Music Blog

1. Go On A Bender

Seeing how the music part of SXSW lasts for five days, you would have to have a mighty tolerance for booze and spirits to make through every day in a drunken, blacked-out blur that would allow you to ignore any news coming in from the festival. Of course, you’re a music journalist, so you know how to party, right? In addition, you could also mix and match your imbibe activities with various other recreational drug-use to lessen the alcohol intake. One problem, though: if you’re a music journalist not at SXSW, then you probably have a part-time job. Showing up to your fish-house serving job in a hung-over K-hole is always a bad idea. Being an out of work music journalist not at SXSW who just got fired from their fish-house serving position is even worse.

2. Consider A Career Change

After countless articles printed pro-bono for CV-building purposes, rejections from Pitchfork, blog name and server changes; you’ve probably wondered, at least once, if maybe music journalism isn’t for you. After all, you’re a dime-a-dozen. And isn’t this all just an attempt at making up for the fact that your life-long dream of being in a successful indie-band never worked out? Isn’t this also just an attempt to retain some coolness while maintaining that your actually doing something with your life in order to please your parents?

Isn’t this just an attempt to make your profile on that dating site look more attractive? Ugh, but what else are you going to do? Write about films? Writing about films is kinda like eating a corn dog. There is no way to do it and also be cool. After all, look at Roger Ebert—an uncool, corndog eating film critic. The worst.

3. Be Productive. Look for a Job!

Who knows, maybe with a little perseverance, you will land that Associate Media Assistant Editor position at Wine Enthusiast found on Ed2010. I mean its not music but you could always continue to do that on the side, right? Or hell, why not apply to be a freelancer at Sister to Sister.

Wait, what is this over at MediaBistro? Oh look, there is a position open at Okay! Magazine. Dang, it’s in accounting. Ooooooh, but look here, freelancers wanted for Poker Life Style Event. Wait, here’s a better one. Time, Inc. is looking for a Senior Editor. That article you did covering the art show by Animal Collective’s roadie will totally impress the people at Time. Send it in! Send it in!

4. Overdose on Facebook

You’ve probably been worried about the cool-status of Facebook for awhile now. Ever since your uncle joined and started posting YouTube video of himself talking about NASCAR, it’s been all downhill. I mean, can you freely talk about it in public when not talking about the importance of social media and optimizing your blog readership? Can you really tell someone, face to face, “Find me on Facebook?” You’ve definitely said it in the past but it hurt, huh? Since then, you’ve probably preferred other terms like, “Google me.” Or “Find me on the web.” We’ve all been there.

So why not indulge in the web’s # 1 social networking site, for once? Think of it like ice cream. No, wait. The food reference has already been used. (You’re a music journalist! Use the little creativity you have and your three i-pods to make a better analogy!) Think of it like, Hall & Oates. Sure, you’ve danced to both “Maneater” and “I Can’t Go For That (No Can Do)” at various 80’s nights and dance-parties but it was just, you know, for “fun” then. Think about it, though? “Sara Smile” is heartbreaking and “Rich Girl” is super catchy. So yeah, think of Facebook as Hall & Oates: its something you love but don’t want to readily admit. Take the quizzes, roll through 1,000’s of photos on your ex’s profile, join Mafia Wars. Why not?

5. Apply for an MFA in Creative Writing

I know what you're thinking: Spend hundreds of dollars on application fees in an attempt to get into a Humanities-related Master’s program where you can go even further into debt and be guaranteed absolutely no job when you come out the other end? Sure, this is all likely. In fact, you can probably count on it. But think of all the rich experience you will gain that will help you evolve as a person!

One: during the application process you’ll get to write essays about how awesome you are and I mean, after all, you’re pretty awesome. I mean you ARE a music journalist. Two: once accepted, you’ll get to spend your days writing about obscure subjects and stringing along seemingly unconnected themes into semi-cohesive stories and articles. “How Post-Colonial Literature Influenced the Aesthetic of Lou Reed’s Fashion: Summer of 1979 to October of 1981"? Check. Three: you wont have to work and yet, your parents will still be convinced you are doing something with your life. Four: for at least two years, you will be convinced you're doing something with your life as well. Five: if you spend your loans right, you might have enough $$ to go to SXSW, next year!

(Saxon Baird is a freelance music journalist based in Portland, Oregon. He recently applied to an MFA program in Creative Writing, actually likes Roger Ebert, does not use drugs and did not make it to SXSW this year. Find the original post at his blog saxonbaird.wordpress.com)