Advice for Musicians

So here we are...at the end of another year and, in this case, another decade.

This would be a great opportunity for me to do something like a "year in review."  Nothing like a good "Best of" or "Worst of" to finish out the last few days of a decade, right?

There are plenty of those stories around, so instead, I've decided to give you the best advice for music business success that I've got.

Do it now.

Sounds simple, and perhaps you're wondering, "Do what now?  I don't know what to do!!"

The answer to that question was best answered by Ray Bradbury, when he said, "Jump off the cliff and you build your wings on the way down."

The Best Way to Be Successful at Anything

Being successful within the music business is a lot like learning a new language... 

What's the best way to learn a foreign language?  Go to a country where they speak it all the time and you'll learn more in a month than you would in years of "school."  Total immersion is the best classroom.

Same for your music business career.  You can say you want to be a fulltime musician, but as long as you have a job or something else to keep you in your comfort zone, it's unlikely anything will change the current situation you're in to make that happen.

Are You Pavlov's Dog?

If you're working a day job, you've got a tremendous amount of inertia to overcome.  Most people have years of heavy social programming, which makes them think they "need" a dayjob.  Beyond that though, a "weekly paycheck" trains us in its own way.

We're more like animals than we think.  Do a trick, get rewarded.

Just worked 40 hours?  Here's a paycheck.  Good boy!

That's hard to walk away from!!  I get it.  But understanding this will help you do just that.

How to Change Your Music Business Career in a Single Day

In my years of working with musicians, the two biggest problems most have are:

1. Comfort
2. Treating music like a job

Total immersion solves both of these very quickly.  It immediately takes you out of your comfort zone of a regular paycheck (and what comes with it-- food, clothing, shelter, etc) and puts you in a place where you have to make things happen in order to survive.

Have a problem asking for what you're worth?  Giving away CDs?  Playing for free?  Do music fulltime, get a little hungry, and watch what happens...

Have friends who think what you're doing is a "hobby" and want to attend your shows for free?  Do music fulltime and the problem is solved.

And the list goes on and on...

So let me repeat my advice one more time...

Do it Now

Seriously, do it now.  If you really want this as much as you say you do, do it now.  Otherwise, the upcoming year end up just like this one did.

Comments

[Louis]

that's fighting talk, but it's good talk.

Louis

www.highabovethestorm.com

[AboveTheStorm]

that's fighting talk - like it.

louis

[c]

So very true, so very hard

[Mike]

Looks like someone really wanted a backlink ^. Lol. Anyways, good post, really inspiring. Especially the last part!

[Chris Keaton]

We need more in your face talk like this!

[blisthis@ptd.net]

Absolutetly SPOT ON!!!!!
I worked for 15 useless years at a factory, thank GOD it got bought sold and closed down...
Forced me to do MUSIC. I am SO much happier now...
JUST DO IT!
Mike E.T.

[John Hodgson]

Of course giving away cd's and playing for free is our investment in a nonexistent musical future we all believe is there for us.. It's either give them and play for free or count the cd's on the shelf and play to no-one. Personally i'd rather work harder both at work and at music. having less time concentrates the mind, you achieve what ever you would have achieved in a shorter time.
I've done the 'nothing but music' and spent most of those hours in the pub having discussions with my band mates about getting 'non-existent' gigs.
The general populace aren't worried/care about music they like a bit of X factor believing that to be music.
I'm afraid I view yours as rectum speak.
Though i would never argue with your right to fart.
John Hodgson
hodge-SAN
CherryPicassoVille
Cold Town
UK

[e. l. cantwell]

There are plenty of gigs for cover bands but an original or artistic act is very hard (and expensive) to parlay into a full-time occupation. And don't get me started on trying to get my bar band to do one of my songs. Playing music you don't like isn't much different from any other drudge job. I like the independence of having a secondary income. Just make it flexible enough so you can keep your chops up.

[Jorge]

You LISTEN to Dave-he's RIGHT! JUST DO IT!! When you do something and burn the bridge or the boats behind you, you'll find that you have NO CHOICE but to do it, or die trying. Usually, you GET what you set out to be so stop wishing and dreaming and just GO DO IT AND GET TO IT! Peace and Love

Jorge-the Majical Band

[Toggo]

Best advice all year David. No pun intended:)

[Michael Annotti]

You know it David ! It takes time to grow anything that is fruitful, don't give up and I'll add, "Faith" is how to "do it now", you must be confident and know who you are, then go forward one stage at a time ... no pun intended.. those who love your original music can't get it anywhere else but from you, they want to feed you and your creativity.

[Ronnie]

Very well said. I'm working on it.

[Artie Kegler]

Absolutely, and maintain cunning. Lotsa snakes out there. Watch your back.

[Stefano Ashbridge]

Good advice. Make sure you have a plan as to how you are going to transition from a day job to making a living full time though.

[CD]

Great tips its just like people who say they waana go back to school but never do. You need to take the risk and dive in if you wanna be successful.

[Brian Doherty]

It's just good for us to hear the words, "Just do it!" I've been in the business for 30 years and have lived by this. I also discuss it in my blog www.briandoherty.net

[Dave Huffman]

The first thing I did was start answering with "Musician" when people asked "What I did..."

From there it became sort of a self fulfilling prophecy...

However, my goal was to make a living playing music "no matter what." Even if I had to play a lot of cover songs - I didn't care.

I'm sure you've covered this a million times, but if you reasonably define your goals...you'll find it's really not hard to do. I mean, it's a TON of work, but it's a TON of fun.

Good stuff. After following Bob Baker, etc. for years, I just stumbled upon this blog.

@davemhuffman

[Rachel Walker]

Yup! That's what I did!
I am now a full time artist/musician.....monies down, but so are costs...I AM HAPPY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So I stepped out of the boat....and I am believing that I can be what I was made to be and still survive!!!!!!!!!!
I have LOTS of ideas ....and more energy!!!!
Rachel

www.rachelwalkertrio.com

[Ryan T]

Excellent advice! Hopefully I can absorb it and use i!

[ryan t]

it*

[Hobo]

Hey,

it's a shame that there isn't a contact link on your website! I'am really impressed by this post because that is somehow exactly what I did. I quit my day job, emmigrated to a "cheap" country with some savings and now I'am "studying" all music related stuff day by day. Maybe you want to send me an e-mail so we can network a little :-).