Find a local band or musician you like and contact them to request an informal interview. Prepare questions in advance, but be ready to have a conversation where you share about your interests, too!

Career

Day to Day

Interview a local band or musician.

Talk to the music teacher at your school about what you're interested in and ask if there's a band you can join. No music at your school? Find some friends and start a band on your own.

Join a band--or start your own!

Listen to author Richard Florida speak about the importance of creativity in career stability. How can being creative, no matter what industry or job you're doing, give you an advantage?

Learn about the importance of creativity in any career.

Musicians

Play one or more musical instruments in recital, in accompaniment, or as members of an orchestra, band, or other musical group.

Artistic occupations frequently involve working with forms, designs and patterns. They often require self-expression and the work can be done without following a clear set of rules.

Artistic

Second Interest High-Point

Enterprising occupations frequently involve starting up and carrying out projects. These occupations can involve leading people and making many decisions. Sometimes they require risk taking and often deal with business.

Enterprising

First Interest High-Point

Realistic occupations frequently involve work activities that include practical, hands-on problems and solutions. They often deal with plants, animals, and real-world materials like wood, tools, and machinery. Many of the occupations require working outside, and do not involve a lot of paperwork or working closely with others.

Realistic

Social occupations frequently involve working with, communicating with, and teaching people. These occupations often involve helping or providing service to others.

Social

Investigative occupations frequently involve working with ideas, and require an extensive amount of thinking. These occupations can involve searching for facts and figuring out problems mentally.

Investigative

Conventional occupations frequently involve following set procedures and routines. These occupations can include working with data and details more than with ideas. Usually there is a clear line of authority to follow.

Conventional

Third Interest High-Point

Job Zone Four: Considerable Preparation Needed

Musicians, Instrumental

Musicians, Singers, and Related Workers

Musicians and Singers

Arts, Design, Entertainment, Sports, and Media Occupations

Entertainers and Performers, Sports and Related Workers

Specialize in playing a specific family of instruments or a particular type of music.

Play musical instruments as soloists, or as members or guest artists of musical groups such as orchestras, ensembles, or bands.

Sight-read musical parts during rehearsals.

Audition for orchestras, bands, or other musical groups.

Provide the musical background for live shows, such as ballets, operas, musical theatre, and cabarets.

Transpose music to alternate keys, or to fit individual styles or purposes.

Promote their own or their group's music by participating in media interviews and other activities.

Make or participate in recordings in music studios.

Compose original music, such as popular songs, symphonies, or sonatas.

Practice musical instrument performances, individually or in rehearsal with other musicians, to master individual pieces of music or to maintain and improve skills.

Perform before live audiences in concerts, recitals, educational presentations, and other social gatherings.

Listen to recordings to master pieces or to maintain and improve skills.

Arrange and edit music to fit style and purpose.

