What would you do?

[Dean Krommydas]

Hey guys!

I have a hypothetical situation to offer and I'm curious as to how you all might make your choice based on this situation. It involves some of your time but your thoughts will not only help me but others with whom I can share your responses with.

The situation:

You have just turned 30 years old and are only just beginning to scratch the surface of your music composition studies. Your primary instrument will be the piano. You have had very little formal training. Your music reading skills leave a lot to be desired however you can memorize & perform complicated pieces in their entirety because you are a natural with an almost uncanny musical memory. Your love is composition and you have a particular love for film scoring. You plan to major in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music (in Boston) within 2 years as well as attend classes at the NE Conservatory down the street if possible (this would be full time). In the meantime you study composition & practice as much as possible with a top notch composer at the NE Conservatory when you are not working at your daytime job.

Now the choice...

You have recently decided to change your job which paid you decently & allowed you to save some money but more importantly the job provided you with the freedom to work from home & pursue your musical studies (demand of your time wasn't always pressing). You have now boiled your new line of work down to 3 main choices:

1) A position in sales. Selling pianos (or anything music related) with the potential of $75,000 and up per year - based on commission with benefits & vacation time. Probably looking at 40-50 hrs a week of your time.

2) Work for yourself. Start up your own business make your own schedule. You have a certain idea in mind however pay is uncertain & so are benefits...you have enough money saved to support you for a while but not for too long. Money can be made at this but the work will not involve music.

3) A good friend offers you a high paying career position making a minimum of $150,000.00 per year with benefits and vacation time. Your hours will be typcially 9-5 but may also demand more of your time & flexibility. Your dedication to this position is to be priority and for the long haul...everything else comes 2nd.

What would you choose & why!

Also feel free to comment on the situation as well as the choice!

Thanks!

[nikolas]

Major question:

Do we have children/family to support?

Cause if yes then it's 3, if not it's the 1.

I would only assume that my love for music will prevail in the end, but I have to live as well. There are tons of people who do 2-3 things at the same time, even here.

I, for exaempl, study at a phd level (which IS hard work and is showing its teeth right now), as well as having a number of contracts for computer games...

Additionally the 3 is 9-5 with some overtime here and there (paid though), but the 40-50 hours pw in No. 1 is freightening for me. 50 hours= 10 hours per day = 9-7 (no trasnfer there), which makes things imp[ossible to do anything else. Plus having a piano in front of you but no time to sit down adn write or study might be frustrating.

What about the location of the jobs?

If No.3 is too far away then nothing is worth it! Same with 1!

2 is just too risky unless you have a specific idea in mind!

[Dean Krommydas]

Hey Nick...great questions & thanks for sharing..I see where you are going with this...

Choice 2 does assume a specific idea in mind...but you have yet to try it out. I will edit this into the original post.

Lots of variables I see I'll need to try and clarify...

I'd say...

1) If you are currently married & have children... answer it from that perspective first. If you also feel up to answering from the opposite perspective i.e. if you were not married and didn't have children please by all means elaborate as much as possible!

2) For single people who are not yet 30 but want to be married by 30 and start having children...try and answer it from that perspective!

3) For single people who are not yet 30 & don't care or simply don't know if they will be married or if they want to start to having children in their 30's...answer from that perspective.

4) For people who are currently 30 or older and still single...answer from the perspective of either wanting to be married & have children... or don't care/don'tknow!

5) For people who have children (or a child) and are single - Answer from that perspective.

Lastly...Assume the job opportunities are local.

I hope that isn't too confusing...

[Thomas Regin]

I'd say "follow your heart" whether or not you have a family, a cow or an expensive drug habit to support.

Except for the limited formal piano training and the 2 year education at Berklee, you pretty much summed up my life in your situation description. I went with option number 2, except that I try to take on as many music-jobs as I possibly can (and get offered). Many of the jobs, however, involve playing live which is fun, but not exactly what I was aiming for.

I don't make truckloads of cash, but I'm getting by and I'm having a great time! I can choose my own hours. I prefer working late in the evening and won't get out of bed before 9. I have a little daughter and I get to spend a lot of time with her.

