I'm just concerned about the summer at the moment…I'm thinking it would be a horrible idea to try to work anything outside of my field during the school year. I don't need money in a life or death sort of way, but getting a job is mostly to show that I can actually do something that's worth getting paid for and that I'd be able to contribute to a household until I actually get paid to do something in my career field.

And that's the reality for the field I'm in. You work for free until someone decides to pay you. I've talked to several people further in their careers who say this. They also say I'm on the right track/am talented blah blah. But also say that I'm too young (I'm 26, will be 27 this summer) to really find people willing to pay me for my work and so I have to do freelance work for free. I will also perform as a musician when the opportunity arises since the pay is good…but there's not enough consistency to depend on that as an actual income.

I need to show proof to my partner that I actually am capable of paying my fair share of the bills when we graduate as he has expressed concerns that I will become dependent on him because I've never had a part time/full time job like he has had. I've been a full time student my whole adult life except for one year and there was no financial need for me to have a job and I would have not been able to get so much work done towards getting a job in my actual field had I worked anyway.

And about the year off…you can blame me for that but I can't erase the past now.

But back to the present, I would just get any random seasonal job, but I have to go out of state in late July for about a week. I've been elected as a voting delegate to a national conference of an international organization. This will get me contacts in my career field from all over the country and possibly the world. It's a very very big deal and an honor to be elected to vote for my chapter.

Also, I have out of state gigs at the end of June through early July. I was hoping to not drive back and forth between states if I didn't have to. Technically, I could still probably pull out of those, but man I'd feel like a jerk if I did as it's difficult to find subs in that area (I was asked to sub and I'm from another state and it's only possible for me because I have family to stay with in that area).

So basically, I need a "regular" job outside of my career field (so they'll have to be entry level) and I need to be able to take off at least one week (if not two) during the summer and I'll only work minimum wage if it's full time and that's the only option. So I'm really at a loss…

While teaching lessons would be great…this isn't the best market for it and it doesn't prove that I can get a day job to cover bills while I work on building a decent income in the music field (including giving lessons I'm sure) after I graduate.

I don't know if any of that made sense…I don't think non-musicians have to deal with any of this stuff. Especially the whole work for free until someone decides to pay you part.