Boston

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 6:41 pm

Okay, well this is kind of music related. Actually, you guys are really kool and honest, and I know we are all spread out all over the place. Im curious about the Boston area. How kool it is, the music scene and all that. Its that time to be looking into college (actually a little late but yeah..) and I really really want to go to Berklee if at all possible. Iv never been anywhere near Boston and was just curious about the place.

None of you happened to go to Berklee did you? Iv been looking it up online and it just seems like it would be the perfect school for me.

Thanks,
Jacob

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:12 pm

I went to Berkeley ... UC Berkeley that is ... on the other coast ... I studied architecture ...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:14 pm

He is hip, he is cool, he done went to the Berklee school....

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:25 pm

So is that the other Berkeley iv heard of? Because I never knew it was a really big music school until recently. Now that i know theres 2... i guess it kinda all makes sense.

My dad got into architecture. Im not 100% sure what he does because I stoped talking to him. I just know thats what he did.
Mother always wanted me to get into that or computers it seemed.

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:45 pm

That would be Berkeley California ...

Studying music would be fun ... but I would say you would be better off getting a professional degree in a field that rewards education with pay ... as opposed to the music field ...

sabbath_of_bass · Post by **sabbath_of_bass** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 7:48 pm

I know what your talking about, I really do. I have this problem where I cant do anything unless im enjoying it or Im interested in it or i see a point to it. I would completely flunk out of a normal college. Not to mention theres little i want to study in a normal college. About the only normal career id be any good at is Graphic design, or something art based. Which I was going to give into. But after checking out Berklee, I guess I see that theres more I can do then just playing. Id preffer to be doing something musicial then artistic if i dont get my way ya know?

jnbass · Post by **jnbass** » Fri Nov 17, 2006 11:04 pm

they gotta wicked cha-dah!

rickfan63 · Post by **rickfan63** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:10 am

I don't know any field outside the medical or legal or tech fields that rewards education with pay. Most fields of work I've seen value experience much more than education itself. And I have a college degree, but I live in the southeast, so things might be different here than in other areas of the country. It's the old catch 22. You can't get experience without a job and you can't get a job without experience. Internships help somewhat, but I don't know how much value firms really put on them. When I worked in the media, interns were considered little more than non-paid gofers that every now and then were allowed to do something. I'm not complaining, mind you, that's just how it was. After all of that I agree with Rath, get into a field where you have a chance to make some money.

green_us90 · Post by **green_us90** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 4:45 am

Overall the music scene in the greater Boston area is pretty good. Lots of QUality Blues Bars (no pun intended) in the Boston area and in Lowell, about 30 miles outside of Boston, the jazz scene kicks. Its a very innaresting city.

BOught 2 of the three Rickenbackers I own/owned there too so that doesn't hurt!

eddied · Post by **eddied** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:12 am

Just for the record. It is VERY VERY expensive to live in Boston. There are numerous options and opportunities for gigging, but the competition is fierce. Clubs don't pay well. There is always something to do if you have the $ I have lived North of Boston all my life and the changes are stunning in the music scene.

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:22 am

And Berklee ain't cheap.

Randy's right re: compensation. Newbies to most fields are guaranteed to be little but cannon fodder for corporate interests.

No matter how you look at it, though...if you aren't doing something that you love for a living, life can be pretty grim.

So you end up with a common dilemma: How much BS can you stand while pursuing your interests and trying to stay alive?

Tangent tale:

One of my students came from a rural upbringing in a remote part of the States to study Transportation Design. My University has an open enrollment policy as part of its charter: there is no portfolio review, which every other good design school in the USA requires. You simply pay your tuition and you're accepted.

There are good points and bad points associated with this policy. The good is that many students without portfolios turn out to be natural talents with a great work ethic. The bad is that many students with neither talent nor work ethic burn out.

The student in question borrowed heavily to attend our school and to live in San Francisco ($$$), and stuck it out for three years with only mediocre progress. He finally decided to throw in the towel--two classes short of an AA degree (which is pretty worthless, anyway), and owing the government loan program over $100K.

He's working with cars, all right--at a hot rod shop, making about $15.00 an hour and partying his a** off, at age 25.

How's he going to pay off the $100K when the payments begin in six months?

Moral--even in school/location selection, you need talent, a goal, excellent planning, and good advice.

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:22 am

I have five close friends who go to Berklee. It is mecca if you want to study music, but you're gonna pay through the nose. It might even be more expensive then NYU.

grayk · Post by **grayk** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 5:56 am

Jacob, I live in Yorkshire in England but my Brother In Law lives in a Boston suburb. I have visited a few times and found it to be a great place. I obviously couldnt vouch for the education but I would say that a big city like that will probably have a vibrant music scene. You would meet like minded musos etc. It is also a great place to see great bands as every band has Boston on its tour schedule. Good luck !

jwr2 · Post by **jwr2** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:04 am

I took a few years off between high school and college ... I grew up and got a work ethic ... so that when I went to college I was serious and I was not there to party ...

If I went to college right out of high school then I would have studied art and music and I would have gotten some useless liberal arts degree that would not have gotten me a good paying job ...

The music business is like the movie business ... most actors have to earn a living waiting tables ... most musicians need a "day" job ...

sloop_john_b · Post by **sloop_john_b** » Sat Nov 18, 2006 6:13 am

I appreciate you trivializing what I do Jeff, thanks. The future's bleak, huh?