Inside Story - Musician/Web Designer/Administrative Assistant



Neener

Age Range
18-25

Countries of Work
Canada

Study and Career History
1979 on: singing pretty much since I was born and began writing songs in elementary school 1996: received a guitar as a gift and taught myself how to play 1998-1999: went to York University for theatre and left after a year to put more energy into music 2001: released debut album Currently perform and tour in Canada and the united States as a solo musician and in two side projects; The Ladybird Sideshow and a band called Wit Project. Also currently recording my second full-length CD. Have also been designing and developing websites and doing graphic design work since around 1999.

How long have you been doing the job?
1999

Did you decide on your career path or did it all happen by accident?
I have always been a singer. Since an early age I’ve been making up songs and singing constantly. At 16 my uncle bought me an acoustic guitar. In taught myself how to play it and soon began performing my own original material live at festivals, coffee houses and at high school talent nights. My other love at the time was theatre arts so I decided to enter into a theatre arts program at University. While there I spent the majority of my time writing music. I decided to leave University after first year and pursue a life in music. Putting energy into refining my craft of writing songs was much more beneficial at the time. I knew that I would be well taken care of by the world just as long as I remained true to my instincts. I have been playing music and performing and recording ever since and have no intention to stop. Being a musician is my career, but I also have another job as an office administrator in a growing company that roots its focus in the protection of the environment. Aside from these two things free-lance web designing also allows my creative juices to flow.

How did you get your "Glamour Job" ?
Being an independent musician is very organic and grassroots. Less glamorous than it may sound and a lot of hardwork. It can be emotionally taxing sometimes. And it's very difficult to make the haul of it full-time and still afford to live. That's why I have another steady job to supplement my income.

What does the job involve?
The job involves lots of driving and gas money, must be savvy at booking shows and promoting yourself. Need to have web skills and be able to manage your mailing list. Must have some kinda talent and ability to perform in front of people. Must be willing to work until 3:00am in smoke-filled bars. Must be able to remain somewhat grounded and have self-confidence. Must have excellent people skills and be willing to live off fast food and sleep on floors when the road requires it. Oh yeah, and you must want to have a ton of fun even though you don't make bags of money.

Describe a typical day at work.
Wake up at 7:00pm. Shower. Get on the Subway around 8:00pm. Get to work for 9:00pm. Work a full day of answering phones, sending couriers, updating websites and answering email. Go home at 5:00pm. Shower and change. Pack up gear and travel down to the club for sound check at 8:00pm. have a quick dinner and hit the stage for 10:00pm. Play a 45 minute set. Sell some merchandise and talk to the fans making sure they sign up for your mailing list. Leave the venue around 2:00am. In bed by 3:00am. Tours are different. Instead of working the office job during the day you spend days talking to promoters, bookers and doing phone/live interviews for the press. You spend hours rehearsing or on the road getting from town to town. The evenings are spent playing gigs. Every day is a totally different bag of goodies.

What do you like most about the job?
The community of musicians who become your friends are great. They keep your confidence level up and they are great sounding boards to have when you're going through a dry spell. The rush of performing for a live crowd who is completely loving what you're doing is very hard to beat. And having someone tell you that they listen to your CD constantly or that your lyrics really helped them get through a tough spell is very flattering. I also like have the ability to write songs and use this as an emotional or political outlet. Singing is a wonderful feeling.

What don’t you like about your job – if anything?
Sometimes dealing with the "industry" (everything that is more money related than arts related) is probably the dumbest part of it all. You'd like to be able to do music without having to deal with bookers, managers, promoters and the media, but the reality is that the two go hand in hand if you ever want to make money at a career in music. The payoff is when a booker or promoter is exceptional and wonderful. Those people are rare and they should get a sticker for being so cool. Another sucky thing is playing a show and next to no one shows up. We've all gone through it, and it can be very taxing on the ego. But you get through it knowing that next time you could have the most amazing live show of your life. The money is not great if you are an independent musician, but if money is not your top priority in life and happiness and fun rank fairly high, then music is possibly one of the best careers to get into. Very fulfilling artistically, culturally, socially and emotionally.

During your teenage years did you have much vocational guidance from school, university, family or friends? What was your biggest influence?
My biggest influence was definitely the music that I listened to. My mother and I would listen to music in the car and always sing along. I learned to sing well by singing along with everything I heard. There were some other songwriters and girls who played guitar in my high school. We would get together at lunch and sit around singing songs together. Like true hippies. This was when I truly began honing my skills as a songwriter.

If you took end of school examinations did you get exam results you were happy with from your education?
I was an honour student all through junior high school and through high school. None of this really has anything to do with my music though, since that was something that came from sources that were more internal and less academic. I only took a few courses in the study of music. One vocal class in high school, two years of clarinet in junior high school, a night school course in the art of songwriting and some piano when I was a young tike. Everything else was self-taught. I'm not a huge fan of institutions when it comes to the creation of art. I find academic pressure can be stifling to the process.

Do you think that what you studied in school or in your further education was right for the career you are in now? Any regrets?
I believe that some work in theatre allowed me to feel more comfortable in front of an audience, but what I actually learned academically lends itself very little to what I do now on a day to day basis.

Have you taken further studies since leaving secondary or tertiary school. If yes, what did you study and why did you decide you needed more qualifications?
Perhaps some day I will return to school, but I feel pretty safe in saying that it will be purely out of interest in a subject rather in trying to build of a career skill. Practical learning is much more valuable to me at this stage in life. I don't foresee myself obtaining a growing interest in brain surgery or rocket science. If I did, I would likely go to school to study those things and make a big career change.

What was your first job?
I used to sell coffee and make photocopies at night school when I was in 9th grade. They paid me close to $13 an hour which was about $7 more per hour than minimum wage at the time. I've also held jobs painting houses in the summer and washing dishes in the local chocolate shop... that was a very fattening summer job.

What has been your most bizarre or challenging job to date?
I've also held jobs painting houses in the summer and washing dishes in the local chocolate shop... that was a very fattening summer job.

What is your ultimate goal.... is this it, or do you have a pinnacle you have yet to reach?
I would love to one day make a living on a life in the arts. Through painting, making music and designing for the web. I see myself someday owning an organic farm and opening up a gallery and small concert theatre in the farm for shows and functions. This would be a huge dream come true.

What are your top tips for personal success?
Keep at it regardless of the road blocks you encounter - Take heed of the wisdom and support of close friends - ALWAYS trust your own instincts first before taking the advice of others.

Any comments?
Don't forget to support your local independent musicians. They're likely more talented then what you're hearing on the radio, so keep your ears, mind and heart open.

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Find out more about Neener, visit the website http://www.janinestoll.com