Accordions

Acoustic guitars

Alto horns

Alto saxophones

Amplifiers

Autoharps

Bagpipes

Banjoes

Baritone horns

Bassoons

Bb clarinets

Bongo drums

Bugles

Capos

Cellos

Clavichords

Clip-on microphones

Cymbal stands

Digital tuners

Double basses

Drum mallets

Dulcimers

Electronic metronomes

English horns

Euphoniums

Finger picks

French horns

Guitar stands

Handbells

Harps

Harpsichords

Instrument mutes

Instrument tuning forks

Kettle drums

Laptop computers

Mandolins

Maracas

Marching bells

Marimbas

Mellophones

Musical cornets

Musical flutes

Musical organs

Oboes

Orchestral cymbals

Personal computers

Pianos

Piccolos

Sheet music stands

Sousaphones

String cutters

String winders

Stringed instrument bows

Synthesizers

Tablet computers

Timpani

Trombones

Trumpets

Tubas

Vibraphones

Violas

Violins

Wooden drum sticks

Xylophones

Apple GarageBand

Appointment scheduling software

Avid Technology Pro Tools

Avid Technology Sibelius

Blogging software

Email software

Facebook

Financial tracking software

Instagram

iZotope Ozone

MakeMusic Finale

Microsoft Word

Snapchat

Twitter

Web browser software

YouTube

Musician/Drummer

♪♪ (FEMALE) PEOPLE WHO JUST DO DAY IN, DAY OUT, WITHOUT QUESTIONING ANYTHING... WHERE'S THE FUN IN THAT? YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP EVERY MORNING AND LOVE TO DO WHAT YOU DO. YOU'VE GOTTA LOVE IT.  (FEMALE)  I THINK IT'S SO AMAZING  TO MEET SOMEONE  WHO'S COMPLETELY ORIGINAL  IN THOUGHT. (FEMALE) I WANT TO BE CONSCIOUSLY MAKING DECISIONS ABOUT MY LIFE. (FEMALE) I'VE NEVER SAT DOWN AND THOUGHT, "WHAT DO I REALLY WANT TO DO?"  (FEMALE)  I NEED TO DISCOVER MYSELF. (MALE) IT'S NOT A HORSE RACE-- THIS IS A MARATHON. IT'S THE JOURNEY THAT'S REALLY GONNA COUNT, EMBRACE IT. GOOD MORNING. WELL, JUST TO PROVE THAT IT'S 3:30 A.M. IN THE DEAD OF NIGHT, I THOUGHT I'D TAKE YOU OUTSIDE. (SU-YIN) THIS IS ONE OF THOSE MORNINGS WHERE THE LAST THING YOU WANT TO BE DOING IS GETTING UP EARLY AND CALLING THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. BUT MY ALARM WENT OFF, AND I WAS LIKE, "UP AND AT 'EM, LET'S GO! LET'S START THIS COLD CALLING BLITZ." HI, MY NAME'S MARIANA, I'M CALLING FROM SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. MY NAME IS SU-YIN, I'M RINGING FROM BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA. HI PETER, MY NAME'S CAMILLA, I'M CALLING FROM BRISBANE IN AUSTRALIA.  I JUST RECENTLY GRADUATED  FROM UNI AND I DON'T KNOW  WHAT TO DO WITH MY LIFE.  (MARIANA)  WE FEEL LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE  FEEL LIKE THAT,  WHERE IT'S JUST SORT OF LIKE  THEY'VE COME TO THE END  OF THEIR COURSE  AND THEY SORT OF DON'T KNOW  WHAT THEY'RE GOING TO DO. I AM ACTUALLY TRAVELING TO THE UNITED STATES AND EMBARKING ON A 5-WEEK ROAD TRIP.  (MARIANA)  TO INTERVIEW A WHOLE RANGE  OF INTERESTING AND AMAZING  PEOPLE, AND SORT OF SEE  IF THEY'D BE INTERESTED IN  SHARING THEIR STORY ABOUT  HOW THEY GOT TO  WHERE THEY ARE NOW.  AND I WAS JUST WONDERING IF  THAT WOULD BE SOMETHING YOU WERE INTERESTED IN?  YEAH?  EXCELLENT. YOU'RE, LIKE, THE FIRST PERSON THAT SAID YES. SO THANK YOU SO MUCH, IT'S SO EXCITING. THANKS AGAIN. BYE. [LAUGHING] I BOOKED AN INTERVIEW. WE'RE AT THE AIRPORT.  (MARIANA)  CAMILLA AND SU  ARE AWESOME.  LIKE IT'S SO WEIRD THAT  WE DIDN'T KNOW EACH OTHER  AND WE'RE GOING TO BE  EXPERIENCING SOMETHING  IN THESE NEXT 6 WEEKS, LIKE  IT WILL ONLY BE SOMETHING  THAT I CAN SHARE WITH  THESE TWO GIRLS.  