The music industry is changing, and maybe that means the chances of success are growing, but it seems like it is a risky idea to stay in music, rather than go to the safe engineering route. I could hedge by teaching music, but I'm a song writer, and that is what I want to do. What do I need to succeed in a business that is really only stacked for the few, the lucky or the connected? Or, will Indy music make it less risky, and why?
Magnolia Guitar
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The music business has always been risky for songwriters and performers. I'd highly recommend completing your college degree even if you choose to pursue music. College doesn't take that long and you can do both at the same time.
If you choose to follow your heart as a songwriter, I suggest you read Josh Ritter's blog. Right now he's writing a multi-part thread on just what you're asking (more or less). It's not a formula for success, but it follows what he was doing (and feeling) at the time he was starting out.
Start at chapter one and continue to the present. It's quite interesting.
http://www.bookofjubilations.com/2010/10/making-life-in-music-vol-1-were-all.html
When you're done, study Josh Ritter's catalog: http://www.joshritter.com/
you'dwonder.
The music business has always been risky.
You can work as an engineer and song write on the side, who said you only had to do one thing?
If you want to be a song writer, it's really ideal that you know theory and the potential of each instrument. IF you write lyrics once and a while, don't be dropping everything your doing because your a songwriter.. there is alot more to songwriting then that.