On Wed, 31 Dec 2014 18:15:15 -0600, amdx <
noj...@knology.net> wrote:
>I would have liked to see him finish
>and then flounder with job prospects, but he didn't.
> He keeps saying he has an interest in music, he plays guitar, talks
>about mixing but has no equipment except a computer.
I had a similar problem with a former ladyfriend's son. He was
studying to be an architect, but preferred to play guitar with his
friends. At one point, he announced that he was dropping out of
college to become a professional musician. His mother panicked and
volunteered me to talk to him on the assumption that my sledge hammer
style of diplomacy and tactless pragmatism might have some effect.
I expected a long dragged out battle, but instead found the right
pitch line on the first try. It told him that I knew plenty of
architects that play guitar on the side, but no guitarists that dabble
in architectural design on the side. I didn't even have to threaten
him with being grounded, disinherited and thrown out of the house. He
eventually finished college, apprenticed with the strangest
architectural firm in the area, got married (twice), and is now
gainfully employed. He occasionally plays the guitar.
> I've got about $25,000 into his education so far and don't mind
>spending some more to get him on a track.
Throwing good money after bad? Unfortunately, you may need to do that
anyway. Which would you rather pay, tuition or bail money? The real
problem is that if quits now, even temporarily, the odds are very much
against him ever going back to college.
> What are some job categories in music, music recording, studio
>recording. I don't know! What should he be learning?
This is all very familiar to me. I wanted to write music instead of
becoming an engineer. However, in the late 1960's, the decision was
easy. I could go to college, study something that qualifies for a
student deferment, or I could play soldier in Viet Nam. The decision
was a no-brainer. In retrospect, I was a fairly lousy composer and
worse musician, but that wasn't obvious to me at the time.
He should be studying anything EXCEPT music. I've watched several
kids grow up to be musicians of various sorts. It was study music
100% of their time. Only the very best make money doing music, which
incidentally requires a well placed mentor. If he fails to make the
grade for entrance into one of the top conservatories, he's going
nowhere.
>I know this is very open ended, because he doesn't know what he wants.
He wants the opposite of whatever you want.
>Just venting and looking for ideas, he will do what he wants when he
>finds it, but I figure my job is to put things in his path until he
>trips on something.
I think you should introduce him to the merits of alternative
employment, such as those found on the TV series "Dirty Jobs". I
suspect that he'll find something less disgusting rather quickly.
Otherwise, just throw him out of the house and let him discover the
value of holding a job.
> As I told him when he went to college, explore everything on campus
>until you find what tweaks you! I think he played video games instead.
Exploring what the college has to offer is like going to Disneyland
for a reality check. College is not real. My illusions of what an
engineer did on the job were very different from what I "learned" in
college. (Details on request). Unless he's worked his way through
college with relevent jobs in the "real world", he's not going to find
anything in college.
>Any Ideas?
Just one. Don't let him quit college. Use a carrot, stick, bribe, or
threats, whatever it takes to keep him in skool. However, if he
quits, keep the money and teach him Spanish so he can get a job at
McDonald's.
Sheesh... talk about off topic.
--
Jeff Liebermann
je...@cruzio.com
150 Felker St #D
http://www.LearnByDestroying.com
Santa Cruz CA 95060
http://802.11junk.com
Skype: JeffLiebermann AE6KS
831-336-2558