YEAH, IT'S GONNA BE  LIFE CHANGING. ♪♪ SEE IT? WHERE? WE HAVE TO DRIVE THAT. HOLY CRAP! LIKE I KNEW IT WAS GONNA BE BIG, BUT NOT THIS BIG. READY, EVERYONE? [HORN HONKING] OH, MY GOD. THAT'S REALLY LOUD! (CAMILLA) OH, MY FIRST IMPRESSIONS OF THE RV, IT WAS BIGGER THAN I THOUGHT IT WOULD BE. BECAUSE WHEN I THOUGHT 36 FOOT, IT SOUNDS LIKE ABOUT 6 METERS. DID I DO MY MATH RIGHT? NO, I DON'T THINK I DID. ANYWAY, IT SOUNDS SHORT. SO MY KNOWLEDGE OF AMERICA COMES FROM MOVIES SUCH AS "CHICAGO," AND "CALAMITY JANE." I FEEL LIKE I'M IN A REALLY BIG ERA OF TRANSITION.  THIS JOB THAT I'M IN NOW,  I'M A MEDIA PLANNER/BUYER.  IF I EVER THINK ABOUT IT  AS WHAT I'M DOING, YOU KNOW,  FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,  I FEEL PHYSICALLY ILL.  I FEEL LIKE I FELL INTO  THIS JOB AND IT'S NOT ME,  AND I DON'T WANT TO BECOME  ONE OF THESE PEOPLE THAT JUST COMPLAINS ABOUT THEIR LIFE BUT DOESN'T DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT.  I WANT TO BREAK DOWN  THE BARRIERS  OF MY SOCIAL NORMS.  THAT'S WHAT I FEEL LIKE  "ROADTRIP" WILL DO,  IS SHOW YOU ALL OF THE OTHER  IMPORTANT THINGS THAT PEOPLE  ARE DOING IN DIFFERENT AREAS,  AND THAT THERE ISN'T JUST  ONE WAY TO BE IMPORTANT  AND VALUABLE.  (SU-YIN)  ALL THROUGH SCHOOL  I'VE BEEN LIKE A REALLY  HIGH ACHIEVER, A STRAIGHT "A"  STUDENT AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND I'VE PUT A LOT OF PRESSURE ON MYSELF TO DO WELL.  I KNEW THAT I WASN'T READY  FOR UNIVERSITY.  I WANTED TO JUST NOT  RUSH INTO THINGS  AND TO THINK THINGS THROUGH.  SO I WAS LIKE, "OH, OKAY,  WELL, JUST TAKE THE YEAR OFF."  MY DAD DIDN'T SPEAK TO ME  FOR ABOUT 2 WEEKS. I GUESS I JUST REALLY DISAPPOINTED HIM.  NOWADAYS I FEEL LIKE  I CAN'T REALLY TALK TO HIM,  ABOUT ANYTHING REALLY.  ACTUALLY, WHEN I CAME BACK  HOME AND IT WAS TIME FOR ME TO APPLY TO UNI AGAIN, I STILL DIDN'T HAVE A VERY GOOD IDEA.  AND AT THE LAST MINUTE,  I CHANGED TO JOURNALISM,  AND I DON'T KNOW WHY. (MARIANA) TODAY WE ARE GOING TO BE DOING SOME DRIVER TRAINING AND HOPEFULLY NOT CRASH THE RV. I CAN'T EVEN PUT MY SEATBELT ON. ♪♪ READING AND DRIVING ALL WEEK, AND REMEMBERING THAT I'VE GOT TO GO INTO A RIGHT LANE, NOT INTO ONCOMING TRAFFIC, WHICH WOULD BE BAD. OH, WRONG ONE. WRONG LANE. I KNEW I WAS GONNA DO IT. WHERE AM I GOING EXACTLY? LIKE WHERE AM I AIMING FOR? ♪♪ OH, THERE'S SO MUCH SWEAT RIGHT NOW. WE'VE GOT TO PUT TOWELS ON THIS SEAT. IT'S GROSS. THAT'S DISGUSTING. DON'T LOOK AT THAT. IT'S KIND OF LIKE UNWRITTEN LAW THAT I WAS JUST GONNA HAVE TO GO TO UNI, AND THAT I WAS GONNA HAVE TO DO SOME SORT OF BACHELOR DEGREE. MY BIGGEST TWO PASSIONS ARE ART AND MUSIC. NOW IT IS STARTING TO SET IN THAT I'M DOING SOMETHING I ENJOY, BUT WHERE IS IT GONNA TAKE ME? AND I GUESS I SORT OF JUST NEED TO LIKE EXPERIENCE MY WORLD WITHOUT MY MOM. SHE'S STILL LIKE, YOU KNOW, KIND OF HOLDING MY HAND. AND LIKE I'M GRATEFUL FOR THAT, BUT I THINK I NEED TO BE ABLE TO FIGURE THINGS OUT NOW BY MYSELF. DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST STARTED APPLYING? YOU WERE LIKE, "MAYBE I CAN COME. MAYBE YOU CAN TAKE YOUR DAD WITH YOU AND GO ON." NO, MOM. THE WHOLE POINT-- "THIS IS MY TIME. IT'S MY TIME!" IT'S MY TIME! "ROADTRIP" IS LIKE, I SEE IT AS THE BIGGEST OPPORTUNITY TO REALLY FIND OUT WHAT I'M MADE OF. I NEED TO DISCOVER MYSELF, LIKE I JUST NEED TO. [STRUMMING GUITAR] (SU-YIN) HELLO? GOOD MORNING, DAHLIA, HOW ARE YOU? IT'S SU-YIN. OF COURSE WE'RE STILL COMING OVER. INSPIRATION POINT. OKAY, YOU TOO. BYE.  (CAMILLA)  IT WAS MEANT TO BE,  GIRLS AT INSPIRATION POINT  FOR THEIR FIRST INTERVIEW. IT'S OUR FIRST ONE. YAY!  (MARIANA)  SO WE'RE HEADING TO  OUR INTERVIEW WITH  AUGIE AND LYNNE NIETO.  AUGIE STARTED A REALLY  SUCCESSFUL FITNESS COMPANY,  AND WAS LATER  DIAGNOSED WITH ALS.  I'M MARIANA,  IT'S NICE TO MEET YOU. HI, I'M SU-YIN.  (SU-YIN)  SO THE THREE OF US,  WE'RE ALL FROM AUSTRALIA  AND WE'RE ALL KIND OF  IN THE SAME BOAT WHERE WE DON'T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT IT IS WE WANT TO DO. PARENTS ARE A BIG INFLUENCE ON WHY I'M UNDECIDED, I GUESS. AND SO THAT'S WHY I'M HERE. (CAMILLA) WERE YOUR PARENTS SUPPORTIVE OF WHAT YOU DID WHEN YOU FIRST STARTED OUT? [MUMBLING] MY FATHER WAS.  [DOG BARKING] HEY, BE QUIET UP THERE. I'M ON CAMERA. ♪♪ WE HAD SIX BROTHERS AND SISTERS, AND MY FATHER HAD TO WORK TO PAY FOR THE FAMILY. I SAW HIS FRUSTRATION BY NOT TAKING A RISK EARLY.  (LYNNE)  AND CAN I INTERJECT? HE WORKED IN THE OIL FIELDS, SO HE DIDN'T MAKE USE OF HIS ENTREPRENEURIAL SKILLS AND THAT WAS A FRUSTRATION. SO WHEN I WAS 19, I WANTED TO TAKE THE BIGGEST RISK I COULD, AND I FOUND EXERCISE AS MY RELIGION. AND I WANTED TO SHARE THAT WITH THE WORLD. (SU-YIN) WHEN YOU'RE 19, YOU'RE SO SURE OF YOURSELF. DID YOU HAVE DOUBTS, OR HOW DID YOU...?  INSECURITY IS A GOOD THING,  IT MAKES YOU TRY HARDER.  THERE ISN'T ONE  SUCCESSFUL PERSON I KNOW THAT DOESN'T FEAR SOMEONE KNOCKING ON THEIR DOOR AND SAYING THE GIG IS UP. I FEARED THAT EVERY DAY. WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED, I WAS LIKE A DEER IN THE HEADLIGHTS. I WAS IN DENIAL.  HERE I WAS,  THE IRONY OF ALL IRONIES. I WAS THE GUY WHO SPENT 30 YEARS HELPING PEOPLE  BUILD UP THEIR MUSCLES.  AND NOW I WAS GOING  TO WATCH THEM FADE AWAY. DO YOU GUYS KNOW MUCH ABOUT THE DISEASE AT ALL? DO YOU WANT ME TO GIVE YOU A LITTLE BACKGROUND ON IT? (MARIANA) YEAH, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. OKAY, AND WHAT IT DOES IS IT KILLS VOLUNTARY MUSCLES. AND IT'S A VERY FAST-MOVING DISEASE, IT DOESN'T AFFECT YOUR MIND AT ALL. ULTIMATELY, AT THE END, YOU CAN'T MOVE ANYTHING. YOU CAN'T BLINK YOUR EYES, BUT YOUR BRAIN'S PERFECTLY FINE AND FUNCTIONING.  (AUGIE)  SO I BECAME ANGRY.  WHAT DID I DO TO DESERVE IT? IF THERE IS A GOD, HOW COULD HE OR SHE BE SO CRUEL? I COULD NOT IMAGINE HAVING TO RELY ON EVERYONE,  EXPOSE MYSELF WHERE I HAVE  INCREDIBLE VULNERABILITY. AND THAT WAS A TIME WHEN I WASN'T SLEEPING.  THE DOCTORS PUT ME  ON ANTIDEPRESSANTS.  I TOOK A HANDFUL OF PILLS,  BECAUSE I DIDN'T WANT TO BE  A BURDEN TO MY FAMILY.  (LYNNE)  LET ME GIVE  SOME BACKGROUND. AUGIE TOOK THE PILLS AND DIDN'T WAKE UP FOR 4 DAYS. HE BASICALLY HAD TO DETOX AND WAS UNCONSCIOUS. MY TURNING POINT WAS WHEN I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL. WHAT I SAW WAS MY FAMILY.  THEY LOVED ME WITH  UNCONDITIONAL LOVE,  NO JUDGMENT.  AND SO I WAS ABLE  TO GO ON TO ACCEPTANCE. AND ONCE YOU ACCEPT, YOU ARE NO LONGER REACTING. YOU'RE ABLE TO ACT.  I REDEFINE NORMAL EVERY DAY.  I TRY NOT TO MOURN  WHAT I CAN'T DO  AND CELEBRATE WHAT I CAN. (COMPUTER TRANSLATOR) THANK YOU FOR COMING TO OUR HOME. CAN YOU BELIEVE THAT I CAN TYPE AT A FASTER SPEED THAN I COULD BEFORE?  YOU HAVE A CHOICE.  ARE YOU PREPARING TO DIE  OR WANTING TO LIVE? AND FOR ME IT WAS THE REALIZATION THAT  I'M NOT DEFINED BY MY BODY.  I'M DEFINED BY MY  BRAIN AND HEART. (MARIANA) YOU'RE GIVING SO MUCH TIME TO SO MANY PEOPLE, DID YOU EVER FEEL LIKE NO, I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANY MORE TIME TO ANYONE ELSE; I JUST WANT TO...? IN THE THEATER OF LIFE, YOU ONLY HAVE SO MANY SEATS  AND ONLY ONE FRONT ROW. BE CAREFUL WHO YOU LET IN.  WHEN I MEET WITH YOU, YOU ARE THE FUEL FOR MY FIRE. THAT IS WHY... I LOVE LIFE.  I TAKE THE FUEL. YOU HAVE GIVEN ME TODAY. AND I WILL USE IT FOR YEARS TO COME.  (CAMILLA)  THANK YOU SO  MUCH FOR YOUR TIME. WE REALLY APPRECIATE IT. IT WAS GREAT TALKING TO YOU. BYE.  (LYNNE)  HE WANTS A KISS. A KISS? THANK YOU.  I JUST FEEL LIKE I SUCKED  IN A WHOLE LOT OF WISDOM AND I'VE AGED ABOUT 10 YEARS.  (MARIANA)  HE'S GIVEN TIME THAT IS  SO PRECIOUS FOR HIM TO US.  LIKE US.  I THINK WHAT HIT ME THE MOST  WAS WHEN HE WAS LIKE, "YOU GUYS HAVE FUELED ME." AND I WAS JUST LIKE, "ARE YOU SERIOUS? I'M NO ONE."  AND HE'S PROBABLY FUELED  ME FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE,  I THINK. (SU-YIN) AND WHEN HE WAS TALKING ABOUT HAVING NO SPECIAL PEOPLE IN YOUR LIFE, IN THE FRONT ROW, I JUST THOUGHT TO MYSELF, "WELL, WHO'S IN MY FRONT ROW AT THE MOMENT?" AND WHO SHOULD I HAVE THERE WITH ME?" AND I JUST FELT LIKE MY DAD'S NOT IN MY FRONT ROW. ♪♪  (MARIANA)  NOW WE'RE GOING TO  CHAD BUTLER AND JOHN FOREMAN,  ALSO KNOWN AS  SWITCHFOOT'S STUDIO. HELLO, I'M CAMILLA. CAMILLA, JOHN. HI, I'M SUE--SU-YIN. HEY SUSIE. MARIANA. SUSIE AND MARIANA. NICE TO MEET YOU. WOW. WELCOME TO THE STUDIO. WHEN DID YOU FIRST DISCOVER MUSIC?  (JON)  MUSIC WAS ALWAYS JUST  THE DIVERSION FROM CLASS. ♪♪ I DID LIKE ALL OF THE DIFFERENT HUMANITIES ALL THE WAY TO ECONOMICS DEGREE, AND EVERYTHING IN BETWEEN, BECAUSE I WAS THINKING--TRYING TO FIGURE OUT, LIKE YOU GUYS, HERE'S WHAT I LOVE, BUT WHAT I LOVE WON'T EVER MAKE ME MONEY. SO I'M GONNA GET AN ECONOMICS DEGREE AND JUST PLAY GUITAR WHEN I GET HOME, I GUESS, YOU KNOW? YEAH, SO MANY PEOPLE DO THAT. YEAH. AND SO IT WAS ONE OF THOSE THINGS WHERE IT STARTED HAPPENING KIND OF ON ITS OWN. (CHAD) WE KIND OF DID THE TOUR AND THEN WE'D GO BACK TO SCHOOL FOR A SEMESTER. TRYING TO TALK OUR PROFESSORS INTO IT. YEAH, SORT OF TRYING TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE COULD GET COLLEGE CREDIT FOR GOING OUT AND DOING THIS, YOU KNOW, CAREER OPPORTUNITY. IT WAS SORT OF LIKE THIS DUAL LIFE. AND THEN I GOT TO A POINT WHERE I REALIZED THAT I WASN'T ENJOYING PURSUING MUSIC AS MUCH AS I COULD, BECAUSE I FELT LIKE I WAS STILL KIND OF HANGING ONTO, "I GOTTA HAVE A BACKUP PLAN." I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW WHAT, IF I DON'T FULLY ENGAGE IN THIS AND ENJOY THIS PROCESS, EVEN IF I FAIL, I'LL ALWAYS REGRET IT IF I NEVER PUT 100% INTO IT. YOU KNOW? SO I THINK THAT HELPED TO FINALLY LET GO OF THE SAFETY NET.  (CAMILLA)  YEAH, I AGREE WITH THAT.  I THINK THAT IF YOU  HAVE THAT SAFETY NET, YOU NEVER COMPLETELY INVEST YOURSELF INTO SOMETHING ELSE. BECAUSE YOU'RE LIKE, "WELL, I DON'T NEED TO TAKE THAT RISK, BECAUSE I HAVE THIS FALLBACK PLAN." IT'S A RISK, FOR SURE. YEAH. I USED TO THINK THAT THE FRICTION WAS A BAD THING, LIKE THAT THE TENSION THAT YOU FEEL, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO CUT THE TENSION. LIKE WE HAVE MEDICINE TO TRY AND MAKE US FEEL BETTER, AND EVERYTHING'S TO EASE PAIN IN OUR SOCIETY. YOU KNOW, VERY MUCH LIKE PAIN IS THE ENEMY, RIGHT? AND I DON'T THINK THAT THAT'S TRUE.  I THINK THAT  THE TENSION'S A GOOD THING,  THAT TO BE PULLED TIGHT IS  ALMOST THE ONLY WAY YOU CAN MAKE A PROPER NOISE ON A GUITAR OR VIOLIN. YOU KNOW? SO IF YOU FEEL PULL, THAT'S NOT A BAD THING. (SU-YIN) SO, IT'S OKAY TO BE FREAKING OUT LIKE WE ARE. YEAH AND THAT'S THE TIME OF LIFE THAT YOU'RE IN,  THERE'S TENSION EVERYWHERE  PULLING YOU, YOU KNOW?  ANOTHER THING IS, FOR ME,  I HAD TO DECIDE THAT I DIDN'T CARE WHAT PEOPLE THOUGHT, YOU KNOW? THAT'S THE THING I WAS GONNA ACTUALLY ASK YOU GUYS, IS FOR ME IT'S LACK OF SELF CONFIDENCE. I DON'T THINK I'M THAT GOOD AT THE GUITAR, SO IT'S GONNA JUST EMBARRASS ME AND I DON'T REALLY HAVE THAT SELF RELIEF. AND I THINK THAT'S SOMETHING YOU REALLY NEED. WELL, I THINK ONE THING THAT I LEARNED ON THE LAST RECORD WAS AT SOME POINT YOU HAVE TO SAY, "WELL, DO I THINK IT'S AWESOME? "DO I THINK IT'S AMAZING? DO I THINK IT'S WONDERFUL?" AND THEN IT'S LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHO CARES WHAT ANYONE ELSE SAYS? IT'S HARD NOT TO LET YOUR EMOTIONS BE DICTATED BY  OTHER PEOPLE'S OPINIONS  OF YOUR SONGS, YOU KNOW, WHERE YOU'RE JUST LIKE, "OH, THEY DIDN'T GET IT." YOU KNOW, "HOW'S MY DAY GONNA BE NOW?" SO YOU WANT TO PLAY A SONG, ON THAT NOTE?  (MARIANA)  I'VE NEVER REALLY SUNG  MY SONGS TO ANYONE--ANYONE. EXCEPT, MY MOM'S OVERHEARD IT LIKE CREEPING IN AND PUTTING HER HEAD TO THE DOOR. AND THEN SHE'LL COME IN, IT'S LIKE, "AH, THAT'S GREAT." AND I'LL BE LIKE, "DON'T DO THAT." [STRUMMING GUITAR] OH, THAT SOUNDS SO NICE COMPARED TO MY OLD RUSTY GUITAR. OKAY, JUST GIVE ME A PRACTICE. ♪♪ ♪ AND I DON'T FEEL I'D EVER MISS IT, I THINK I WOULD ♪ ♪ I WISH I WOULD ♪ ♪ I DON'T FEEL LIKE I COULD EVER BE READY ♪ ♪ I WISH I WOULD, WELL, I WISH I COULD ♪ ♪ PACK MY THINGS, MY BELONGINGS AWAY ♪ ♪ I'M LEAVIN' SOON AND I WON'T RECOGNIZE ME ♪ ♪ PACK MY THINGS, MY BELONGINGS AWAY ♪ ♪ YEAH, I'M LEAVIN' SOON AND I WON'T RECOGNIZE ♪ ♪ NO, I WON'T RECOGNIZE ♪ ♪ ME ♪♪ YEAH, WOO! [APPLAUDING] THAT WAS AWESOME! YOU'VE GOT A GREAT VOICE. YEAH. WE'VE GOT A NEW MEMBER OF THE BAND. YEAH! (CAMILLA) OH, MAN, IT WAS SO BEAUTIFUL.  (MARIANA)  I WAS REALLY PUTTING  THE PRESSURE ON MYSELF.  YOU REALLY SEE  YOUR TRUE SELF WHEN THERE'S THAT TENSION, WHEN YOU'RE BEING PUSHED, WHEN YOU'RE UNDER THE PRESSURE. YOU REALLY JUST HAVE TO-- JUST...WHO CARES? WELL DONE. KUDOS TO YOU! GROUP HUG!  (ANNOUNCER)  "ROADTRIP NATION"  EXTENDS BEYOND THE PROGRAM  YOU JUST WATCHED.  IT'S A MOVEMENT THAT EMPOWERS  OTHERS TO CREATE THEIR OWN  ROADTRIP EXPERIENCES.  HERE'S A QUICK SNAPSHOT  INTO THAT MOVEMENT.  (FEMALE)  AT THE TONE  RECORD YOUR GREETING.  AT THE END OF YOUR  GREETING, PRESS POUND. HELLO, FRIENDS AND FAMILY, IT'S YOUR BOY, WILLIE. AS YOU KNOW, YOU CALLED ME. THE REASON I DIDN'T PICK UP MY PHONE IS BECAUSE I'M ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE PLANET AT THE MOMENT.  (MALE)  THE MOST VALUABLE THING  THAT PEOPLE LIKE YOUR AGE  COULD DO IS TO GO TRAVEL. YOU'RE TAKEN OUT OF YOUR ELEMENT THAT YOU--  THIS LITTLE WORLD THAT YOU  LIVE IN OR THIS LITTLE BUBBLE  OF COMFORT, AND IT'S  JUST GONE--IT'S ALL GONE.  (MALE)  AND THERE'S JUST SOMETHING  INSIDE ME THAT'S ALWAYS  MAKING ME WANT TO GO BE ON  THE ROAD AND SEE NEW THINGS, BEING A PART OF LIFE, YOU KNOW, AND NOT BEING STAGNANT. (MALE) I CAME IN THERE WITH NO EXPECTATIONS, REALLY. I JUST WANTED TO GO OFF THE DEEP END, GO INTO ANOTHER PLANET AND SEE WHAT HAPPENS. AND I COULDN'T BE HAPPIER THAT I DID. YOU LEARN SO MUCH FROM MEETING PEOPLE OF DIFFERENT LIFESTYLES AND DIFFERENT WALKS OF LIFE. YOU LEARN HOW TO LIVE, YOU KNOW?  (CAMILLA)  WE ARRIVED IN L.A.  A WEEK AGO.  IT'S BEEN A BIT CRAZY.  (MARIANA)  WE'RE CONSTANTLY HAVING  TO ADAPT AND MAKE CHOICES SO QUICKLY. (MALE) THESE KINDS OF THINGS ARE NOT EASY. IT'S MUCH EASIER JUST TO TAKE THAT CORPORATE JOB AND TRY TO LIVE YOUR LIFE AFTER 5 O'CLOCK. I THINK THAT'S PROBABLY A MISTAKE.  (MALE)  YOU'VE GOT TO GET UP  EVERY MORNING  AND LOVE TO DO WHAT YOU DO.  FINDING THAT THING IS  REALLY THE KEY TO HAPPINESS.  (MALE ANNOUNCER)  CHECK OUT MORE ADVENTURES  AND INTERVIEWS FROM THE ROAD.  VISIT ROADTRIPNATION.COM.  ONLINE YOU CAN APPLY TO TAKE  A ROAD TRIP OF YOUR OWN  OR BRING "ROADTRIP NATION"  INTO YOUR CLASSROOM.  (FEMALE ANNOUNCER)  THE "ROADTRIP NATION" SERIES  IS AVAILABLE ON DVD  FOR $32.99 PLUS SHIPPING.  TO ORDER CALL THE PHONE NUMBER  ON YOUR SCREEN OR VISIT  ROADTRIPNATION.COM/STORE. ♪♪  ♪ WE WATCHED IT ALL  IN DISBELIEF ♪  ♪ AT THE TRAIN STATION  ON CHRISTMAS EVE ♪  ♪ A TRAGIC TALE,  A GRUESOME SCENE ♪  ♪ A BITTER END FOR  THE CHIEF OF POLICE ♪  ♪ IT WAS A BLESSING  AND A CURSE ♪♪ 