If, by chance, I was ever offered the opportunity to work on music full time, this whole situation would probably change. I'd definately go with the music, because that's my dream. But until then, I'm quite satisfied with my current situation. So, follow your heart, make sure you grab the chances when they come and make sure that you don't work yourself out. What's the point of working 50 hours a week if you're burned out at 35 and won't be able to work again? :)

/Tom..

[nikolas]

Oh god!

NEO??? You're asking me to write 4 times the above post??? No way man! :D

Somehow one of the four needs to apply here. If this thread is indeed about you, then you either do or don't have a family!

Bottom line is this: With a family you have people who depend on you. So you can't toy around. These people (kids, wife maybe) don't have what it takes to make it on their own... So this is where you step in. The decision was taken the minute you had sex with your wife/girlfirend without protection, or when you decided to have children, or when you decided to get married, or when you decided to be together, etc... We all have to face the decisions we take...

(I have 2 children and a wife. But also a scholarship to support my studies).

What about a scholarship then?

Either way

No 1 vs No 3 = No 3 wins.

More money, not lnoger hours (probably less), not music oriented, which is no problem as in college you will be music oriented.

Other than that, don't know what to say...

Is this a hypothetical scenario or a true scenario for "somebody" you know?

[Dean Krommydas]

Hey Nikolas...NO WAY man indeed! :D All I meant is 1 of the 4 (now 5... needed to put in one more possibility)...you seemed to also comment that if you weren't married w/ children then your choice would be different and so I just meant if you wanted to comment more about that... then go right ahead.

Your post was perfect as is. So thank you!

To answer your question...This is a mixture of my own personal circumstances as well as others involving discussion on hypothetical situations. So...it's a bit of everything really.

For me... I fall into the currently single but would like to be married and have children eventually category.

So my answer leans towards choice 3 as I think about the future.

However...the situation needs to be kept in mind. If going to school full-time is in the near horizon...choice 3 would no longer be possible. It is also not fair to your friend to work in a career position (that is meant for the long haul)...essentially using them for 2 years and then saying see ya.

So Choice 2 seems to be more liberating but uncertain. Seeing how you can go for a little while without the money coming in..it might be a good time to test this avenue for a bit.

Choice 1 seems to be something that you can quit or go part-time on once it is time to go to school full-time....but would presently cut into your freedom to pursue music at the intensity you have been.

So 2 seems to be a temporary choice...especially because not married w/ children and then you can snag choice 1 if things don't work. If I were to choose 3...and therefore stay with it...school and music gets put on hold. Only grabbing the chances in between that become available for music...yet every year that goes by...you are banking some serious bucks though.

[Counterpoint]

I would probably choose #3 as it seems pretty obvious... $150,000 per year (granted it will be much less than that after taxes, depending on what country you live in) with regular hours and occasional overtime is a good, stable situation. Given situations 1 and 2, this one should be a no-brainer...

Situation #1 would probably drain you out with the long hours, less pay, and the (maybe) imposed average number of sales you are expected to make. Being a salesperson is really hard work and you must have a certain amount of charisma in order to really be a success at it. There is frequently lots of pressure from the management to raise the sales so that they can pull in more profit.

Situation #2 would depend on how long you can support yourself for and whether or not the idea is feasable. Working for yourself is probably the way to go, but it is much riskier (as Nikolas mentioned this is not a good option for someone with a family and obligation). Something worth noting is that if you were good at saving money you could work the #3 job for a few years and save up enough money to be able to do #2 for 1-2 years which would give you a much better chance for success. Besides, you can also do #2 or your music part-time while you're working the #3 job. :)

Cheers,

- Matt

[Dean Krommydas]

@ Tom:

Thanks for sharing...I appreciate it. You triggered me to put down one more category that people may or may not fit into while attempting to apply the situation. Anyhow... I respect your perspective and find it extremely valuable... particularly that you relate so closely with the given situation. :)

I also feel 2 is the way to go...or at the very least simply try it out for a bit. If I was married with children & had higher financial obligations...admittedly I probably wouldn't choose this route.

