u/winniecooper73

I’m 43, jam out a few times a week. I play for 10-20 people a show. Haven’t made much money playing at all. Yet, I continue to play out in front of people all few nights a week. I “tour” in my mini van that I drop my kids off at school. I’m not a good musician.

I can’t let go of the dream. I have a family and a full time job. I don’t need this. Why do I do this to myself?

I’ve gotten such great advice from this sub over the years, I’m curious how this community would advise me to move forward.

I started J2 almost 3 years ago. I’m in b2b sales and it’s a contract position. Similar industry but different and non competing products.

About a year ago, they reduced my hours to half the time and half the amount, however increased the total commission plan and I am basically making the same amount, base pay plus commissions…until today.

My new contract, which would go until end of December 2026, has me capped at commissions in high sales scenarios and I’m essentially not incentivized to sell anything over $50k when I normally sell deals between $55k-$120k. There are also a bunch of loopholes where they wouldn’t have to pay me out commissions.

These aren’t shady people, but they are cheap. I think I sold more than they thought I would and they are trying to save the commissions by giving the real projects to w9 staff who don’t rely on commissions and just work for a salary.

I’m pushing back but I think this J2 is coming to an end soon. The way I see it, my options are:

- Sign, accept the new terms, coast and get my base pay until December and then move on.

- Sign, accept the new terms, bust my ass and maybe make the same amount for another year or two until they change the commission structure(again)

- Keep pushing back and stand my ground in hopes they give in, at the risk of losing the entire thing if I become annoying to them

- Don’t sign and just move on with life / hope they come back to me once the realize I was worth the small base pay someday

What do you all think?

Taking the family internationally and trying to figure out the best way to leave the tub. Chat gpt tells me to essentially balance ph levels and leave it around 5 ppm. I will want to sit in it when I get home from a long day of travel, and hoping chlorine holds up. What do the experts in this sub say to do?