I finish college in May next year and I've got my band's record on the way and we're gigging regularly and working to expand the venue we play out, playing our first out of local area gig tomorrow.

I really want to get going on this and see the band go somewhere - but I don't know how to do that and support myself at the same time. I currently work 12 hours a week at a supermarket which has flexible hours etc, and live with my parents (who have said will help me out after college, albeit less so, but they're still incredibly supportive). I'll be able to take on extra hours at the place where I work when I finish college, but I don't want to be in the situation of having my part time job overtake my music - i.e. can't gig on day because of work (I can swap shifts usually, but still).

My main concern is I want this to go places, and I'm ok with not earning an incredible amount from music initially, it's just that I have my parents saying "there's this little thing called feeding yourself you've got to do" and while I agree, it just seems like you get in a band, work tirelessly and get nowhere with it - where the hell do I go? What direction do I take?

With our single produced by Jim Wirt coming out in October/November time (we'll set a release date at some point soon) I'm hoping to push for us to get into magazines like Alternative Press, Rocksound or anything that has pop/rock style music - but I just don't know how to gain traction...

Any insights? Billy Corgan's outlook seems to make life look pretty grim from May 2013 for me.

Don't let the negativity get you down!

you can still make make a million dollars in the music buiness ( provided you start with a sum greater than a million...)



My words of semi-wisdom ; always have a contingency plan!!


.

Seeking advice on the internet is your first mistake. Don't do that. Look inside yourself.

I can tell you this. If you decide to not try because you're afraid you'll fail, you made the correct choice.

Maybe.

On the other hand you might find that you're kicking yourself really hard 20 or 30 years down the road.

The time to take chances is when you're young.

However, a contingency plan is a good idea. Learn to tend bar.

No doubt. If I was going to give advice it would be that the things we usually end up regretting are the chances never taken.

You're still pretty young. Go out on a limb, but have a back-up plan so if it all goes pear shaped, you still have options.

As the Butthole Surfers wisely said
"It's better to regret something you have done rather than something you haven't












and if you see your Mom this weekend, be sure to tell her

SATAN. SATAN. SATAN.