STDiva needs your advice. Again.

[STDiva]

As you may or may not already know, I have been planning to teach ESL in South Korea. I finished the course a few months ago and have been waiting for the right offer. I'm just not happy with my current job.(although it is great pay and I have job security) I am not happy living in this city and I just wanted to do something new and teaching ESL seemed like a great way to do that. If I were to leave, I would be expecting to be in South Korea within the next 2 months.

Now, while I have been waiting, some friends of mine have formed a band. They're pretty solid, have a steady following around the city, are going to be kicking out their bassist and have asked me to play with them. If I were to join, I would be expected to dedicate all my time to this. I would probably cut my hours at my job too. But the thing is...

...music is my life.

I've been playing guitar for almost 9 years now. I play everyday. I used to be in a "hardcore" band about 4 years ago. We played shows all over southern Ontario, Quebec and Michigan. We were actually pursued by a minor record label in Hamilton, but ended up disbanding because some of the members were getting into drugs pretty heavily and two us didn't want any part of that. What I'm trying to say is I miss it. It was a blast and I wish I could do it for a living. I'd rather just scrape by playing music than have my shit job now making pretty good dough.

So my question to you is, do I accept this position in the band, throw away the $1200 I spent on the course and chase a dream? Or do I just leave for South Korea, grow up, accept that most people hate what they do for a living and learn to deal with it.

DISCUSS!!

 

[ace.venturer]

This is a tough one. What is ESL? That would help me form an opinion.

 

[Galactic]

Join the band. A chance like this comes maybe once in a lifetime. If it doesn't work out, then do your overseas teaching then. There really isn't a time limit on that. But the band taking off......do you really want to miss the chance to be a possible part of that.....imagine....sitting in Korea, your buddies are well known in the states, and you are sitting there eating fish and rice......just sayin'.

 

[Galactic]

This is a tough one. What is ESL? That would help me form an opinion.

English as a second language.

 

[STDiva]

This is a tough one. What is ESL? That would help me form an opinion.

ESL is teaching English as a Second Language.

Join the band. A chance like this comes maybe once in a lifetime. If it doesn't work out, then do your overseas teaching then. There really isn't a time limit on that. But the band taking off......do you really want to miss the chance to be a possible part of that.....imagine....sitting in Korea, your buddies are well known in the states, and you are sitting there eating fish and rice......just sayin'.

Man I hate fish.

 

[ace.venturer]

English as a second language.

ESL is teaching English as a Second Language.

Thank you. :hatsoff:

Try the dream first. You only live once. I would join the band and if that doesn't work out you can always buy a flight to Korea. There will always be a queue of people who want to learn english until China take over the world.

 

[vaasta1987]

For the time being I would at least jam with the band for a couple times to get a good feeling of where theyre at and if they consider you as a fitting bassplayer. It sounds to me like you prefer music over teaching, so go for the band. Your saying your current job pays well, so try and combine your current job with the bassplaying. You'll have fun playing music, and you'll have a steady income.

And even if you choose for teaching, that doesnt mean you have to leave for Korea right now, can't you go there in half a year or so?

 

[jod0565]

Chase your dream - most people don't have the opportunity to do so.

Good luck, STDiva!

 

[Baba66]

Join the band. Chances like this don't come around that often.

 

[SgtMarine]

join the band, you can awlays teach ESL later in life. Plus if you love being in a band, then do what you love.

 

[Spleen]

Are you fucking kidding me? Do you know how many bands there are? And do you know how disposable bass players are? You'll be back out of the band within a year.

Do the ESL and go to Korea, you fucking idiot.

 

[JayJohn85]

Hey when you create a poll can you see who voted for what? I mean I went with same thing as spleen but some knob jockey's went with bottom option would wonder who.

 

[STDiva]

Hey when you create a poll can you see who voted for what? I mean I went with same thing as spleen but some knob jockey's went with bottom option would wonder who.

You can choose the option to make the poll public. I didn't.

 

[feller469]

my brother did this a few years ago and has loved it. Different culture, but Seoul is a major world city, plenty of Americans, Canadians, Europeans over there. Plenty of opportunities to make money. The more you put into it, the more you get out of it.

Best thing that ever happened to him

 

[lechepicha]

since you don't have any friends and are too pussy to go away, you should Kill yourself, of course.

 

[sdj374]

Join the band. That Kimchi is some nasty stuff. :throwup:

 

[Neutron66]

You might want to learn how to play the bass first. Guitar players always think they can play the bass (hey...it's got less strings!!!) but it's a different animal entirely.

 

[BlueBalls]

It is all well and good saying follow your dream, but as we all know it isn't as simple as that especially when it involves music which is such a cut throat medium where only 1% or less of the current crop of bands ever "make it" and become successful which I would think is what you would want. Don't give us this it's just about the music crap - you want the groupies, we all do.

From what I can see is you have a choice between job security with a fixed income with a huge risk that when viewed statistically has a high chance of failure. But, that being said you don't want to look back in 20 years even if the band fails and ask "what if?".

The choice at the end of the day is down to you, no matter what any of us say. It's your responsibility to make it and none of our opinions matter because we aren't going to have to live it.

 

[Embryoyo]

Only one thing is important... Do what makes you HAPPY. As far as I'm concerned, that's what life is all about.

 

[dadolfo]

Join the band, you seem to have made up your mind already. You're still presumably young, go for it. Like you said it's your DREAM you have to atleast give it a go. If you don't it's gonna haunt you FOREVER