Feel like the lifes draining out of me.

jesus smith

I seem to have less and less energy these days and I feel like the lifes just being drained out of me.
My chosen professions are music and art and I scratch out a (bare) living on them both but its starting to wear on me. I mean I want to create something new and exciting and no ones interested in anything different at all in this country.if its not snow patrol no ones interested..

I play in a band that plays heavy music, and while there is a strong alternative music scene in Dublin it mostly revolves around little kids and really old lazy people so I tend to have extreme difficulty getting members for my band and or keeping them. Now I know id have better luck elsewhere in other countries but at the same time I don’t want to leave my girlfriend who doesn’t want to move country.

My other profession is graphic artist such as comics and illustration. Now the thing with these is there’s no work at them in Ireland and every one who is publishing stuff wants you to do it for free. To get anywhere in this I’d have to move country also
Now most of my friends have started to show the signs of breaking in this and most of them have long since cut their hair and got jobs they hate and are now trying to hide their tattoos and blend into the living dead of the modern work force and part of me is thinking it’s the only option.

However no one will hire me because I have long hair, even places where you have no contact with the public. And because I’ve made most of my money all my life from teaching music and art I have a cv disturbingly free of dead end retail jobs to wow employers so I’m despite being a diligent, clean living, enthusiastic person when it comes to whatever work I’m doing (and I have references to prove it) I’m not employable because I have long hair (oh I know I could probably get a job at some manual labour but I refuse to work at anything which has a high chance of me injuring my hands for obvious reasons)

But I cant turn my back on what I love doing and its tearing me apart.. It just seems like I’m constantly banging my head against the wall. Nothings getting me anywhere and I feel really trapped here. This country has nothing to offer me and I’m sick of the “ah but when are you getting a real job” attitude but at the same time I don’t want to just cut all ties and head off somewhere else. Also the one place that would be perfect for me is the states but It’s almost impossible to get in there and I don’t really have any money to like spend like 3 months living there as a holiday looking for work.
This is really starting to affect me and my work. I mean I get up and just sit around all day feeling sorry for myself which I HATE. Also I’m becoming more and more reculsive and since I quite drinking (due to unrelated stomach issue not because I was an alcoholic) I pretty much never leave the house cept to go to rehearsals and the shops. I know I’m driving my poor girlfriend who I adore up the walls but I really don’t know what to do. If I stay here and just quit and try get a normal job I’ll hate my life and I can’t move country because I don’t want to leave her behind also I thought of maybe getting a job for a few years but I know by time I had the money to move anywhere It’d be to late to start a decent career in another country.
Any help appreciated and please no “get a real job you lazy hippy” heads.
Cheers!

humanji

You have to realise that work can only be in retail, manual labour or in an office. What about trying to get work as a graphic designer? It would be related to your art and you may pick it up fairly easily. The money isn't great when you start off, but as you build up your skills, the money comes flowing.

And that's just one job idea, you can do anything. Just think about what you want to do and do it. If you let yourself get into a rut, you'll find it hard to climb out again, so don't just laze about all day.

And if you feel you lack any skills, you can always try a FÀS course or something like that (FÀS are fairly handy because they give you a bit of money while doing the course ). Don't give up, though.

LegacyUser

'I think it is great that you are so adamant about making the most of your creative talents. There are lots of people out there who waste their talents, or think about the things they could have done but didn't.

Unfortunately people are judged on their image more so than ever before. To look professional presents a good image to the customers of a business.I realise that you wish to keep your hair long as it is an expression of your personality. However, many of us have to do this outside of working hours.I wear whatever the hell I like when I'm not in the workplace but at work my hair is tied back and I have to be immaculately groomed.

As Ireland is such a small country and your interests are very specific, you are probably correct in saying that you won't make a lot of money here in your chosen career.

Whats happening now is that you are facing the harsh reality that I once faced myself. I did a very specific course in college, thinking that once I graduated I would be a real high-flier. I know I have the ability and the talent to go far...but it ain't gonna happen here in Dublin. The competition is tight and you will get paid peanuts for the intial 3/4 years after you start working. Most likely I will make a very average (if not paltry) salary once I have achieved my goal.

I can assure you that there are musicians, artists, writers and lots of creative people who are in the very same predicament as you are right now.

There are choices to be made here. You can join the mainstream and explore your creativity part-time in Ireland, keeping your girlfriend and alleviating any financial stresses that you have right now. Or you can take a shot in the dark, head abroad and make a stab at what you love to do.

Don't give up, keep banging away at it. You won't know what might happen unless you keep trying. Ireland does not offer many opportunities to its creative young people and thats the low down. I wish you the best of luck.'

McGinty

It sounds like you're between a rock and a hard place, you are doing the work you love but not getting the financial rewards. Personally I'm learning it is the approach to life that can make or break a person. Personally if I were you I would not attempt to get a 9-5 job, it is clear you hate the idea.

most of my friends have started to show the signs of breaking in this and most of them have long since cut their hair and got jobs they hate and are now trying to hide their tattoos and blend into the living dead of the modern work force

. Those are strong words, and to be honest that attitude will reveal itself in the interviews. Doing a job you hate and despise (spending 40hours at it a week) will drain and depress you even further. I have done all manner of crap jobs because I thought I ought to. Now I do what I love but I am poor for now, but I see myself as being lucky because I do what I love.

You don't want to move because of your girlfriend, but feel you can't make a success here? Are you sure? Have you explored all alternatives, such as retraining for a graphic artist. I know nothing about the music scene so I can't offer ideas there. Maybe you cannot change your circumstances for the various reasons, but you can change your attitude and see the positives in your life right now.

WindSock

If you succeed, you will be living your dream. But for now, maybe taking on a normal job will help boost you a bit and drive you further to living yor dream, eventually. Very few jobs are for life anymore, so its not as if you will be stuck working for the Man forever. It is important to have something to fall back on. Build up skills in other areas that may come in handy to you in the future, if you decide to be self employed.

jesus smith

Thanks lads! some great advice there, feel much better with a bit of support cheers!