| Re: job race
Matt,
As I'm sure that you're discovering, the "mind-set" regarding fulltime employment in large ensembles is vastly different in Europe than it is in North America. I feel fairly safe in saying that a Hersethian career of 50+ years in a band is absolutely out of the question there, due to the individual aspirations of the general population of musicians -- which I believe that you're facing yourself -- compounded by compulsary retirement (when I has in Rotterdam principal players had to step down at 60 and everyone is out at 65, and I'd imagine the same is true today). The nice part of this is that jobs turn over frequently, creating opportunities to audition for those wanting to settle down.
Tell us about the opportunities you've had, and have witnessed, to earn reasonable money without entering into fulltime employment in an orchestra? This might be revealing. . .
Best,
EC |