000 [50]

41 $120,000,000 $151,606,368 Christina Aguilera and Justin Timberlake Stripped Live... on Tour/Justified & Stripped Tour 2003

 

You will change your world view hundreds of times before you get 20. And you really don't know shit when you are 16.

I know you have heard it alot, but it is really true. I think everyone at some point thinks something similar to "Fuck you, I might be 16 but I am intelligent and know shit, I am different, blah blah blah" and then, few years later you see that you were wrong.

You might even start liking being corporate slave. You might completly drop the hippie world-view. No one knows, neither do you.

Go, finish school. Yes it is mostly pointless, yes no one likes it, yes it is mostly waste of time, yes you won't make use of most things you learned. All you need is a paper. And this paper gives you ability to become someone.

You have got huge possibility of failing in this area. You might become millionaire, but most people end up under the bridge.

You have nearly completed school. Why not wait 2 more years? Develop artistically, spiritually, whatever, in your free time.

 

I don't think you will be stuck working a 9 to 5. Enjoy this because you will rarely be getting anything else that you want.

 

I feel you, but really getting a High School Diploma is worth so much more.
Yes, you can GET BY with a GED, but it probably won't be easy. You have one friend that lucked out and makes more money than your dad. Okay, but it can't happen for everyone.

I hated being at school, still do, but not as much.
I got through three out of the four years, and now on my last year I have enough credits to go every other day and take a class online.
It works wonders on my happiness, as going to school everyday is just demoralizing for me.

Also I started taking classes that I'm interested in that challenge me, I've never been the kid with good grades, but I'm taking two college level classes. Why? Because they're fucking interesting. I'm learning more about the Government and Literature. If you find something that you're interested in, it'll worth it even when doing the heavy schoolwork that accompanies it.

Talk to your counselor man, work out your options. It's your life, so ultimately it'll be your decision, but I would strongly advise getting your High School degree.
It's hard enough for people with college degrees to get jobs, you really want to drop yourself two notches below that?

I'm not saying not finishing High School will make you less of a person, but in an employer's eyes it will. If you're not going to college AT LEAST finish High School man.

This is long, but I've had the same sort of attitude at one point or another, and I realized it wasn't right for me. It may be different for you, but at least consider some of what I'm saying.

 

Getting a highschool degree does not fuck up your dreams. See past the near future and realize you will not remain the same. You are fully in development and making your dreams come through obviously require some sacrifices. If you are not willing to give in to something you dislike now you most likely will regret it in the near future.
You just seem like the typical impatient teenager not willing to take advise that does not go along with your short term plans. I think it is great you don't look for this almost forced way of living financial stabile (seriously) but you have to be pragmatic to make it. Being pragmatic often means making consessions. This does not mean making a consession that will make you hate your life obviously. But that does not include getting your hs degree as most people with retrospect tell you here.

 

BY the way if you are working 11pm to 7am when are you going to gig dumbass?

Here is a typical gig schedule:

7pm-8pm: Load in and possibly soundcheck (If you're lucky).
9pm: First Act goes on.
9:45pm: First set is over the first band takes down and second band sets up.
10:00pm: Second band goes on.
10:45pm: Second band takes down third band sets up.
11pm: Third band plays their set.
12am: Show's over.

Then you have to load out. You'll probably want to hang out and socialize, network etc. to insure that you get more gigs expect to be there until last call so you can get payed. If you're lucky you'll get $100 for the night to split between all of your band members. If you got stuck in a "Pay to Play" situation pray that the bar sold at least $1000 in drinks otherwise you owe the difference.

If you think that you are going to gig Friday or Saturday night forget it. You don't do that until you can pack the house Monday through Thursday.

Harsh Reality only about 1% of musicians are able to make a living playing music. By 1% that doesn't mean "Rock Star" that means pay the bills on a shitty apartment. That 1% usually have to cut their hair, put on a suit, and play music they hate to people who aren't listening and are continually asked to "please turn down." Sounds like an office job to me.