@ Counterpoint:

Thanks for your perspective. I also felt like 3 should be a no brainer...but isn't it funny how complicated a no brainer can get! In any event...the outstanding issue for not choosing 3 seems to be that it would not be possible to go to school full time and captilize on the $150,000 job.

Let's add a little more detail...assume your friend offered you this position over everyone else with the mindset that you are not only more capable but more importantly that they can trust you over anyone else. They expect you to put the job first and be in it for the long haul. Incidently by staying... there will be plenty of room for you to make $200,000 per year or more as you stick things out. Being your friend...he also knows that you want to go to school within 2 years...so if you make your choice this needs to be resolved.

Do you put in a good 5-10 years (you'd be 35-40 years old now) bank your bucks, establish & secure your family and future (do music on the side as much as possible)...and then move on & hit school & Hollywood with everything you got?

K..said enough now...back later.

Thanks for the responses guys...

[XGener8or]

That latest idea sounds good to me. Put in some years making those big bucks :) Ane make as much music as you can on your spare time. $200.000 per year is such a shitload of money that it would be crazy not to. It's almost 10 times more than the regular Joe makes.

[Dean Krommydas]

heh heh Thanks for your take on this Xgen...and everyone's for that matter. Great food for thought...much appreciated! :)

[nickysnd]

1) A position in sales. Selling pianos ...
2) Work for yourself. Start up your own business make your own schedule. [... the work will not involve music.
3) A good friend offers you a high paying career position making a minimum of $150,000.00 per year ...
Do what you like best, 'cause you only live once. If you love money, go make money, as much as possible! Wanna sell pianos? - go sell pianos, as many as possible! Want to take care of a small business? - go for it, and make it big, sky's the limit!

HTH :)

[Dean Krommydas]

heh heh....thanks Niicky... but... which one would you choose? :)

[nickysnd]

heh heh....thanks Niicky... but... which one would you choose? :)
None. Any of those three options doesn't have the slightest meaning to me. My choice is very simple, actually nothing to chose because there is only one option: make music and come what may.

[Dean Krommydas]

LOL!

What I was trying to do though is offer a hypothetical situation that you must place yourself in...and based on that situation (married not married etc.) you have boiled it down to only 3 choices whether you like them or not...you must choose one.

Of course the easiest choice would be to say...I don't choose any of them and I'll just do music and come what may! lol But that's not a part of this particualr game! :) It's not an option for you in this particualr situation that I have presented. :p

So in case you still want to play...

I'll paste the situation again:

The situation:

You have just turned 30 years old and are only just beginning to scratch the surface of your music composition studies. Your primary instrument will be the piano. You have had very little formal training. Your music reading skills leave a lot to be desired however you can memorize & perform complicated pieces in their entirety because you are a natural with an almost uncanny musical memory. Your love is composition and you have a particular love for film scoring. You plan to major in Film Scoring at Berklee College of Music (in Boston) within 2 years as well as attend classes at the NE Conservatory down the street if possible (this would be full time). In the meantime you study composition & practice as much as possible with a top notch composer at the NE Conservatory when you are not working at your daytime job.

As Nickolas brought up the point... It's easier to answer this by associating with one of the following lenses:

1) If you are currently married & have children... answer it from that perspective first. If you also feel up to answering from the opposite perspective i.e. if you were not married and didn't have children please by all means elaborate as much as possible!

2) For single people who are not yet 30 but want to be married by 30 and start having children...try and answer it from that perspective!

3) For single people who are not yet 30 & don't care or simply don't know if they will be married or if they want to start to having children in their 30's...answer from that perspective.

4) For people who are currently 30 or older and still single...answer from the perspective of either wanting to be married & have children... or don't care/don'tknow!

5) For people who have children (or a child) and are single - Answer from that perspective.

Lastly...Assume the job opportunities are local.


Thanks nicky...

[nickysnd]

LOL!