<p>Three young Australian women head to the United States and roadtrip across the country. After arriving in Los Angeles, Mariana, Camilla, and Su-Yin learn to drive an RV and acclimate to life on the road. The team heads to San Diego for their first interview with members of the band Switchfoot. The team then drives to Orange County where they meet activists and philanthropists Augie and Lynn Nieto.</p>

Los Angeles - San Diego

(Roadtrippers)  Wow! (Chad) Welcome to the studio! (Roadtripper #1) Where did you first discover music? (Jon) Music was always just the diversion from class. I did all the different humanities all the way to economics degree and everything in between because I was thinking, trying to figure out, like you guys, like, 'Here's what I love. But what I love won't ever make me money so I'm going to get an economics degree and just play guitar when I get home I guess.' You know? So many people do that. Yeah, and so it was one of those things where it started happening, kind of on it's own. We kind of did the tour, and then we'd go back to school for a semester, we're sort-- Try and talk our professors into it. Yeah! Sort of trying to figure out how we could get college credit for going out and doing this career opportunity. [Roadtrippers Laughing] (Chad) It was sort of like this dual life. I got to a point where I realized I wasn't enjoying pursuing music as much as I could because I felt like I was still kind of hanging on to, 'I got to have a backup plan'. I was like, if I don't fully engage in this and enjoy this process even if I fail I'll always regret it if I never put 100% into it, you know? So I think that helped to finally let go of the safety net. (Roadtripper #2) I agree with that. I think that if you have that safety net you never completely invest yourself into something else 'cause you're like, 'Well I don't need to take that risk because I have this fallback plan.' (Jon)  It's a risk, for sure. (Roadtripper #2)  Yeah. I used to think that friction was a bad thing, like the tension that you feel. You know you want to cut the tension. We have medicine to try and make us feel better. Everything's to ease pain in our society, you know very much like, 'Pain is the enemy,' right?! (Roadtripper #2)  Yeah! And I don't think that that's true. I think that tension is a good thing. That to be pulled tight is almost the only way you can make a proper noise on a guitar or a violin. You know, so if you feel pulled, that's not a bad thing. (Roadtripper #2) I never thought of that. (Roadtripper #3)  Wow yeah! It's okay to be freaking out like we are. Yeah and that's the time of life that you're in. There's tension everywhere pulling you, you know? And the other thing for me is that I had to decide that I didn't care what other people thought, you know? (Roadtripper #1) That's the thing I was actually going to ask you guys. For me it's lack of self-confidence. I don't think I'm that good at the guitar so it's going to just embarrass me and I don't really have that self belief and I think that's something you really need. Well I think one thing that I learned on the last record was at some point you have to say, 'Well do I think it's awesome? 'Do I think it's amazing? Do I think it's wonderful?' And then it's like, you know, who cares what anyone else says?! It's hard not to let your emotions be dictated by other people's opinions of your songs. You know where you're just like, 'Ah, they didn't get it. How is my day going to be now?' 

Confidence

Dedication

Fulfillment

Pressure

Societal Pressures

Interview

Do you think you would still do it if you weren't getting the money? Would you still be just pursuing music, or would you go oh maybe I should go back and do that degree after all? >> Well I think you've always gotta have that creative outlet. I think if you have A passion for art, whether it's graphic art or music, it's gonna come out. Whether you're feeding your family from that art or whether you're just doing it down on the street corner for the sake of getting it out of your system, I think that it lives in you. And I look at some of our best friends that we grew up with that are working down at the hardware store and surfing much more than I do and playing music in the local band at the coffee shop or the bar down the street, and they're having a great time. Sometimes I get envious when- >> Oh yeah, really >> We're on a red eye flight to play some show, or in the midst of it, sometimes you go wow, I wonder what that's like. >> [LAUGH] 

Creative Outlet

So what was that defining point for you guys? What was that one moment that you knew, yeah, this is it. This is my dream job, this is my life, this is the right decision and I haven't made a mistake, and I know now I'm so sure of myself. [LAUGH] I don't know, do you feel sure of yourself? >> Every morning you wake up you question it a little bit. You know, I think that's the. >> Even with the success you guys have had, you still question? >> It comes down to are you successful outside of what other people think and do you enjoy doing it? And we do, I do. So you keep going. But as far as like a defining moment of any sense of I've made the right choice. I didn't know that there was one. It was sort of a progression of feeling more comfortable in your own skin. Getting more comfortable doing what you really love to do and that takes time. 

Doubt

Success

Defining Moment

Our society puts pressure on each of us to have it all figured out and you fill out a form at the doctor's office, they ask you what do you do for a living. >> Mm-hm. And each of us has to sort of come up with something to write down on paper to feel accepted or feel important and that's unfortunate because. I think it's okay to not have it all figured out and then not put yourself in a box. And be on that journey and to be working it out each day, that's okay cuz life is full of tension and we've talked about that, that's a beautiful thing, as well as at times it's difficult. So don't worry about the category and the label you put on yourself. 

