Funding Methods

[Tonic Please]

Hi all.

I'm off to Canada next May/June time to comeplete my CPL and Instructors Rating. Total cost including expenses...£9,000.

I need to raise this money starting ASAP, and am interested in some peoples ideas. I don't want people saying "go out and work in a factory..stack shelves for 10 hours a day". I am aware of that, and ontop of my private Jazz Piano Lessons, of which I teach 5 students at £20 an hour, I want something to give me much more money with flexible hours.

Now, I've just turned 20. I have contacted some Courier driving companies in my area (weybridge, surrey), but havent heard back yet. Id quite enjoy driving around for hours a day on 7/8 quid an hour, as it doesnt involve customer service, uniforms(generally) and all that and I can have Jazz blasting out the speakers in my own little world. Every job I have had has had customer service involved and i am a people person. But..well anyway, I'd just like something different.

I'm also thinking beyond the 'work for money' scheme of things, and wondering if there are any other ways to get the money? I'm not afraid of the hard work either. I'm merely enquiring as to whether a scenario exists such as, I dont know, calling a bank in Toronto (where I'll be), and saying..

"Hi. I need 20 thousand bucks. I'm from England, have been told I could work for the company (Island Air) upon completion of my courses as a flying instructor, and therefore live there...Can you help"...

and they would say

"Yes. set a bank account up..and we'll give you the money, you pay it back".

Now that scenario would NEVER happen. But i'm interested I guess in other ways of funding that isn't 5 months of work. (again, im not lazy im enquiring).

Secondly, while I'm here...Anybody got anymore ideas how I could advertise my jazz tutoring? I've been up and down three major highstreets in my areas, giving 10 Business Cards to every shop I walk into (if they accept them). Haven't had anything yet, but apparently lots of them have been taken. I guess people haven't got round to calling me.

Putting ads in the paper is 45 pounds :ugh: and I'm trying to save, not spend for possibly one response.

Really hope people have some pointers for me ontop of what i've had already.

Thank you,

Dan :sad:

[AIRLEBANON]

Hello Tonic

If you dont mind borrowing money then why not check out HSBC and use thier career development Loans from them it usually has a turn around time of 6 weeks rather than 6 months so ive heard, you can also get a Career development loan from Barclays Bank but to a maximum of 8k, I applied to barclays as I have had an account with them for 7 years now and het presto they gave ,me an answear in 20 minutes and it was ok we will borrow you the 8k now provide us with your schools, I dentificayion number then bang it hit me in the face not all flying Schools in the USA or Canada follow British education system so I could not commence studying so now am looking at starting the process of a HSBC Loan, By the way I have been given advice and plenty of it regarding FAA Vs JAA Lisences if you want to fly in Europe then you must consider the conversion costs and Process as it will take you a minimum of 10 months to convert your FAA or Canadian Lisence to a JAA if you plan to Fly back in the UK so you might end up paying more than this 9k your looking for, but for ideas to get money maybe you should put this advert in the papaer or even print some leaflets from your old computer and post it to every street in your home town lets say its 5000 houses and you have 10.000 people living in them and you manage 100 people taking you up on your offer you charge them 20 pounds each an hour you do the Maths am no good at it, I just wich I had a sckills such as yours to make money from, well anyways best of Luck.

Kid Regards
AIRLEBANON

PS... AM just like you 20 years old.

[Tonic Please]

Thanks there. My dream is to live in Canada. I have been so many times. I am being pushed from this country (for loads of reasons) and pulled by Canada, for loads of reasons. its unexplanable. I love Canada. I love the vibe. I have 4 canda mugs, a keyring, a coat proudly displaying the canadian flag, a desktop, a full size flag at my window, and a bumper sticker on the back of the car. I love it...

Anyway. A good idea by leafleting. I think I shiould do that. I;d rather spend the days doing nothing wandering around putting businesscards through doors than spending 45 quid for possibly no responses. Did it once, and got one back :rolleyes:

I am not really up for a loan to be honest. I have also done a lot of research with HSBC and loans for Canada. I spoke with 2 bank managers about this situation, and both gave e the same answer. No. For various reasons.

I will never fly in the UK. Too expensive. And I generally don't like it here anyway.

Thanks for your response. Good luck with yours too. Hey, i could give you free Jazz lessons, and then you could end up doing the same as me ;)

Dan

[Dude~]

£10K isn't that hard to get if you are dedicated and have understanding friends and family. I am currently living with a friend for £20/wk, eat at home with my folks, and study for my ATPLs when at work.

I get up to £12/hr at LHR kicking around in freight. You've just got to commit, and not waste any money on renting C172s for £100 /hr or going on holiday or buying new car etc. If you can save 75% of your taxed income then it doesn't take forever.

[Julian]

Tonic,

Not sure what your background is but have you also thought of contracting for say 6 months? The work is normally short term contracts, no holiday or sick pay and no benefits except that the hourly rate normally reflects this.

