“Get into entertainment”
George W. Bush invaded two foreign countries based on lies and misinformation, adding trillions of dollars to the U.S. debt, and causing the Great Recession. It took eight years to virtually destroy the country and its standing in the world.
Although Barack Obama has spent four years working to get us out of the position that Bush put us in, I have come to the conclusion that retiring in this lifetime probably is not going to happen.
However, I’m pretty sure that this body isn’t going to last much longer as a home inspector. Mr. Body just doesn’t like crawling under houses or up into attics. Mr. Mind doesn’t much care, but contorting around in those small places makes Mr. Mouth, on behalf of Mr. Body, go “Ouch.”
I’ve been searching for a career change. It’s not photography — digital cameras, cheap digital cameras, have made a professional photographer out of about six billion people.
I’m not ready to move to Europe to go to work for Animal Couriers (what a cool job, transporting animals all over the place!).
It has to be something that I can start doing immediately and get paid for it. I think I’ve found it.
Whenever a friend has a child, I tell them to gently push that child into entertainment. Whenever someone I know graduates from college, I always tell them to get into entertainment. Here’s why:
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Alex Rodriguez, baseball — $30 million annually
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Kobe Bryant, basketball — $28 million annually
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Dirk Nowitzki, basketball — $21 million annually
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Tom Cruise, actor — $75 million from July 2011 to July 2012
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Leonardo diCaprio, actor — $37 million from July 2011 to July 2012
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Steven Spielberg, director — $107 million in 2011
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Elton John, singer/songwriter — $200 million in 2011
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Oprah Winfrey, television — $290 million from July 2010 to July 2011
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Lady Gaga, music — $90 million from July 2010 to July 2011
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Taylor Swift, music — $45 million from July 2010 to July 2011
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Tiger Woods, golf — $61 million in 2011
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Phil Mickelson, golf — $47 million in 2011
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Roger Federer, tennis — $47 million in 2011
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Hillary Hahn, violinist — $40,000 per performance with an orchestra
I realize that those are exceptional people, and getting to that point…. well, the odds are against it. However, if entertainment can afford to pay like that, it only stands to reason that there is lots of money in entertainment. After all, a movie only costs $8 yet millions of people are willing to pay $8 for a couple of hours of entertainment. For some people, a movie can become a significant part of their lives (see my Comic Con post). Add in the support industries — manufacturing, sales, film editing, health, etc. — and entertainment has a lot of jobs available. So if one can’t be the top ranked tennis player in the world, no reason why one can’t work for Head or Yonex in sales, manufacturing, etc. We live in a world where people want to be entertained. Probably has something to do with all the stress caused by politics….
A couple of years ago I went to a Sunday afternoon recital at a church. I knew the pianist giving the recital but had never been to the church, an extremely nice church. I counted the people on my side of the church and then estimated that about 500 people attended. When the offering plate came around, I felt really bad. My measly $10 bill looked puny sitting on top of those twenties, fifties, and hundreds. That’s when it hit me that there is a lot of money floating around even in a Great Recession. I just had to figure out how to get some of it.
Taking a cue from what I tell other people, I am going into entertainment with the intent of working hard so that this will be my final company, one that will be easy on the body but allow me to work until I die.
My new venture is titled Classical Street.
I started putting things together yesterday, including a WordPress web site and blog at Classical Street. I will be applying to become a non-profit 501(c)(3) corporation, which will make it easier to get donations to support classical music throughout San Diego County. After that, all I have to do is ask for money, give people money, go to concerts, and have fun!
With me growing up playing piano and violin, and singing, and Jim with two piano performance degrees and still playing chamber music, I believe we have the knowledge and the contacts to make this work.
I’m not looking to make millions, just to be able to do something fun that will pay the bills for the rest of my life and keep me off of the public entitlement rolls. Wish me luck!
Looking for real estate services in San Diego County?
I can highly recommend
James Frimmer, Realtor
Century 21 Award, DRE #01458572
If you’re looking for a home inspector,
I recommend Russel Ray — that’s me!
Posted on August 20, 2012, in SNIPPETS and tagged classical street. Bookmark the permalink. 31 Comments.
Best of luck in your new venture! Love the idea & you certainly have the experience to make it a success! Great name as well!
Good luck! I came to a similar conclusion about retirement long ago. So I’ve been moving toward what I can do/offer that keeps the bills paid and is gentle on the body. Transitional Coach: helping you transition from who you think you’ve been to who you know you are! Let’s see how that goes…xoM
No WordPress “follow” & “like” on the new blog?
Working on it as we speak (I’m dictating this).
Yay!
