How to Make It in Music Today
by Sue Basko, esq.
“Making it” in
music today does not mean the same thing it did in past generations. Back then, signing a record label deal
was a sign of “making it.” In the
meantime, musicians have figured out that most traditional record label
contracts constrict their creativity and pay them a pittance for making money
for a corporation. Today there are
new types of record labels that may present a more balanced, if less
immediately lucrative and flashy, situation.
Today, “making it” in music means having the skills and
connections to pursue music as a career, whether or not significant money is
made. The keys to making it today
are the same at any level of financial remuneration. And here is the list.
How to Make It in Music Today:
1. Start
young. If you can start playing
music and / or singing by age 3, that is great. Age 17 to 30 is the prime time for developing professional
music careers, so you need your basic foundation laid before then. However, do not try to be a child
star. Instead, spend your early
years building a solid foundation of skills.
2. Own a
musical instrument. Get a piano or
keyboard, a guitar, a cello, a flute, a harmonica. Ask for these things as gifts. Save up your own money and buy them. If you want to help someone else become
a musician, give them a musical instrument.
3. Get
lessons. Most great songwriters
play piano. They learn to play
piano by taking lessons in childhood. It is great to have a person teach you, if you can afford this. If not, pursue anyway. Your lessons can also be self-taught. There are lessons online and there
are also lessons on youtube for free.
There are video lessons and book lessons you can buy or check out of a
library.
4. Practice
every day. You will only become skilled if you train. Most good musicians
practice 3 to 8 hours per day.
5. Sing. Even
if singing is not your main strength, sing. If you think of yourself as a singer, get lessons and
practice every day.
6. Write
songs.
7. Listen to
many kinds of music. This is
so easy now with the internet.
Make a point of expanding your listening experience, even if the music
is not immediately enjoyable to
you. Develop an expansive, rather
than a limiting, mindset. Listen to
music from many genres, from many regions and cultural groups, from many time
eras.
8. Learn to
play or sing music outside your comfort zone. Jump into other genres, other languages, try out a new
instrument.
9. Get a computer and develop skills you will need for music
production and business. Learn to
record, mix, and create music on a computer. Learn how to make videos and put them up online. Learn how to make digital photos, web
pages, email lists, etc. The more
computer skills you have, the more you can place your music online and promote
yourself as a musician.
10. Become
proficient at home recording, mixing, and mastering on a computer. Learn how to use loops, create and lay
music beds. Look into the great
products for creating drum and string tracks.
11. Learn the
basics of music law and business.
Read books and websites on these topics.
12. Get a good
music lawyer early on. This is
crucial. If you are
co-songwriting, get a contract written that reflects your agreement. If you start or join a band, get a band
contract. Before you sign a
contract or agree to anything, have a music lawyer read it. Do not rely on a manager, parent, or
friend to do this for you. Get a
music lawyer. The effects of
signing something bad will often harm you for decades to come.
13. Do not fall
for music scams. Music scams take
a musician’s money in promise for a dream. These scams can destroy or halt a burgeoning music
career. Have a music lawyer
look it over before you agree to it.
14. Make use of
performance opportunities. The
only way to learn how to put on a good show before an audience is through
practice.
15. Avoid drugs
and alcohol. Eat right and get
fit. Look and feel your best. Take care of stress and psychological
issues early on. Avoid troublesome
people. The music industry, moreso
than ever before, is a business.
You are expected to be on time and in excellent performance shape with
totally professional behavior.
Music contracts now include cancellation clauses that can be invoked if
a performer starts to have substance abuse, mental, or behavioral issues. If one of these clauses is invoked
against you or at your option, you may also be banned from performing music for
a period of time.
16. Be
you. Try to have any contracts
written so you have creative control over your music, songwriting, and
appearance. One of the silliest
things I ever saw was when one of my favorite rappers, who makes amazing music
and truly clever lyrics that are of the sort that absolutely cannot be played
on the radio, signed a deal with a major record label. Then, the record label people acted
surprised that he was writing songs that cannot be played on the radio, when
that is the only kind of songs he writes. What were they thinking? He should have gotten a deal with a record label that was
not trying to change his music, a label that does not rely on radio airplay to
promote music.
17. Don’t try
to be someone else. If you want to
sound like some already famous artist, start a cover band. That is totally legit and good cover
bands get lots of bookings.
18. Avoid making music your second choice. If you want to go into music, do not
instead go to law school or engineering school as a practical choice and
develop a career in that field, telling yourself that you will pursue music
later or in addition to this other career. This almost never happens. (Yes, you will most likely have to do other things besides music to make money, but launching a major career in a different field means you spend your time and energy on that other career.)
19. Don’t quit.
You may have interruptions, but don’t quit. The surest way to quit is by selling your musical
instruments. Only sell the
instruments if you are upgrading.
20. Develop an online presence. However, only put good things online. Make sure all the videos you put up
have good audio. Make sure all
photos convey the right image you are trying to portray. Avoid profanity or violent images or
words. These mark you as
unprofessional and rule you out for most bookings and other opportunities.
21. Develop a
strong sense of gratitude. Thank
people for their help. Be
courteous.
22. Love what you are doing. If you love what you are doing, you will attract the right
people and opportunities.