What I was trying to do though is offer a hypothetical situation that you must place yourself in...and based on that situation (married not married etc.) you have boiled it down to only 3 choices whether you like them or not...you must choose one.

Of course the easiest choice would be to say...I don't choose any of them and I'll just do music and come what may! lol But that's not a part of this particualr game! :) It's not an option for you in this particualr situation that I have presented. :p

So in case you still want to play...

I understand perfectly the rules of your game. I will repeat my answer: if I was you - I would chose the one that I (i.e. you) like better. As I am me - I will chose none of those three, for they are all worthless to me. Your constraint that I HAVE TO CHOSE ONE OF THOSE THREE ANYWAY doesn't really work on me, as I am always free to dismiss any option that I am offered, and free also to not entering a game with no worthy prize. I can't commit to something that I don't care for. In short - if your game is not open to an additional option, if it is not negotiable, well, then I won't step in.

The funny thing about decisions is that you have to figure it out for yourself, no one can help you, you are all alone in your game, or better said - you only compete against the part of you that is not really you. I hope that the "really you" will win. Good luck! :)

It really is very simple - go for what would make you happy to do right now. Forget the future, that is nonsense, there really is only the present that really exists, always, and only one person that really counts: you. So chose the thing that you want to do now. It's hard to fail when you do that. As I said, you only live once, and you never know for how long. The "come what may" thing always works, don't worry about what is out of your control. As Horatio said: carpe diem - seize the day! :)

[Dean Krommydas]

Nicky have you ever taken a multple choice test? :eek: You must really hate those huh!???

I really didn't want to get into a tiff here over this & have it go back and forth off track because I sincerely appreciate your "go for what makes you happy" etc. point...but I feel I just need to clarify a couple things based on your last post.

I think you're simply reading far too much into this very simple hypothetical scenario or "game." Even though you claim to understand the rules...at this point it is more than fair to say you simply don't...which is fine btw!

4 people thus far (Thomas Regin, Nikolas, Counterpoint & Xgeneration) all understood that first they were free to answer the question (which goes without saying), place themselves in the given situation (empathetically) and then answer from one of the provided choices. That's it!

The question is... what would you do...not what should I do & this was done for particular reasons. The scenario is not based soley on my own situation but other people's situations and hypothetical issues....which could then be further discussed based on the given choices. Emphasis: It's all about how you as an individual would decide.

This is not some jedi mind trick I have devised to pull the wool over your eyes to make it "work on you" or something! I never said you HAVE to participate either...

To the remark:

...and free also to not entering a game with no worthy prize. I can't commit to something that I don't care for. In short - if your game is not open to an additional option, if it is not negotiable, well, then I won't step in.

That's fine with me nicky...but there really is no reason for you to get your underwear all in a bunch about it. :o

PRIZE!! :confused: Obviously there is no prize...however...let me take that back...as I think about it...and have shared the responses here with some of my friends & discussed it...they found the variety of responses helpful, beneficial and just good pertinent food for thought (and even yours will fit into this as well). So the prize (if there must be one) I would say is that it can help other people learn about what other perspectives exist out there beyond their own...which may or may not effect their individual decisions....but is helpful nonetheless.

With regards to decision making:

The funny thing about decisions is that you have to figure it out for yourself, no one can help you, you are all alone in your game, or better said - you only compete against the part of you that is not really you. I hope that the "really you" will win. Good luck!

To repeat...this has absolutely nothing to do with someone else making a choice for me or someone else for that matter. This is about how you & others including myself would make a decision given this situation and thereby talk about it & learn from each other as to why. That's all.

So I'll just say this...

To be more helpful to myself and others (THE PRIZE)...a response to one of the choices based on the given scenario would be the most helpful. I thought it was obvious but apparently not!

I didn't mean to poo poo your answer...because I know where it is coming from & I appreciate it...but for the "game" or task or test or scenario or whatever you want to call it - at hand - asks for your response to one of the given choices (only if you want -as you are free to participate or free not to).

The fact that you mention you do not care or do want to participate is simply not true because I don't think you would have attempted to post otherwise. You just wanted to participate on your own terms. :)

You have done so....and I still appreciate that!

