Let's make it official, since we're being stupid . . .
(1) July 24 will be my last day working for IODA. My last day in the "music industry." On August 14, I begin my first year of law school at Loyola. This will be the first time I've been a full-time student in eight years. Here is a list of things that have changed since I graduated from college in 1998:
- MP3s didn't exist -- or, they did, but it was not a file format that was common and readily available.
- No file-sharing systems existed.
- Cell phones were for rich people. You could not use them to "text" people messages.
- "Online Social Networks" did not exist.
- Google did not exist (it was founded in September 1998)
- the iPod, the iMac, and the iBook did not exist.
- I did not have a credit card. In fact, I did not even have a checking account. I paid all my bills with money orders.
I keep typing "I am going to miss IODA" but I'm not sure I will. I have every reason TO miss working here, as it is in many ways the perfect job. I work from home. My job is to promote bands so they sell more records. I have met lots of really interesting people. I have attended CMJ and SXSW on someone else's dime. I BELIEVE in the company -- I actually think they are doing a great job and it's been a great team to be on. I've got great health care. I make more money than I spend. I SHOULD miss all this when I leave, but I'm not sure I will. I can't see myself thinking "I've made a terrible mistake" and trying to get back into the music game. I'm too old for the music game. It's made it so hard to actually enjoy music. And the biggest issue -- there really isn't a "music game." It's a shell game. Labels are losing money every week. The only option, if you're a band and want to make a living making music, is to tour relentlessly. And touring is difficult. It's hard on relationships. It's hard to stay healthy. It's hard to grow up. And I decided a while back it wasn't the life for me. IODA was an attempt to have one foot in the game -- to grow up without growing old. It was a compromise, and while it was fun, it doesn't fit in with my long-term goals.
And so -- law school. A whole new world for me. A very deep pool. My goal for law school is to be really good, to really try. I half-assed my way through high school and college. I want to whole-ass this. I want to see how good I can be. It's not about competition, or at least competition with anyone other than myself. I just want to work hard and do good. If that means getting up early, or going to bed early, or making some sacrifices, or having some humility, I am ready for that.
I've spent fifteen years keeping doors open. I got grades that were good enough to make grad school an option. I paid my bills on time and developed good credit, which opened up more options. I stayed in Los Angeles, where there were lots of options. But now it's time to close some doors. "Sometimes the way you force yourself to walk through a new door is to cut off your avenues of escape."
(2) The band leaves for its first tour in two years in a week. I am looking forward to this. Last night we were the guests for a special musical ASSSSCAT at the UCB Theatre. It was a whole lot of fun.
That is all for now.
- MP3s didn't exist -- or, they did, but it was not a file format that was common and readily available.
- No file-sharing systems existed.
- Cell phones were for rich people. You could not use them to "text" people messages.
- "Online Social Networks" did not exist.
- Google did not exist (it was founded in September 1998)
- the iPod, the iMac, and the iBook did not exist.
- I did not have a credit card. In fact, I did not even have a checking account. I paid all my bills with money orders.
I keep typing "I am going to miss IODA" but I'm not sure I will. I have every reason TO miss working here, as it is in many ways the perfect job. I work from home. My job is to promote bands so they sell more records. I have met lots of really interesting people. I have attended CMJ and SXSW on someone else's dime. I BELIEVE in the company -- I actually think they are doing a great job and it's been a great team to be on. I've got great health care. I make more money than I spend. I SHOULD miss all this when I leave, but I'm not sure I will. I can't see myself thinking "I've made a terrible mistake" and trying to get back into the music game. I'm too old for the music game. It's made it so hard to actually enjoy music. And the biggest issue -- there really isn't a "music game." It's a shell game. Labels are losing money every week. The only option, if you're a band and want to make a living making music, is to tour relentlessly. And touring is difficult. It's hard on relationships. It's hard to stay healthy. It's hard to grow up. And I decided a while back it wasn't the life for me. IODA was an attempt to have one foot in the game -- to grow up without growing old. It was a compromise, and while it was fun, it doesn't fit in with my long-term goals.
And so -- law school. A whole new world for me. A very deep pool. My goal for law school is to be really good, to really try. I half-assed my way through high school and college. I want to whole-ass this. I want to see how good I can be. It's not about competition, or at least competition with anyone other than myself. I just want to work hard and do good. If that means getting up early, or going to bed early, or making some sacrifices, or having some humility, I am ready for that.
I've spent fifteen years keeping doors open. I got grades that were good enough to make grad school an option. I paid my bills on time and developed good credit, which opened up more options. I stayed in Los Angeles, where there were lots of options. But now it's time to close some doors. "Sometimes the way you force yourself to walk through a new door is to cut off your avenues of escape."
(2) The band leaves for its first tour in two years in a week. I am looking forward to this. Last night we were the guests for a special musical ASSSSCAT at the UCB Theatre. It was a whole lot of fun.
That is all for now.