44 Comments

A lot of musicians are in both categories. It's not that uncommon for a Symphony Player to have several adjunct positions at various colleges. I have a good friend that works as a Trombonist and also is a Middle School Band Director.I have had a very successful career for nearly 30 years in the same very competitive Music Town. Teaching has always been part of the equation, some years more than others. Most successful musicians I know or the same way as are many of the Artists, Dancers, and Actors.

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Actually, come to think of it there was a governmental system that was paternalistic about the career choices of their citizens and only concerned for the gainful employment, meaningful lives, and the common good of all.I think it was The Soviet Union.To paraphrase Dr. Phil, "How's that workin' for ya?"

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If I had taken the sure thing and stayed in the Family Business (a plumbing supply) I would have seen my entire business go down the tubes and been standing in line to apply at Home Depot or Lowe's or one of the Big Box Stores. That whole line of work has transformed from where it was, just as a lot of the American Work Landscape has and will in the future.My Dad was smart in this respect: He said, "You'll earn more as a happy Musician than as a miserable Plumbing Supply salesman." He was right......

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This is beyond idiocy! Most Professional Musicians I know are highly trained professionals and smart entrepreneurs who market themselves as well as working on their musical skills.I personally noticed an uptick in interest in the Arts after the 2007 Financial Meltdown. All of a sudden, that MBA and Finance Degree and the Dream Gig at Goldman-Sachs wasn't what it was. I'm sure there are Aerodynamic Engineers and White Collar Workers from the Auto Industry in the US who feel the same way. Personally, one of my students changed from Music Business to Music with a Business Emphasis (a Music degree) after he came to the realization that I'd had a better year than his Real Estate Developer Dad who was sitting on several million dollars worth of leveraged property he couldn't sell.You can manage a good career in any field. Being a Rock Star isn't a viable career option, but being a well-trained Musician who develops good financial habits and realizes that he or she is truly working for themselves surely is.

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People should give up jobs as economists and become editors--very poorly written article on a number of levels.

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The idea of parents choosing careers for children (or, really, making any decisions for children) would be of less concern if grown children had a cause of action against their parents for making poor choices that damage them financially.

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Where does job paternalism exist, elsewhere in the world and throughout history?I'm a fan of more experimenting with job paternalism. The lack of such experimentation in the USA in 2011, I think is primarily hedonistic.It might have to do with national mythology and identity (we're the post-slavery better Americans, not the slavery times worse Americans) why job paternalism is a much smaller force than some other types of paternalisms.

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Certainty.

Parents believe they know for sure that drugs, sex, etc. will lead to bad outcomes. They don't know for sure that Johnny can't be a rockstar. Truth is, at least some kids make it, and who are they to say otherwise.

On a societal level this is obviously good, people pursuing their passion leads to true innovation, and some failures is the price of that. Zuckerburg didn't invent Facebook by selling out to Microsoft in HS or going back to Hardvard like his parents wanted him to.

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I would argue the premise. We don't directly allow parents to do any of the things you're suggesting. What control they do have is a side effect of other powers, and at most they have the right to make an attempt. They can't sue the parents of another child who befriends theirs without their approval, for example. They can only use other powers to interfere with, and negotiate their non-use with the child.

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No mention of child labor laws?

Robin previously said that drug paternalism is about sex. And alcohol+caffeine paternalism is about class.

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Are you asserting that our society (in particular, the modern USA) is currently suffering from a shortage of entertainment [and] sports?

Not obviously--but cultures where career choice is coerced (by parents or governments) may well be facing such a shortage.

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It's true of every artist I know -- myself included

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Because people perceive that as infringing upon their right to choose how to make a living. Almost everyone would argue that this affects everyone equally, and therefore goes too far. It certainly violates subjective valuation. And it argues that the government knows better than every single individual what is the best thing for that individual to do with their lives.

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"Actually, there is a strong correlation between depression — particularly mild bipolar disoder — and being an artist. The former seems to cause one become the latter. "

Yep, entire books and courses of study on the matter. Check the book "Touched With Fire."

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I have now given my blessing to my (admittedly talented) daughter to pursue a BFA in musical theater, although when she was born I planned to discourage any professional pursuit of the arts. Here's what's behind my new thinking:

1. F. Scott Fitzgerald had it backwards: There are lots of second acts in American lives. If she tries and fails, she'll go to Plan B. I didn't get into my dream career until I was 38.

2. With the economy in the toilet for going on 4 years now, and the "experts" going on about "the New Normal," it looks like many of those majors leading to Good Steady Careers are nothing of the kind. In that case, why not roll the dice on what she loves rather than a weak compromise? She has no talent for math or engineering, where a girl can write her own ticket.

Of course, I hope it doesn't turn out to be too big a mistake...

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The market tends to underproduce cultural goods and services... (For the sake of argument, consider entertainment value and contribution to future cultural works.)

I'm trying to understand this. Are you asserting that our society (in particular, the modern USA) is currently suffering from a shortage of entertainment?

Sports are similar; in addition to their entertainment value, they provide...

And again, just to clarify, are you asserting that we are currently suffering from a shortage of sports?

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