The music industry has always been extremely competitive. It is one of the most cutthroat industries that has become harder than ever to break into. Sometimes, people spend their entire lives trying to follow their dream only to find that it never amounted to what they had hoped. Other times, people end up getting lucky and are surprised by how quickly their career forms. Regardless of how quickly your career begins to take off, you will need to work harder than ever to maintain your success, build your skills, and improve your talents every single day. Here are a few tips on how to become a professional musician.
- Understand the business. If you are interested in becoming a professional musician, you need to understand that the music industry is a business. Most of the individuals working in the industry are there to generate income. Research the various types of contracts, record labels, managers, and other business related topics that could help improve your understanding. Knowledge is power. The best way to protect your work and art is to have a proper comprehension of how the business side of the industry works. Do not ever sign anything without reading it first.
- Work on your craft everyday. Whether you are a drummer or a singer, you need to make sure that you are practising your craft every single day. You need to focus on constant improvement to be able to keep up with the fast pace industry. There will always be people willing to work harder than you, and others that have more resources. You need to concentrate on bypassing all of these individuals. The best way you can do that is showcasing your talent and skills.
- Be patient. Nothing happens overnight. There are artists like Lorde or the The Weeknd that seemed to gain instant success through the internet. However, behind every artist is years of planning, work, and commitment Noting is guaranteed and nothing is instantaneous. To be a successful musician, you need to be willing to be patient and let your success come naturally. As long as you constantly search for new opportunities and new ways to improve your skills, you will grow your career gradually.
- Create a side hustle. Depending on the direction you want to take in the music world, you may never have a stable income. Even if you do manage to create a constant income, it make take years for you to be completely regular and comfortable. This does not necessarily mean you will have to live in your parent’s basement until your big break. By creating a side hustle, or another source of cash flow, you are able to cover your expenses without having to give up on your dreams. Teaching lessons, finding freelance work, or doing online jobs can give you the freedom you need to accomplish your dreams!
- Connect with other artists – The music industry is all about who you know. Do not be afraid to reach out to the community around you. The majority of the people that will listen to your music will be other artists looking for inspiration or new sounds. Be willing to collaborate or receive advice from other artists. You may be surprised how far this can take you!
Got any other tips? Please post them below in the comments.