Jackie Venson
Austin, TX USA
"The power is with the people now and I love that world. It’s the only world I want to be in."
Career Roadmap
Jackie's work combines: Music, Writing, and Being Creative
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Day In The Life
Skills &
Education
Advice for getting started
I started playing guitar when I was 21 years old. At the time, I thought that was old. I felt like I was starting so late, so I felt so much urgency to realize my dream and become the next big musician out of Texas. That urgency lasted for six to seven years before I realized that I actually have so much time to accomplish my goals. It stems from this societal brainwashing that makes us all ageist and self-conscious. In reality, 21 is not too old to start something. We all have so much time.
Here's the path I took:
High School
Bachelor's Degree
Contemporary Writing and Production
Berklee College of Music
Life & Career Milestones
My path in life has been direct
1.
I started playing piano when I was 8 years old and was pretty intensely dedicated to it growing up.
2.
I spent 13 years playing piano but ultimately decided that while I loved the music, I didn’t like the rigidity of the classical environment.
3.
While watching a student concert at the music college I attended, I was inspired by one of the students rocking out on his guitar—I started thinking that maybe I could start a whole new persona.
4.
I took up guitar at 21 years old and decided that it was my dream to become the next big musician out of Texas.
5.
For the first several years, I really felt an urgency to realize that dream—which fueled me to find my manager and producer.
6.
I eventually came to the realization that I have so much time to accomplish my goals and I’ve since slowed down a bit and take on new gigs and projects one day at a time.
Defining Moments
How I responded to discouragement
THE NOISE
Messages from Myself:
This is my dream but I started late, so I need to make this happen as soon as possible.
How I responded:
I started playing guitar when I was 21 years old. At the time, I thought that was old. I felt like I was starting so late, so I felt so much urgency to realize my dream and become the next big musician out of Texas. That urgency lasted for six to seven years before I realized that I actually have so much time to accomplish my goals. It stems from this societal brainwashing that makes us all ageist and self-conscious. In reality, 21 is not too old to start something. We all have so much time.