In an ideal scenario, I would love to sustain myself through a full-time music career. However, the reality is that the music industry, like any other business, is susceptible to unforeseen circumstances. The pandemic serves as a prime example, disrupting live gigs and rendering them financially unsustainable for many musicians reliant on such performances.
Except for those fortunate songwriters or producers who have created numerous hits and continue to enjoy lifelong royalties, the truth remains that a career in music is not universally accessible. It caters to individuals with both privilege and unwavering determination.
Each person’s expenses and financial situation are unique, but even the wealthiest and most successful musicians I know have contingency plans in place in the event of unforeseen challenges or crises.
This is the motivation behind my determination to complete my studies and pass the board exam.
If a career in music doesn’t materialize, I have the option to return to any job related to chemistry.
I used to work in Makati, conducting water and soil analysis. However, the job didn’t last due to its demanding nature in terms of energy and time. I transitioned to academia, experiencing a rollercoaster of emotions. While I have a passion for teaching, I don’t envision myself pursuing further graduate studies.
During the peak of the pandemic, I engaged in client work in the service business, specifically in high-demand digital marketing. Initially, I began as a music producer for someone else, but I found it creatively exhausting. Consequently, I pivoted to a related audio field and started offering podcast editing services.
I expanded my role to become an all-encompassing admin assistant within the podcast niche. This involved handling tasks such as audio and video editing, managing publishing processes, and fine-tuning website and social media content for my clients. This broadened experience has opened up avenues for further exploration, including analytics, social media management, motion graphics, and various other possibilities.
Given this, the contingency plan involves maintaining a continuous learning approach to align with market demands. If there’s a need to acquire skills in website development, I am willing to delve into it. Similarly, if my ongoing tasks necessitate familiarity with AI, I’ll dedicate time to understand it.
It may be uncomfortable, but that’s been our way of progressing and surviving since the dawn of time—figuring things out as we move forward.
The downside of service business.
Doing a service business is great but at the end of the day, I’m responding to a demand.
For me, it’s a valuable stepping stone, but not a pursuit for a lifetime. This is why I’m passionate about beat making. Beyond the enjoyment it brings me, it serves as a means of creating something for myself. I’m building a catalog that I hope will support me in case there comes a time when I can’t engage in physical work anymore.
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Chaos to Clarity: Why I’m Into Beat Making
From 2016 to 2018, life was euphoric. College was completed, the board exam was passed, albums and EPs were launched, and job opportunities were flowing. Autotelic’s gigs were plentiful, yet the events overwhelmed me, leading to a lack of clarity. I went through a ‘self-help books’ phase, fueled by caffeine in my veins, exploring every…
Selling merch made me rich
Design Before I share my profit, let me show you the design I used for selling my merch. Keyskd Merch This design was created by Kenneth, and I can vouch for his good work ethic and expertise in anything related to media and production. I asked Kenneth to create a representation of my personal history,…
"Light Bulb" Out now on streaming platforms 
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