Jul 31 2008
Seven Years in Los Angeles
Last week marked me living in Los Angeles for seven years. I was lying in bed the other night when that realization kicked in and it sent me down a trail, thinking about who I was when I came here, what I was looking for, and what I have accomplished since then.
I arrived in CA after a couple years in Seattle, writing software and recording bands. I had spent most of college working in radio, as a DJ and also music director. Although I loved managing my team of coders, I missed music being an integral part of each and every day. I played guitar, I collected vinyl, I worked with a couple bands, but it wasn’t enough.
I came down to Los Angeles with the thought that I’d work in audio engineering and see where it led me. Maybe form a new band. Maybe some guitar session work. Yeah, not even close to how it worked out.
One thing I love about Los Angeles (and most other big cities) is that opportunity is a living, breathing thing, lurking around every corner and through every door. Not to say every opportunity is worthwhile or leads somewhere, but you get a lot further embedding yourself into where the action is.
Long story short, I never even worked as an audio engineer. My path took me to the Los Angeles Recording Workshop, Nitro Records, The National Association of Recording Arts and Sciences, Favored Nations Records, and then finally starting my own company, On Target Media Group. I often think back to what 2001 Jason’s reaction would be if he had a glimpse into what his career had in store. To think I’d be this fortunate – to work with amazing artists, to have a massive professional network made up of some of the smartest, nicest, funniest, savvy people around, and to get to do exactly what I want when I want – his feeble little man-brain would explode.
That one about doing what I want with my life is the biggie – I’ve worked very hard to be able to run my life my way. I could have made far more money many other ways. I could have taken easier roads, worked for other people making them successful, or given up when things seemed bleak. But I stuck with my convictions, and for the risk of sounding cheesy, I really did follow my dreams.
Figure out what you are most passionate about, find a way to do it for a living (no matter how meager at first), work your ass off, work 10 times more than that, and you will find your success.
Kudos to you Jason. I also feel that I am living out my own dreams as well. Everything I do under DreamScapers I am granted to do under my company NOTeNEF Promotions (pronounced not enough)… including this Road to RedGorilla event that I am working on in five different cities. It is worth holding onto a aspiring towards YOUR dreams because when you do it doesn’t feel like “WORK” everyday, it feels like dreams coming true. Rock on.
Hi Kelly, great to hear from you. I agree – it’s not even work – it’s waking up every day and doing what comes naturally. If I don’t see you before, I’ll see you at RedGorilla SXSW!