FUTUREJOB NOW!

So, as I indicated last post, the winning job title, or rather related job-family is:

FIELD: arts / performing arts / music organizations

ROLE(S): communications / publicity / marketing / fundraising ______ (<-- where _________ is the title that would go with the level of seniority: assistant or coordinator or manager or director...)

There is an INSANE IRONY here in that, before I started grad school, this is the career I was "in” - it was a fledgling career, of course - consisting of two year-long entry-level communications / marketing positions, the first at a software company, the second in university administration. But, just because I feel like I’m in some bizarre time vortex does not mean I’m doing something wrong. I mean, avoiding a job that seems like a good fit because I’m afraid of ending up where I started doesn’t make sense to me.

Here are reasons for this choice of job-family above others. Note that I don’t have a complete picture of what all these jobs are like as of yet. (And further narrowing down is necessary - they’re related but different.)  But, based on my experience and research, I have a certain understanding of what it would be like to do these jobs full-time, and this is why I think they would fit me:

I thrive when I can provide creative / collaborative input to a team / structure that is already in place. (This is in contrast, say, to situations where I am the sole party in charge of conceiving of projects, designing them and carrying them out.)

This job family would ideally allow me to use my writing skills to write in one of the ways that is most satisfying to me: writing shorter texts, writing to persuade, writing to create interest and motivation, writing to capture the imagination.

My "way with people” -  my interpersonal skills - these would come into play here, but not int the student-teacher, or authority-subordinate way; not in the “helping” way (though I’m always glad to help when I can)... but rather in the day-to-day interactions required between me and other colleagues, partners, clients, artists, vendors, etc.

Now, for SOME of these jobs - especially fundraising, based on my understanding - more PERSONAL interpersonal skills can come into play. Example: fundraising professionals are sometimes assigned to work with a small number of potential donors - sometimes even one! - if these donors are preparing to grant a major gifts. In these situations, at least half of the work required is “people-skills” - the fundraiser has to make sure the donor is comfortable, kept in the loop at all times, etc... in essence, the fundraiser becomes a “relationship-maintainer.” It’s come as a bit of a surprise to me that I think I might really like this. In the past this might have seemed more like a fluffy, schmoozy sort of role. But, my view has changed on this, and here’s why:

those of you who know me  well know that I really like to be a go-between; I like being able to talk to and understand people from different backgrounds, people with different values, agendas and goals. I think I would find the challenge of connecting potential donors to arts organization challenging and rewarding.

now that I know how arts organizations work and get their funding here in Canada these days, I know that donors are hugely important to sustaining the arts. In a way, it’s like a modified version of the patronage system from before the 19th century (that’s when “classical” music went “commercial” owing to a rising middle class.) The patronage system worked, and it produced some great art! This system actually has some appeal to me. The alternatives for funding the arts are not great right now: if it were left entirely to the public, ticket prices would be astronomical, and only a very small number of artists with a very small selection of offerings would be able to thrive and perform professionally. If it were left up to government - well, let’s just say, government is continually cutting back investment in the arts these days. This is sad, but let’s accept it and move on. Now, I’m not at all qualified to opine smartly on this, but part of me even wonders if a major investment of government in the arts is a good thing? (Did I just say that?)

Madonna digression aside [wait: digression-to-the-digression: it’s exactly 30 years since Madonna performed at Live Aid] it’s time to move on with my job search process.

Thanks again to all my fellow-brainstormers: your emails and the conversations you’ve had with me have been lively and exciting and motivating! So, where next?

Parachute author Richard Bolles wants someone in my position to use the brainstorming exercise to envision what is possible - this can be hard to do without help, because we can tend to have limited views of ourselves and/or of the kinds of jobs that are out there.

The next step in the Parachute process, then is to look at all the job titles that come up in brainstorming, and then pick a few to research in depth. Bolles calls this “trying on jobs for size.” He wants us to talk to people who do these jobs - so that we can find out as much as possible before we throw ourselves into them.

Bolles notes that traditionally, as job-seekers, we do our “research” about whether we like a job by first obtaining the job,and then figuring out whether we like it. This method has the advantage of getting you to work right away - a financial necessity for many job-seekers. Furthermore, there’s probably some truth to the idea that no matter how much you research a job ahead of time, you won’t really know what it’s like until you do it.

However, Bolles’ view is that you might as well find out ahead of time if something that seemed ideal is actually not for you - why waste your time pursuing that job, or even doing it for a year, if you could have ruled it out by talking to people who do it?

As I already mentioned to some of you individually, the most resonant job title - or related job family - to have come up in brainstorming is working for a music organization (or possibly a performing arts org with a heavy emphasis on music) somewhere within the publicity - marketing - fundraising continuum.

Having said that, there are a lot of jobs that came up in brainstorming that really excite me that don’t fit within that continuum per se. So, let me take a minute to look at these runners-up:

I like the suggestions that involve creative music education tools and programs: I include here both multimedia/online tools, and “live-setting” programs; whether these tools are used within a school (formal education) setting, or in less formal settings  (museums, etc.)

