Hi,
To provide some context, I’ve been a musician my entire life. I’ve dedicated endless hours to honing this craft and have loved every second of it. However, over the past two years, I’ve started to consider my financial situation more seriously. I am currently pursuing a degree in Instrumental Performance on a full scholarship, so I haven’t incurred any debt thus far. I also work as a bartender at a restaurant, earning more money than most of my teachers. This isn’t due to any faults on their part; it’s mainly because the market for instrumental performers (like trumpet, saxophone, flute, etc.) has significantly declined over the years. Becoming aware of this trend, I’ve been exploring the idea of starting a business while I continue my studies. My intention isn’t to become a full-time entrepreneur right away. Instead, I plan to study hospital administration and use the income from that job to invest in a business I’ve been cultivating for the past four years (I have two years left for my current degree and an additional two for a master’s).
Presently, I’ve managed to save some extra money, and I’m hoping on investing it in a business venture. I work around 40 hours a week while being a student, but I’m confident I can carve out time throughout the week to focus on a startup. My main dilemma is that I feel I lack marketable skills beyond my competence in instrumental music. However, apart from teaching and gigging (which I do on the side), I can’t envision how to turn this skill into a viable business. This is primarily due to two reasons: 1) the dwindling market and 2) the financial constraints of those facing issues in the industry.
My other interests revolve around cocktails, which initially landed me my bartending job. However, the community for “classic craft cocktails” doesn’t seem to be filled with people or are hungry and willing to spend money on seeking solutions to pressing problems. I’ve also contemplated entering my parents’ entrepreneurial field—they sell vintage fabric and ribbons. Yet, I struggle to see the potential in this market due to what appears to be a lack of demand unless someone can illuminate possibilities I haven’t considered.
As it stands, I feel my only marketable and practical skills/experience stem from intangible lessons learned through music, such as time management, scheduling, gigging etiquette, hard work, dedication, etc. My time in the food industry has primarily taught me about our menu and how to craft drinks.
Would it be more beneficial for me to persist in brainstorming startup ideas related to these industries, or should I redirect my efforts toward learning as much as possible in other fields relevant to entrepreneurship? This could involve delving into areas like marketing, social media management, etc., and perhaps shifting to more lucrative fields such as beauty, health, wealth, etc., which boast larger markets and more prevalent pain points compared to music or craft cocktails.
TDLR: Feel like I have no marketable skills to markets that a big enough and with enough money in them to sustain a business. Stick to my current strengths or branch out to a completely different industry with more money and opportunity.
Thank you in advance for any advice or comments!