NEW YORK

Profession: guitarist

These tragic events convinced me to move on. It was time to get serious. But it was difficult to postpone the start of my professional career. However, the very fact of its novelty makes it something of an adventure. Now it’s time to give back what I worked so hard to achieve.

The professional: a concert at the international IATA conference

Becoming a professional musician doesn’t frighten me in and of itself. It’s not all that mysterious to me, since I know what is required in order to succeed. I learned this by observing my colleagues. The first step is to take yourself seriously. Ambition is the crucial element in any career. Unfortunately, my only "ambition" up to this point has been not to have any ambitions in the first place! Now, I’ll have to start pretending. After that, everything else will fall into place, just like the notes across the page. In the case of a musical career, the process is simple: It’s a question, given the current state of things, of thinking in terms of running a company. My point of departure: the United States. The stakes are high. My friends agree to invest in my venture (my hat’s off to them, given my solvency at the moment), for which I promise to reimburse them at the current rate. Then we’ve got to do some serious promotion. A New York impresario arranges for my "debut" at Carnegie Hall by spending money on an expensive advertising campaign. Our initial efforts culminate in an impasse of sorts: a New York Times critic, Peter Davis, who, truth be told, is the main reason for holding this concert in the first place, writes that my performance was merely "excellent".

- "Excellent guitarist!" my impresario exclaims with disgust. This is a disaster! There are hundreds of excellent guitarists out there. I need an excellent guitarist like I need hemorrhoids. We’ll have to start all over again. Fortunately, you’ve developed an audience...".

-.Those were guests!

- Stop worrying! I organized a performance for one of your most illustrious predecessors at Town Hall last week. Only 30 people actually paid to get in. Everything is going well for you. The next time you play, it will be in Lincoln Center.

- Ouch. Wait a minute, I’ll be in debt for ten years.

"A unique poetic talent" will be the critic’s verdict this time around.

- "Unique"? Did you say "unique"? That’s more like it. With that vote of confidence, you’ll have to hope for the best. You may have to wait five, ten, even fifteen years. And, like I said, that’s only if you’re lucky. I hope you’re ambitious!

- I am as ambitious as Nixon!

- Alright, then. By the way, are you Jewish?

-That’s an odd question? Well, my cousin’s concierge spent her last vacation in Israel. So, in a way...

- A Jewish sensibility is a major asset. The chosen people have assimilated Western culture, while maintaining the unstable temperament history has imposed on them, and which is required if one is to have a successful career. Maybe you’re Jewish without knowing it. After all, considering your musical inclinations, your gift for languages, and your taste for travel… Anyway, from now on you’ll pay me a retainer of 200 dollars a month, plus expenses, for the privilege of being part of my stable.

- Two hundred dollars a month? That’s a lot of money!

- Yes, but I work for it. You’re the one who was crazy enough to get into this business, which is risky at best. After all I didn’t come looking for you. Rest assured, however, that everyone in my stable pays the same.