Are Summer Festivals Worth the Time and Money?

So you got into the summer music festival of your dreams. Awesome, right? 

It depends. There are two main things going on at festivals. Both are equally important. But if you're not going to try and balance them, you might as well stay home.

Musical Benefits

The first part is obvious—there are so many opportunities to work with new colleagues and new teachers at summer festivals. If you're "all in," you can learn so much in a short amount of time. Especially when you find a teacher who ignites your ambition, or you get to play a new piece with wonderful colleagues, the artistic experiences are life-changing.

Social Benefits

The second part isn't as obvious—the chance to make new friends and forge new connections. A lot of young musicians don't yet understand how important it is to have a network of like-minded colleagues.

First, a lot of opportunities in music come through referrals. When plans change at the last minute, or someone gets sick, or a concert program changes, ensembles may ask for referrals to cover parts in a hurry. If no one knows you, they can't recommend you for a gig.

Often, festivals contain more like-minded, competitive young musicians than the entire music department of a college. You could double your entire professional network in one fell swoop!

Beyond the referrals, your professional network can pull you up or drag you down. You've probably heard, we tend to gauge our efforts, goals, and progress by comparing ourselves to the people we know.

Aspiring orchestra musicians really need a community all working towards the same goal. The path to an orchestra job is rigorous and long, and your community makes a big difference in your journey.

 Finding Balance

Some students don't do anything but work when they get to a festival. Most of their free time is spent in a practice room.

Other students hang out with friends every chance they get, treating the musical opportunities like chores. They turn down offers to play chamber concerts or new music, and they hit the pool or the cafe whenever they can.

The first group is missing out on the networking aspect. The second group is networking, but their crowd may not be the type to help them climb the career ladder. And they may not be getting much musical growth from the experience.

If you're going to make the most of the playing opportunities, AND if you take the time to forge new friendships and connections, then festivals can be huge building blocks for a musical career.

So, are summer festivals worth the time and money? It depends on how you approach them. If you're willing to strike a balance between musical growth and networking, then the answer is a resounding yes! You can learn so much from new colleagues and teachers, and have some amazing artistic experiences.

But don't forget about the social benefits either. Festivals can be a great way to make new friends and expand your professional network. 

Just make sure you don't spend all your time practicing or partying, and find a happy medium. 

Have a great summer! 

Chris @ Honesty Pill

P.S. Want to join me for your own personal summer festival at Honesty Pill Mission Control? Check out my 16-week Audition Accelerator Course.