I like suggestions to do with radio and podcasting in the context of discussing / analyzing music for a general audience

The reason I am not immediately drawn to those two suggestions for pursuit  RIGHT NOW is because from what I understand, they both involve a degree of singlemindedness that I don’t feel at the moment. I am drawn right now to working with people, to contributing my skills to existing organizations and an existing teams, because I can really thrive in those collaborative situations. However, these two suggestions  remain close to my heart, and so while they are shelved for now, they’re shelved very close to my field of vision.

Many of you provided career suggestions within the social services / community services family. (Music therapist, working with teenagers, the elderly, etc.) Some of you know that, way back in the day, I did consider music therapy as a profession. However, after some substantial research, I determined it wasn’t a great fit for me. And I feel the same about being a community worker. I love it when  social services or community centres bring the arts to their clients, and I think music can do wonders for a wide range of community members of any age. In fact, I can see myself being an enthusiastic collaborator with social services / community organizers to bring music programs to people who would enjoy and benefit from them. But I don’t see myself as being on the front lines.

Many of you have suggested that I consider radio broadcasting or podcasting as (part of) a career path. I LOVE talk radio and I LOVE podcasts. So I am definitely taking these suggestions seriously. It’s just that, according to my research so far, the path to radio broadcasting consists of a lot of pitching and/or writing on spec. (Much like for a freelance writer.) As for podcasting, I listen to so many podcasts that I KNOW that for most podcast hosts, it’s a labour of love, and the minimal revenue that podcast producers do manage to pull in simply defrays the costs of production. (There are exceptions of course, but I listen to a LOT of podcasts.) Up until now, I haven’t been sure, if I had the time and space and resources to produce my own podcast as a labour of love... what content / format would I even podcast ON?  I would want people to listen to it - some people! Creating something for an audience of zero would be depressing, I think.

To the rescue: I’ve recently started listening to You Must Remember This, a rich and engrossing podcast about “the lost or forgotten histories “ of Hollywood’s first century. The show is created and hosted by Karina Longworth. I simply adore how she condenses history into palatable 30-60 minute presentations. Her selection of detail is amazing. After listening to an episode, I feel like I was THERE, in historic Hollywood, among the figures she discusses.

Two more elaborate responses: 

1.

My 1st thought: maybe a job high up in the development office at a music/arts institution of some sort? I’m thinking both in terms of using your skills & charisma for creative/innovative/amusing fundraising campaigns or events — and also in terms of the verbal finesse needed when talking one-on-one with big donors, initiating conversations w/them, educating them about why their gift would be meaningful, making them feel special, wording gift agreements, cultivating relationships over time, etc., etc.  I can imagine you being great at all of that.

2.

teacher/instructor/trainer

public relations

event planning/coordinator

So far, I’ve received 15 responses. They’ve been great! THANK YOU! The suggestions are varied, yet they - not surprisingly! - coalesce around certain themes. Here’s a bunch, which I’ve grouped into larger categories:

Media/publishing/broadcasting:

CBC producer/announcer

music reviewer

music podcast host

Arts / music organization work:

marketing for the arts

arts marketing

advertising for arts groups you believe in

communications specialist (arts or cultural organizations esp)

arts admin

agent for the arts

music nonprofit program manager

Marketing / PR work (not necessarily limited to the arts):

nonprofit marketing and outreach

PR specialist

content strategist

Some of the responses are rich and juicy so I must post them word for word. Here is one of them:

These are visions that come to mind when I read your list - sorry that they're not job titles per se:

I’m imagining a really flashy interactive web-based service or program which allows people (maybe specifically young people - 20somethings, teens, pre-teens)  to explore different genres of music.

What if it’s a web-based educational tool for use in classroom, as well as home use? It could have historical components. Cultural history fun-facts. It could also help you build playlists, like Spotify or Songza. The tool could help you build the playlist according to your event, or mood, or area that you want to learn about.  

If there was a tie-in on the website that required writing, maybe you could be the writer.

And maybe you could also be they travelling educator who teaches how to use the tool and gives an interactive talk/ demonstration?

I wonder if there is anything like that going on at CBC, NFB, TVO (TVO kids?). What other cultural institutions exist that are starting to have interactive multi art web presence?

This is the letter I sent to my friends, family members, and colleagues. (Thanks to my sister for drafting it!): 

Dear friends,

Hope this finds you well!

As you may know, I’m in the middle of a career change, and I would be most grateful for your help. Do you have a minute to glance at my list (below) and send me your feedback? This is a brainstorming exercise from the book What Color is Your Parachute?

I know you’re busy – so please don’t spend much time. A quick reply with a jotted note or two would be fantastic. Complete sentences, niceties: not required.

I’ve identified my 5 favourite skills and my 3 favourite knowledges / fields / subject areas.

When you look at the lists below, what jobs, job titles and/ or career fields come to mind? Note: it’s certainly okay if you say “musicologist” or “university professor.” BUT. I’m especially interested in jobs, job titles and fields apart from those two.