By the way you see the picture at the bottom of this post. That's me, that's my bass that I worked 7 days a week at a minimum wage job to buy. I've played professionally in the United States and Europe. I've studied with world renowned musicians that still had to give lessons to make ends meet. I do shit I don't want to do all the time to be able to do what I want to do. It's called being an adult.

You are young and sound like you have shitty judgment which is normal for youth. You have a romanticized view of what life as an artist/musician is you probably don't know any professional musicians in real life so you haven't seen or heard what it is like from someone who is living it. That's where I was lucky. My dad always introduced me around to the gigging musicians that he knew who all had day jobs. I got to see what they did and how they lived so that any of the romanticized delusions I had before I got into it were quickly dissolved.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

finish high school, even if you put in the bare minimum and do just enough to get your degree, you'll be happy you did. like others have said, you're at a time in your life that the majority of people think that they have everything figured out - myself included. the truth is that you're too young to have any idea how the world really works - not because you're not intelligent, but because you just haven't had the time to learn enough to even begin to understand everything. i'm 25 and i'm nowhere close to figuring out what the fuck is going on. listen to the older guys here and educate yourself.

after high school i took a year off to work and then went to university to study business. i dropped out a month into the second year, totally disillusioned with the world and with the same 'fuck the system' feelings that you have. i had decided to not go back to school because i thought it was pointless, until i discovered that i needed an education to get any sort of job where i could actually do anything to help people or try and fix the system. i'd love to work as a addiction counsellor, so in january i'm going back to school to get my degree so that i can actually get a job where i can make a difference.

like others have said, don't close any doors at this stage in your life.

 

well, the good news is that 9 to 5 jobs are pretty rare anymore. of course, most teenagers are nocturnal and then they grow out of it and actually want to sleep at night.

well, not if you live in new york city. in most of the country, minimum wage is more than enough to get by (not much more than enough, but more than enough anyway).

not that i'm endorsing dropping out. most minimum wage jobs are miserable for reasons beyond the low pay.

 

No disrespect, but that is a complete crock of shit.
I would lay it out for you but I'm too busy fuming right now...:bomb:

 

20 bucks an hour is barely enough to get by if you have a family and a house.

 

well, i wasn't including conditionals. if you have 80 kids, a boat, and a coke habit, $500,000 a year is probably not enough to afford the cost of living. all i'm saying is that a single person can survive comfortably on a full time $7.70 an hour job.

i'm not just making this up, i lived on a dollar or less above minimum wage for about 4-5 years, while paying off student loans and living in pretty decent apartments the whole time.

 

^^^ Oh while paying off student loans too... Me thinks you exaggerate:coffee:When?Where? Western Oklahoma? Southern Arkansas? perhaps Missouri...
Here in Montana we just cracked 7.65 hr last year...nowhere near a living wage even for a single guy with no vices.

 

I seriously doubt the OP is even reading this anymore since he had a fit like a spoiled brat when no one gave him the advice he wanted to hear. I'll probably see him on Polk Street Hustling in a couple of years.

Stay Brown,
Rev J

 

ohio, approximately mid 2008 to end of 2011. so i guess it was only 3.5 years, although i also did it during a majority of 2007. during that time minimum went from $7 gradually up to the current $7.70. my wages ranged from $7.30 (only for a couple months, it was usually at least $8) to $8.70. monthly loan payment is $167. admittedly, the loan did go into deferral at the beginning of 2010 when i went back to school.

there was one period in there that i was allowed a decent amount of overtime, but there were also a couple periods when i was only working about 30 hours a week.

 

OP, if you're still out there, what is the medical condition that you have, and how long do the doctors expect that you will live?

 

I got my High School Equivalency, but then i still got my diploma after learning the equivalency is only good in California.. You gotta play the game, the system doesn't like it when people think they can live outside it.

 

Agreed, but in California! Have fun affording that on minimum wage, I don't care if you don't care about money, that'll be tough!

Minimum wage drops are just a torture that all of us go through, get a job before you decide to drop school, that'll make you finish HS!