If you still want to try... then take consolation in knowing that this is a decision you would make for yourself...not for someone else. That's what this is about...

Peace!

[nickysnd]

Peace!
Peace was never disturbed. You had my short answer three posts ago and it was: None. I just wanted to explain it, that's all.

Shanti

[LEX]

1) A position in sales. Selling pianos (or anything music related) with the potential of $75,000 and up per year - based on commission with benefits & vacation time. Probably looking at 40-50 hrs a week of your time.

2) Work for yourself. Start up your own business make your own schedule. You have a certain idea in mind however pay is uncertain & so are benefits...you have enough money saved to support you for a while but not for too long. Money can be made at this but the work will not involve music.

3) A good friend offers you a high paying career position making a minimum of $150,000.00 per year with benefits and vacation time. Your hours will be typcially 9-5 but may also demand more of your time & flexibility. Your dedication to this position is to be priority and for the long haul...everything else comes 2nd.

What would you choose & why!

Also feel free to comment on the situation as well as the choice!

Thanks!

They all have their ups and downs, and none is completely appealing.

1) Selling - yuck!

2) Work for yourself. Sure, but you have to have something that will make you money or at least break even. Most businesses fail and can be costly.
Know your business. Getting clients can be challenging.
Almost 100 percent of your life will be dedicated to getting the business off the ground.
But if it all goes well, in 2 or 3 years you maybe able to hire someone to run it for you, and you can get back to concentrating on music.

3) The money is great, but like #2, you will need to make it your priority. It does look like it leaves you sometime to work on stuff, but it also may mean that you do small projects and less demanding projects.
It maybe more hobby based, but what the hell.

All and all it depends on you and what you need.
Are you close to, or on your way up to being able to make music for a living?
Do you have the contacts you need to do it?
Clients and credits?
Are clients calling you for their next project?
OR are you still just submitting?

If no to all but the last one, then you have to ask yourself, "How long is it really going to take me to get to the point of making music for a living?"
If you are half way there or 3/4's there, then maybe you might want to consider continuing on.
But that is your call. It still may take another 3-5 years.

All 3 choices are going to take you out of doing music as a profession. Except #2, depending on your business.

I'd probably chose #2. I work 16-20 hours every day anyway, so being my own boss and building a business I can control, sell should it do well and still make up what I want to do should I have music opportunities would be what I would chose.

It is the hardest one of the 3, but has potentially the most opportunities available to you.

LEX

[joenovice]

I would recommend choosing #3 because I've chosen the other two already and $150,000 sounds like a better future. While you may not be able to satisfy that musical itch you would be able to retire one day and compose till the cows come home.

#1 - $75000??!?!?!? :D This is crazy! I worked music retail for several years turning some rather large sales ($68000 deal a personal best) and I've never known anyone who made that kind of bread. Not even managers. Sales sucks... except for the gear discounts.

#2 - I currently work for myself. I enjoy it and make a decent living but always feel poor. There's never enough cash for gear upgrades and some months are dry. There are some gravy months as well. The hardest part is beating the streets for work. It's really hard to make a living as a musician. I'm looking ahead though and believe that if I stick to it I will up my income.

Bottom line... $150,000 a year. Work for five years and save every penny, quit with a few hundred G's and then be self-employeed (buy a studio or something).

[Dean Krommydas]

@ LEX:

Great post & thanks for your perspective! I also ultimately chose No. 2. I just think it would help provide the elbow room for music and still some sense of freedom. If the business wasn't cutting it after a valiant effort...then I'd probably begin to consider the other 2 choices. It was a tough call between 3 and 2 for me.

I particularly appreciate the importance seen in your additional contingencies/reflective questions:

All and all it depends on you and what you need.
Are you close to, or on your way up to being able to make music for a living?
Do you have the contacts you need to do it?
Clients and credits?
Are clients calling you for their next project?
OR are you still just submitting?

If no to all but the last one, then you have to ask yourself, "How long is it really going to take me to get to the point of making music for a living?"
If you are half way there or 3/4's there, then maybe you might want to consider continuing on.