You can generally contract in any profession these days, engieering, nursing, PA, etc and the rates will vary dependant on responsility and contract length (generally the longer the contract the less they pay you per hour).

Have a look on the net or round your local high street or if you know anyone in the biz you are involved in ask around.

Julian.

[Tonic Please]

Thanks for the replies people.

Absolutely, 'dude'. Dedication. As I said, I'm not afraid of the hard work, but of course, if an easy way and a hard way were offered, most would choose the easy way (generally).

I will check out jobs at the airport. That hadn't actually occured to me. Would I contact the airlines for freight/ramp jobs? Or are there freight companies at LHR which are not airlines? Dad would know, but our paths aren't crossing at the mo due to his work schedule and my teaching.

Contracts. I guess I could approach a few companies i might have interest in what they do and ask them about that. 5/6 months is my max. (6 being the absolute max till i have to wait till next year) so I have NO TIME to lose. I'm totally ready for the work and long hours as I dont really have anything of value in this country (apart from family and one or two friends). SO, i wont really be giving uip a whole lot.

Plus, I know how happy I feel and at home I feel when in canada. As ive said, its unexplainable...but just realise my position.

I'll check out what has been posted.

Thanks everyone..

Dan

[0-8]

Why don't you teach classical piano?
As you teach jazz piano I assume that you are a very proficient piano player.

I'd imagine that the jazz piano market is quite specialised and there would be a much greater demand for classical piano lessons. You could even fit students around another job to really boost your income.

[Tonic Please]

Believe it or not thats wrong. I worked in a music shop for 8 months. Every day, without fail, conversations between me and classical teachers would come up about how they are loosing students because they all want to do the new asscociated board jazz syllabus. And, there is a low supply of jazz teachers, so technically ive struck gold. I have sent out so many busines cards, and they seem to have all gone...Just no one has got round to contacting me.

I guess you cuold say im proficient. The thing about jazz ove classical (sorry if i offend anyone), is that Classical Pianists may well be able to read any piece of music you chuck in front of them, but dont rele know why they are plkaying what they do. Not much fun in the pub either. The repetoire is very strict pieces of music, and all sound the same.

Jazz, the repetoire is just as big, and its about what you want to play. You need to know a great deal. Scales, Modes, Chords, Chord theory, and so much more...but as much as 99% of jazz IS theory, 1% is personal, and thats what makes you unique. Its the 99% bit that I teach, and the 1% I make my student aware of posessing.

All my students have got, and will only get distinctions in their exams :) So it must be working ;) They like the pieces.
(and yes, id be prepared to work a very demanding job, and still teach)!!

Jazz has meaning. It sends a message, a vibe. And only those who appreciate those jazz subtleties, are those who should take it up. If you think a C major scale over a C major chord sounds good, try playing a Bb bebop scale over a C13th and see the difference ;) (You might polyrhythm that too as 6/8 to 4/4 . Now thats nice.) Anyone care for an explination?

[0-8]

Well you learn something every day! ;)

Another suggestion, how about working as a labourer? You'll probably need to know somone in the building trade but the money can be pretty good sometimes.

[Dude~]

Tonic,

try
http://www.aviationjobsearch.com/
for LHR jobs.

You could also try directly approaching Aviance, KLM, BA, American,
Menzies for airport ramp jobs.

They might involve hard work, but you get 'backstage' at the airport and into cockpits from time to time which sure beats temping.

Good luck,

[slayer]

Dan, I live in your neck of the woods (woking) and have a mate who used to come home from uni in the holidays and work for a company called 'Surrey Business Watch'. From what I gather its simple security work. It can be unsociable hours but he told me that all they did was sit in an office somewhere and watch tele, with occasional breaks in-between to do their "security" bit, which was just wondering around the building for a while! Sounds ideal to me :ok:
I don't know exactly how much he got paid but I do know that over a week during last xmas putting about 10 - 12 hrs in a day he pocketed about £1000. So I guess if you put the work in then the money is there to be had.
Good luck with it all.
Guy.

[Tonic Please]

Thank you for the link, and thanks for the suggestions too.

Since, I have had a few calls about my teaching. I know students for Jazz Piano of all ages are out there. I think I mentioned I worked in the Music shop in west byfleet and not a day passed when classical teachers told of losing students for not being able to teach jazz.

The Associated Board introduced the new jazz Syalbus in 99' and there are, even according to them, not enough teachers.

So, each day now involves advertising my services. I am shortly leaving to drop in 200 business cards to houses in the local area. I have phoned two school to see if I could do private lessons during school time. I am putting an ad in the paper for next Thursday, and also getting some put at St Peters hospital in the reception, cafe and shop. Im also going to add myself, at whatever cost, to the Yellow Pages website, www.yell.co.uk .

I get £20 an hour teaching. If I got 30 students, which is perfect, as its more than £2,500 a month.

I have my old GCSE Music teacher to thank for my Jazz knowledge and playing. He is in-directly my key to Canada, seeing as without him I would be able to do what I do now!

Anybody interested in lessons :ok: (Can I say that?)

Dan