College is kicking my ass :(

[illumina]

Re: College is kicking my ass

i did networking/web page work for the school, and for other companies... it paid for a good chunk of my college tuition.

Have you thought about giving guitar lessons to the newbies? (i assume yer on campus). Put a flyer or 200 around the local hangouts/music buildings.. I know a few people who did that, made 10 bucks for a session, and it helped them surive the semester... regardless, best of luck.

[Swillmaster]

Re: College is kicking my ass

[ QUOTE ]
Get a band and play for money.

[/ QUOTE ]

Good advice if you can get get regular gigs and hold your retail job. Big plus - girls dig guys in bands.

Are you in a state that has a lottery and puts a big percentage towards education? When I went to school in GA they were willing to make student loans to mediocre students (like me!). Of course, that was a <ahem> a few years ago.

[charvelguy]

Re: College is kicking my ass

I don't know..getting a gigging band is fine if you are paid cash under the table, even a portion under the table. It isn't like it was 20 years ago in a simpler time of the 80's. Now everything is internet related, computerized era- all quite trackable in a quick way.

I do not know about you guys..but last year I was jobbing for 50-80/night. It's great to have the extra income..but it may come back to slap ya upside the head.

After the gas it took to get to rehearsals or driving to the gig that was up to 45 minutes drive time away..a few drinks bar tab, occasional meals, strings, equipment upkeep..and the most dreaded.. that you have to report the income as taxable if the bar and the bandleader are of any reputable legit business. While I have done gigs where rehearsal isn't a prominent issue.. you do get the occasional anal retentive bandleaders that insist upon scheduling these at least once/week to 'keep up on new material'..that is fine, I'd rather rehearse new material before trying it live, but it also is a balance of my time.

While you can deduct many of those expenses including gear related purchases necessary for the making of the taxable income...in the long run.. unless you are pulling over 100-150 in a decent paying casino gig or the like..you end up paying to play. If you are a 1040EZ type of guy..and keep the extra gig money under a certain limit that it won't have to be reported.. then yes.. go for it. But if you start reaping in more than what the state allows as free from tax income from a business related venture (usually above 500.00) then you start going into the 'independent contractor' zone. In which case.. they better be paying you some pretty good cash to make it worth your while and it should be a locally oriented gig.

Plus gigs like that are extremely competitive. Most pro musicians making 150-200/night are traveling on the road..in which case, they don't have time for FT school.
there are quite a few pro musicians in nationally recognized acts that do make the attempt to get their MD while they still do the music thing, but they usually have started out doing national oriented gigs and are now planning for the years when the music will not be prominent consideration in their life. There's quite a few guys here that went on to become doctors after they did the FT band thing...and there are still alot of professional people that have the pet band project on the side..it's a part of them where they can cut loose from the 'office' environment and get crazy under the lights and be who they want to be.
So if you need to get it out of your system, better to do it now than when you are my age and still have the bug lingering to play out and perform.

Even in a normal job with gratuity, you have to claim the tips..but at least there you have control over what you claim as income. I think some states you may only have to claim a certain percentage of the gratuity.

Either way.. the potential for being in deep doo with the IRS later on down the road is less if you keep very good records and stay on top of what you take in.

Just some things to consider. Student loans will hopefully pay off in the long run..but don't default on those bad boys. I used to work in a credit related industry for a short period of time..it sucked. Lotta people trying to get a home loan and they can't because of defaulted student loan crap.

Anwyays, I do not want to discourage you, it's all good but you should consider the angles.
Chin up man...waiting tables sounds like a good way to go.