<p>I had my first photo show Friday. Unfortunately, none of my pictures sold.</p>
<p>But why worry about retirement when I have a son in college? He’s excellent in math and science and has the brains to support me in my old age. </p>
<p>Coincidentally, Friday, he switched his major to theater. Yeah. My comfortable future is assured.</p>
<p>OMG. So funny!</p>
<p>This made me LOL, and deserves the “Best CC thread of the day” award. :D</p>
<p>Maybe I’ll start a “CC Parents Fund” when I’m a Mental Health/Substance Abuse Social Worker.</p>
<p>Although they don’t make so much…hm. Possible flaw.</p>
<p>Oh, Northstarmom. My D was a theater major for two years and then switched to science (biology). We were sad to see her give up on her theater and she really did have talent. </p>
<p>She starts medical school in August. You just never know. He maybe has to follow his own north star?</p>
<p>Hey, math+science+acting worked for Bill Nye!</p>
<p>Great post.</p>
<p>Hey NSM… If selling out doesn’t offend your artistic sensibilities too much, you could supplement your income by making head shots for your actor son and all his theatre buddies. :D</p>
<p>Congrats on your 1st photo show–hope you have many more & they are increasingly successful!</p>
<p>Our D has been going round & round about what to major in. Originally, she was trying to please US & tamp down her love of art. I could never figure that out but she vowed never to be a starving artist. Now she has decided she wants cinema–virtual reality/animation with possible neuroscience for good measure. Will be interesting to see what comes next–oh yea, German for summer school. It’s quite a switch from sociology (guess she thought I’d be honored since that was my undergrad major?)</p>
<p>congratulations, Northstarmom! Hang in there, it doesn’t get any better. ;)</p>
<p>The good thing is that as an artist you never have to retire!</p>
<p>Many professions don’t mandate retirement–one of my great great uncles was still teaching at flagship U as a professor emeritus of economics through his 90s!</p>
<p>As an artist, you’re neither compelled to or able to retire! Or want to, for that matter.</p>
<p>Yea, my D can never stop drawing–at least she hasn’t since she’s been able to hold a pencil! Don’t expect she will & neither does she.</p>
<p>I was thinking about becomeing a phone psychic…do people still do that ?</p>
<p>Sounds like you should keep your day job for the moment…but sending great kudos for following your bliss!</p>
<p>Did he REALLY switch his major to theater? My husband (who used to be in the “business”) would tell him…“get a LOT of technical experience.” There are always jobs for the technical folks (lights, sound, sets, costumes, stage management, etc). </p>
<p>I think it’s great…so many are going away from the arts because of money. It’s wonderful to see someone follow their passion.</p>
<p>Thumper,
Thanks so much for the info. Yes, he really switched his major to theater. He seems to have found his love in that. S is concentrating on the tech side. He loves technical things, and always has noticed the tech side of theater even while following the plot. </p>
<p>I remember that when he was 8, we saw Miss Saigon in NYC. At the very beginning, he whispered to me, “I think she’s going to die” about the main female character. Then, in the scene in which people were fleeing Saigon, my son was figuring out how they got the helicopter on stage. That’s mainly what he talked about after the show.</p>
<p>He loves doing lights, constructing sets, etc. </p>
<p>I am thinking that he may follow in the footsteps of a friend who graduated from Grinnell in physics then studied theater design or something similar in London, and now constructs sets for a university’s opera company. He lives a comfortable, happy life.</p>
<p>I’d love to hear more advice from your husband. Is he retired or did he switch fields?</p>