The music industry is unforgiving, as many struggling artists can attest. Getting the attention of the right people, signing up for gigs, balancing your aspirations with everyday life, can all be obstacles on your path to success. You should not let all these be obstacles in the first place; what you can do is turn them into steps that will create a ladder for your musical career.
Make music people will love
While this may sound like a vague starting point, it’s the best piece of advice you should use when you consider a musical career. A musician is nothing without an audience, and that’s something for you to figure out.
Who are the people who would listen to your music? What genres do you they listen? What age groups do you have in mind? All these are questions that will help you shape up the music you want to create and can make you famous.
Invest in high-quality musical equipment
Starting with your preferred musical instrument and ending with software you can use to record your music, this is the second piece of advice you should take into consideration. For instance, if you are a violinist and you like to practice for hours, you will need a good quality violin shoulder rest. It may sound like such a simple thing, but it is just one of the many that can make you good at what you do.
Consider gaining an audience using online platforms
Signing with a major label is a surefire way to success. But how many artists are so lucky to do so from their early days as musicians? Most probably, this number is low. So, first things first, you should start building your audience from scratch.
Getting gigs in the real world is another path to take. However, let’s not forget the advantages offered by the new technologies that surround us nowadays. For instance, musicians can now build a strong following on social media. That is something you can do from the comfort of your own home or studio, without traveling anywhere.
Build a connection network
The adage ‘beggars can’t be choosers’ applies to struggling artists more than any other. While you may feel like some gigs and obligations you sign up for bring you nothing, that’s further from the truth than you think.
As you honor your assignments, you’ll meet a lot of people involved with the music industry at different levels. All these people represent connections, and you never know when one or some of them can help you get a better deal. Maintain professional relationships with all the people you encounter, and you’ll build a strong network in no time.
Get used to hearing the word ‘no’
Artists don’t deal with rejection well, usually, but those who persevere are the ones that cross the finish line first. Get used to being told ‘no’, and don’t let rejections bring you down. The more you insist, the higher the chances to hear ‘yes’, and that’s how a musical career is built.