Uncertainty Is Okay

So, when did you actually open and start? >> Couple weeks ago. >> Oh, okay. >> Oh, wow. >> It's really, really new. >> So, we're probably only like the tenth, twelfth people to see it? [LAUGH] >> Yeah. Yeah. Sweet. [LAUGH] >> Even got the new car smell. >> Yeah, I was gonna say, you can still smell the wood. >> The wood, yeah. >> So yeah. And if we had gotten here first, I was hoping to get here before you guys were here so I could clean up a little bit. >> We thought we were running late. >> We cleaned our van for you guys. >> Yeah, we cleaned. >> [LAUGH] Oh, man. >> Upstairs is clean. Wow, Chad really did clean up! So this kind of the hang out room. >> Oh, this is cool! >> This is probably the best room of the whole place. >> Yeah, this is the barbecue area. >> Really? Down there is what's called an ISO booth. >> Yeah. >> Where it's, you know, the padded room. >> Yeah. >> That's really, really quiet. And this was just wasted space so we thought well, let's just make... >> You need a balcony. >> A balcony. >> So, what are they called? Juliet balcony. >> Yeah. Oh yeah. >> Oh Romeo, Romeo >> [LAUGH] >> You can do some Shakespeare. >> Yup. >> It must be exciting when everything it's like everything is new. New place- >> It's so exciting >> Especially because it's yours. >> New space. Yeah >> You know it's a dream come true. Because every time you track a record that's like one of the biggest expenses. It's like everyday you have the studio- >> You have to pay for the studio. >> You have to pay, pay, pay. >> And there's that time pressure on it. So now you can whenever, like 2 o'clock in the morning and decide you want to write something. >> The thing with wood is wood always sounds better than. >> Yeah, acoustics and stuff. >> Yeah, than drywall. Another thing is if you notice this wall here? it angles, it's never good to have parallel surfaces. Cause it just ricochets like a racquetball court. Yeah so this isn't parallel, and then, this isn't parallel. Just trying to break it up as much as we can. We'll play you something, because it makes a lot more sense when you can actually hear it. What's up man, nice work up here, man. Looks so good. >> [LAUGH] >> You guys should have seen it yesterday. >> I was listening to Tim lay down his bass last night up here. >> Yeah. >> It was shaking the whole floor. >> Oh yeah. >> He just had it cranked, like everything was buzzing in here. >> Oh, cool. >> Everything was rattling. >> Yeah. >> It was awesome, just organizing. We got all these crazy percussion instruments, we still really figure out what we're going do with them all. >> You know, tones, can inspire hearts. >> Just that concept like if you get a new sounding instrument. You know, hopefully to inspire you to do something different that you wouldn't have done otherwise. You know, try something new. >> Try this. [MUSIC] >> Wow. >> [MUSIC] It's a little out of tune, but. [SOUND] The high ones are hard. [SOUND] But this sounds like a horror film right here. [SOUND] >> Oh, god. >> You have to use that in one of the songs, just like... [SOUND] >> Wow it's such a clear sound. >> Yeah. It's called a bode saltry. It's my brother's. So like, these are the types of things that you might not use all the time. This is called an autoharp, it's like the Joan Baez kind of, this is gonna be super out of tune but... [MUSIC] Basically it's like splashes of flavor in cooking where you don't wanna have. >> Too much. >> Too much but you wanna have a little something. >> They're like the spices, and salt, and the seasoning. >> Or maybe you want the whole record to sound like that. >> [LAUGH] >> That one I haven't figured out what to do with that one. It's from like the 1700s. >> Woah. >> I got it at an estate sale for like five bucks, but it, these guys don't really turn very well. >> Yeah, rusted. >> It looks amazing, it looks like a museum piece. >> It's made in Germany, I looked up the name and everything, this guy >> This sticker's still in there. >> So who would you take it to to get repaired? Like, a guitar shop or... >> Someone very old. >> Yes. >> [LAUGH] >> And ancient person. >> So yeah. It's one of those things where at some point you're trying to figure out is this junk? Or is this the thing that will make that one song come alive, you know? >> Because even like, broken instruments can make a different sound that... >> Yeah, totally. All the drums Chad's playing are really old. We try to use real old guitars just because a lot of times they have this story that's kind of built into them. >> And they sound better. There's kind of deeper layers of complexity on an older instrument. >> Yeah. >> Yeah that's true. >> Especially with wood. >> Wood, exactly. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. >> [LAUGH] >> Is that from your violin friend? >> No I play violin. >> Oh okay, nice. >> [LAUGH] >> Now do you have it with you? >> No, I couldn't take it. It's too expensive. The bus gets too hot and it would just melt. >> Right, right. >> Marianna brought here a guitar though. >> Yeah? >> [LAUGH] Don't say that. >> Yeah, you want to play a tune? >> Do you write your own music? >> Yeah, yeah. >> [LAUGH] >> That's yeah, I do but. >> Play something. >> Yeah we got a few guitars around here somewhere. [LAUGH] We've got one downstairs. >> Maybe save that for later. 

Outtake - Tour of Band Headquarters

[Chad] We kinda did the uh, tour and then we'd go back to school for a semester. [band member] Yeah, we'd try to talk our professors into it. [Chad] Yeah, sort of trying to figure out how we could get college credit for going out and doing this, you know, career opportunity. It was sort of like this dual life. And then it got to a point where I realized I wasn't enjoying pursuing music as much as I could because I felt like I was still kinda hanging on to, "I gotta have a back-up plan." I was like, "You know what, if I don't fully engage in this "and enjoy this process, even if I fail, I'll always regret it "if I never put 100% into it." You know, so I think that helped to finally let go of the safety net. 

Chad Butler

Musician/Drummer

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Chad Butler

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