School or Skating? make the best out of your career choice

I hope this letter finds all the right people. If your performing right now your living it to the fullest. Remember this is a great business to be in, but keep your realities in check.We have all heard the term Lifer .That is the show skater that has taken this as a career. It is a big decision and yet a risky one . You have decide to take the other fork in the road. You've decided to continue your skating education and make some money.

The facts are you have to look beyond your show skating carreer as the posibilities to advance in managemmet or production are limited after you decide to hang em up.

The goals to keep in mind are : set yourself up financially so you have something to fall back on and keep conections open if you are going to someday teach which is the natrural progression for most skaters once they have decided not to get their PHD.

If your under contract this is a job which can work for you.You show income which if you have good credit you can purchase that house or apartment you have always wanted. That contract shows you are employed which is important when investuing in real estate. If your on tour ,you can rent that place out till your ready to settle a bit and its paying itself off.

Think where you would eventualy want to be and keep those conections so you can work at that rink when your on break or stay in your own house!

Keep it real and look ahead a bit and you wont find yourself in a hard situation when that producer says hey we think your a bit to old for this ,or the limited opportunities to further your career are not presenting themselves.

I like to call it post traumatic perfromers syndrome.It takes years adjust to a more normal life and these things give you a bit of security.

Good luck and keep skating!

Posted by: Richard Swenning, sk8rightswen@hotmail.com
Last modified on: 6/26/2006