STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- When youngsters start lessons and strum guitar strings in Castellano's House of Music in Bulls Head, teacher and guitar technician Katie Ballou, of the all-female band Pussywolf, recalls her own journey.

Ms. Ballou is a young musician in search of stardust dreams like many others in the Staten Island music scene, but in the meantime -- there are bills to pay -- which usually means balancing a job (or three) with creating original songs.

"It's tough to find a job that pays the bills and still allows you to pursue your love of music," said Ballou. "There was a time where people wanted to sign a record deal ... but that doesn't happen anymore, and even if it does, you don't get that huge million-dollar advance."

"I know musicians who tour all over the world and still come back to a day job ... I think it's kind of a soul-crushing reality," she said with a chuckle.

While selling albums haven't garnered big bucks for musicians in over two decades, the Millennials performing today have made music licensing the next goal; T.V. shows, movies and even commercials that feature music content can be a lucrative venture and jump-start a career.

And, hey -- it worked for Ingrid Michaelson.

Indeed, this pursuit is an about-face from the '90s-era rock bands and their followers who touted the anti-establishment values in their music's philosophy. Nowadays, there's an actual business approach to marketing new music with digital technology and a D.I.Y. spirit.

BUSINESSMAN BASSIST

John Trotta, bassist and vocalist for the band Everything Ever, says picking up the slack for his band's business-related needs, like booking shows and actively maintaining social media, can be a challenge with a 40-hour work week.

"It's difficult ... I have second full-time job, which is the band," said Trotta inside his office in the Teleport.

"We believe in ourselves, we believe in our music and we think we have something that's worth listening to. If we keep working at it I think we'll get to where we want to be. And I hope that's not us being delusional."

But, don't forget, there's those dang bills to pay, too. That's why other Island musicians have made a career out of this sort of balancing act.

For the ones who have shed the desire for rock-and-roll fame, fortune and glory, what remains is the equal passion for playing music with their band and a fulfilling day job.

COMIC BOOK GUITAR HERO

Nick Pupura of The Headlocks has turned his passion for reading and selling comic books and graphic novels into a viable career when he became co-owner of JHU Comics in New Dorp.

"People always said to me 'you have to grow out of this'," said Pupura. "You don't really have to grow out of it, you have to make it work."

"Normal people have to put in 40 hours in a work week ... as a business owner I put in close to 60. I can go home after work or I can go to practice.

The scraggly-bearded 40-something recently completed a new album with his band and says the burning desire to play music has been with him since he was 16 and will always be with him no matter what he does for work.

"It's very easy to be in a band when you're 17 ... if you're 17 years old, start a band right now and have the time of your life, because that's what will happen," said the guitarist.

"After that, when life gets harder, you have to decide how much is it worth to do this. Is it really worth me going from a 10 hour work day to a two or three hour practice? Yeah, it is for me. But, it isn't for everyone."

LAW BY DAY, LYRICS BY NIGHT

Joan Caddell, who runs a West Shore-based law firm, has bounced between gigs when she performs with her Midnight Choir and the negotiating table, and says it's the perfect way to have her two passions coexist.

"Music enables you to release things, emotions, frustrations," said Ms. Caddell.

"So, as tired as I may be when I come home, as soon as I start playing with my band and rehearsing, I feel great. And then you go and play live, and you get to connect with people ... that connection is very powerful."

Ms. Caddell's advice for budding musicians: "You don't have to pick and choose."