Crazy Debt....What were the parents thinking???

musicamusica
Mon, 04 May 2015 19:19:09 +0000

@sosconcern — the sort of things you are saying about the process of becoming a working singer demonstrate the sort of magical thinking many parents and young singers have on career developement. That the debt can be easily taken care of with a low level job. That there are supportive agents and donors out there who will readily support your career.They , like you, REALLY think it’s that easy. I will just move to NYC and become a “waiter/doorman/shortorder cook” and pay my loans, and sing on the side. Well, you do have a point since there are literally thousands of unsuccessful opera singers doing just this right now in NYC.
You think that these options have not occurred to this young man who at one time had been a finalist at the Met auditions? My D belongs to an online community of professional singers (a lot of names among the members that even neophytes would recognize.) They posted a question a month ago. “What is the most important career step for a young artist today?” Number ONE:
DO NOT INCUR DEBT PURSUING YOUR DEGREE. This was the overwhelming response by long shot.