Just overall great helpful questions & data to think on :)

Thanks Lex!

@joenovice:

Thanks for your response..much appreciated!

Heh heh..,I went back and forth quite a few times before I selected 2 instead of 3. Definitely a toughy. As counterpoint said 3 in a no brainer for him...I'm inclined to agree...but it's interesting to me how it can get complicated for myself/others. This is why I believe this little scenario is a great excercise! I like to mull over it & see how other people do the same! Also..just want to emphasize the point that this is not a recommendation or a choice you'd make for someone else...it's what you would do.

With regards to option 1. Take my word on this. The option exists! I'll be more specific...it wouldn't be a gear/studio related position either. You would be given a base salary of $50,000 as well as benefits etc. The rest is what you make on commission...and $25,000 should be easy (if you're into sales that is). With strong effort you could get up to $100,000 & who knows what else.

So just to be clear... without doubting NO. 1 exists...assume it does and it is at your fingertips to choose. Would you take it over option 3 then?

Thanks again!

[joenovice]

#1? Absolutely NOT!!!! I spent 4 years in sales. "YUCK" as described by LEX is an understatement. I'm the son of a salesman. I have heavy sales experience. I can say wihtout a doubt that it is one of the least enjoyable and most stressful jobs I've had; competition includes Plumbing, Grill Cook, Dishwasher, Private Teacher, College Professor, Driver, and Self-employed Musician.

Whatever the job pays multiply that by 3 and you will have the level of professional dissatisfaction that one feels. ;) (Honestly some people do like it.... but obviously not me.)

I choose #2 for me. If I were to make a recommendation for anyone else... I say choose #3. It is the safest and most logical.

[Dean Krommydas]

Whatever the job pays multiply that by 3 and you will have the level of professional dissatisfaction that one feels. (Honestly some people do like it.... but obviously not me.)

hahah - I definitely know where you're coming from!! No more sales for me either...

I'm with you...on number 2!

[jeb247]

It really is very simple - go for what would make you happy to do right now. Forget the future, that is nonsense, there really is only the present that really exists, always, and only one person that really counts: you. So chose the thing that you want to do now. It's hard to fail when you do that. As I said, you only live once, and you never know for how long. The "come what may" thing always works, don't worry about what is out of your control. As Horatio said: carpe diem - seize the day! :)

I totally agree with this philosophy! There are always a million different options if you "step outside of yourself" and examine the issue from the perspective of an outsider, but the whole point is to make the decision based on who you are, right now! Hoping for things to pay off in the future never works because like the carrot dangling in front of the horse, the future never arrives!

The joy is in the journey!

[Dean Krommydas]

I agree... however I will just state the obvious - that making the decision "now" is what creates the future you live...which always arrives... or said another way... the future usually is the direct result of our present choices...which is why it is so important to think through choices imo. :)

[nikolas]

Bump a 1 1/2 year old thread?

hmmm...

What's happening with this Dean? All is good, mate?

[Enrique]

i miss nickysnd's posts :(

[A.Leung]

Yes he certainly knew when to get cerebral didnt he? Of course many of his posts turned upside down and sure turned into a cluster Frak.

Oh - well- I hope he's happy wherever he is...

[OneThrow]

I can't give any advice and that's as it should be.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=WlBiLNN1NhQ

[Dean Krommydas]

Bump a 1 1/2 year old thread?

hmmm...

What's happening with this Dean? All is good, mate?

Yasou Nikola - it wasn't me I swear haha. There was another recent thread started by jeb247:

http://www.soundsonline-forums.com/showthread.php?p=165251#post165251

It reminded me of this old thread here and how helpful it was to myself and others so I gave him the link to it and he decided to post :)

As far as my own choice goes - I am still comfortably working hard at my own business ventures and it's going OK thanks.

A.Leung Yes he certainly knew when to get cerebral didnt he? Of course many of his posts turned upside down and sure turned into a cluster Frak.

hahahaha - so true.