Mazel Tov Russ! I wish you the best on your new venture!
wishing you much luck in your new endeavor
and do i EVER agree with you on bush!! have you noticed how he’s not in the limelight as an x president like the others were/are?? lol by the way i understand on the ol’ body not wanting to contort ,when i try some exercises it yells, STOP…this is not gonna work!
Hi Russel,
great idea. I wish you best of luck with all my heart. Toi, toi, toi – as we say in Germany, or, “Ich halte die Daumen” = “I’ll keep my fingers crossed.”
Take care, my friend,
Pit
Good luck with that. Maybe you will have better luck than I do, but as a professional entertainer I can tell you that the money isn’t great. Most, and that is about 99% of the pros out there working everyday to make a living, are living paycheck to paycheck. The ppl that make the kind of $ you are talking about are the lucky 1%. The other 99% struggle everyday to get gigs, get good money, enough to pay the other players and get gas to the next gig and hope to have enough to eat. It doesn’t matter how talented you are or how hard you work, the entertainment industry and getting your foot in the door are impossible at best. Peace, Jaz
Hey, Jaz. I understand that, and that’s why I left the piano, violin, and voice many years ago. But get a load of these statistics:
According to National Philanthropic Trust, 65% of households gave to charities and non-profit organizations in 2011, accounting for $217.79 billion, or 73% of the total amount given. Foundations provided $41.67 billion, bequests accounted for $24.41 billion, and corporations accounted for $14.55 billion. The average household contributed $2,213 and the mean per household was $870. Charitable giving in 2011 was up 3.9% over 2010. Both years were part of the Great Recession. Religion accounted for 32% of charitable giving. Ninety-eight percent of high net worth households give to charity. Eighty-one percent of high net worth donors cite “giving back to the community” as a chief motivation for giving, and 72% give to organizations that support the arts, culture, and humanities.
That’s the money I want to go after.
Right on…I hope you succeed….Peace Jaz
What a really good idea. Having contacts in your new field is vital and it sounds like you’ve got it all ready to rock and roll. Sadly we won’t be able to patronise your concerts but we’ll love seeing how it goes and what musicians/music you put together. Don’t forget about us for your sabbatical year!
Wishing you every success possible. What a fabulous idea. All new ventures (I know, I spend my life starting new ventures) take hard work and time but at least you don’t have to contort your body for this one. I truly hope this comes off for you.
Best of lucks, I really like the idea.
I couldn’t subscribe by email, but I suspect it’s because I’m on a mobile device and the browser doesn’t support it.
I’ll try when you add the like/follow as someone already pointed up there.
Good Luck Russel. Let me know if you need a professional jump-rope jumper to open up any of those venues (yes, i did look at CLASSICAL STREET). I am not quite ready for a stage performance but if you need a CHAMBER ROPE JUMPER then I am your guy. Just give me 6 months of practice and I will be ready. I already purchased “ROPE JUMPING FOR DUMMIES.” Wally
Boy am I glad to be back among the living folks on WP. See you soon and thanks for the nice long camp-out on my blog.
Good luck my friend.. much in the same position as you.. will have to work till I fall over… but have a thing up my sleeve that at present under construction… hopefully it will be the proverbial ship coming in…
Good luck! Pursue it with passion, and understand that the road may be rough, but if you want it, you’ll get it!
Good luck with your new venture Russ. I really hope it goes well for you.
So as non-profit you still pay yourself? I never understood that part… can’t you just say that your salary should $1 Million and therefore never donate?? Just curious
Salaries have to be “reasonable.” So if one has a Foundation like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the largest in the world, that handles around $17 billion each year, one could pay oneself a “reasonable” salary of, say, a million dollars or so annually.
Yes, the bigger the non-profit, the more “reasonable” the salaries become.
There also are rules about running a non-profit. If you don’t follow the rules, you don’t have a non-profit, and without the non-profit, donations from the overly wealthy and extremely rich dry up, very quickly.
Best of luck. At least you are trying and not just stagnating. Go for it!!
M.O.A.! You are a Man of Action. Best of luck, Russel. Keep us posted.
Good luck!
Wishing you best luck!
Russel, this is a wonderful idea! How incredible it would be to work at something you loved and something your partner loves also! I really hope this works out for you. And, if you ever do a fund raising auction, I would consider donating a piece so feel free to ask.
You are brilliant! Do you need a secretary?
I need so much…. need, need, need……..lol
I am also embarking on a second career. I wish you all the luck and just remember anything is possible in America! Never ever give up your dream!
What a fantastic idea! Congratulations! I hope things go well for you as you embark on this new adventure.
Smart move and best wishes… I’m starting a second career too. Stay tuned.
Best wishes with Classical Street!