Plan B?

Having a career in music is not easy. It’s taking a huge leap of faith in yourself. And, if you don’t have support around you, it’s even harder. Luckily my family has always been hugely supportive and I definitely think that has had a large impact on where I am today. So, at what stage or what age (didn’t mean for that to rhyme) do you throw in the towel? Or do you never throw it in? How long do you pursue your dream and cancel out any other career options? In the music industry, artists seem to have an expiration date, unlike other careers where the older you are, the more opportunities seem to be available to you. As a musician or singer gets older or as they seem to have more and more failures, they tend to explore Plan B.

Last night I went to a party and this guy got on the piano (well, not actually on it) and sang a song he had written. He was incredible. One of the best piano players I’ve heard. And his voice was amazing. He talked about his journey out here in L.A. and how his plan was to move out to L.A. and get a record deal. 

That was plan A. There was no plan B. Well, he got that record deal … and then got dropped (I can sympathize because I’ve had 2 record deals- left one deal and was dropped from the other).

Since he didn’t have a plan B until he was forced to have one, he is now working at a company doing marketing, taking marketing classes at night, and recording and playing gigs on the weekends. In his mind, he hasn’t given up, he’s just being realistic.

I have another friend who is about to turn 30. He has always pursued music and he is also amazingly talented. However, he has a very different philosophy. He was in a band for years and is now recording his first solo record. His former band mates all had a Plan B, but he felt they were just “selling out” and not being a true artists. So, he made sure that Plan B was never an option for him. He felt that by having something to fall back on, it meant that someone didn’t fully believe themselves or their talent. He is now an amazingly talented (and broke) musician turning 30.

So, what is the right thing to do? Is having a Plan B selling out or being realistic? Where would John Mayer or Elton John or Gwen Stefani be if they never made it in music and they didn’t have a Plan B? Would they be considered “true artists” or “really stupid”? There are so many extremely talented people out there that never “make it” for one reason or another. So, this week, I’m asking you what you think. Email me and let me know what you think about having a Plan B. Tell me your thoughts on my 2 friends and their situations. Until next week… It’s Halloween!!!! Live it up, eat tons of Reese’s and be as scary or as sexy and you wanna be!! Oh, and don’t forget to come party with us at Hotel Cafe on November 15th at 8:45pm!! Woohoo!

Funfact: Kari is singing the Sara Lee/ High School Musical 3 Commercial… check it out here!

And… Kari is on the soundtrack for the new Disney movie- Tinkerbell! Download here.