[JustinRayMiller]

Hey Neo, just so you know. Once you get to Berklee, you aren't allowed to enter into the filmscoring major classes until you've completed 4 semesters worth of classical, ear training, and conducting prerequisites. I'm in my third semester currently inching my way towards the major, but that means for you, when you get here, you won't be studying film scoring at all really until you do 4 semesters worth, which if you aren't attending the summer semester can be 2 yrs worth, and if you fail one of the required courses will keep you postponed. There is an intro, survey type class to film scoring, which teaches you about the business and editing--a really cool guy, Eric Reasoner, who used to work for Micheal Kamen as editor, teaches that class (this is the only class you can take before you enter the major.)
I'm saying this just so you realize it isn't really just showing up in Boston and instantly learning from composers all day--most of these teaches don't even live in the city, so they aren't here for more than 2 hours outside of their scheduled class times, in their office hours. But you might strike up luck w/ NE conservatory because if you go to Berklee, you can attend that school w/o applying if you choose to. As for your age, it is irrelevant... composers don't follow age schemes; some of the best don't start out until later in their lives, and they DO the best because they feel the pressure of competition better than the younger crowd. Good luck, and maybe I'll see you around here soon!

[Dean Krommydas]

Hey Neo, just so you know. Once you get to Berklee, you aren't allowed to enter into the filmscoring major classes until you've completed 4 semesters worth of classical, ear training, and conducting prerequisites. I'm in my third semester currently inching my way towards the major, but that means for you, when you get here, you won't be studying film scoring at all really until you do 4 semesters worth, which if you aren't attending the summer semester can be 2 yrs worth, and if you fail one of the required courses will keep you postponed. There is an intro, survey type class to film scoring, which teaches you about the business and editing--a really cool guy, Eric Reasoner, who used to work for Micheal Kamen as editor, teaches that class (this is the only class you can take before you enter the major.)
I'm saying this just so you realize it isn't really just showing up in Boston and instantly learning from composers all day--most of these teaches don't even live in the city, so they aren't here for more than 2 hours outside of their scheduled class times, in their office hours. But you might strike up luck w/ NE conservatory because if you go to Berklee, you can attend that school w/o applying if you choose to. As for your age, it is irrelevant... composers don't follow age schemes; some of the best don't start out until later in their lives, and they DO the best because they feel the pressure of competition better than the younger crowd. Good luck, and maybe I'll see you around here soon!

Hey Justin - many thanks for the response - as Nikolas has pointed out... this thread is well over a year and a half old now and if you look through the thread you'll see it is comprised of hypothetical situations - put together from glimpses here and there of my own life but conversations I had with other people as well. In other words - it's not my life or fully real :) It was an exercise to bake the noodle and help others reflect on including myself.

I am also aware of the Berklee situation and the New England and Boston Conservatory situations...and other music schools in the Boston area. I know that the Boston Conservatory right down the street actually has a closer relationship with Berklee than the New England Conservatory...and that they have been known to work together between the composition experience needed and then moving into the Film Scoring degree/classes. Many people change it up to Film Scoring having taken a few years of composition at the Conservatory...along the same lines of what you are saying. :)

I also hear if you major at the Boston Conservatory in composition - it is possible to go through the Film Scoring program twice if you can believe it! You may not get the film scoring degree - but you'll have gone through the program and you come away with a degree in composition. Not a bad outcome/experience at all...as these days having gone to Berklee for Film Scoring (showing you have a degree from there) is not necessarily something as desireable as it once was. You probably know better than others too that Berklee is trying to improve on its name again having gone from being an institution that was spitting out gifted professionals right and left to becoming more of a business/money making machine which creates artists that tend to sound as if they have come off an assembly line. Please don't misconstrue what I just said as being true for everyone who comes out of there these days :) I will say though that I know for a fact that the bar has been set too low for too long with regards to whom they will accept these days - so I hope you are seeing some improvements while you have been there.

Thanks for spending some time and commenting anyway my friend - the more information here the merrier. Maybe we will bump into each other some day in Boston. I go to Boston often to study composition with a former student from the Boston Conservatory.

Be well!