8 answers
Jack
Student
Racine, Wisconsin
1
Question
Asked
678 views
If you could give any advice to a musician trying to break into the industry, what would it be?
Any advice helps! Thanks! :)
8 answers
malcolm kogut
Musician
1
Answer
Schenectady, New York
Updated
malcolm’s Answer
Most performance based music jobs are not obtained through applications. Most work will come from referrals. Someone else will be offered a job but they may turn it down and will invariably be asked "Can you recommend someone" and they may recommend you. So who are these referral people? They are friends, people you worked with, people who have heard you, and people who respect you. No one is going to refer an inferior musician so you need to be someone another musician would recommend because they like you and know you won't embarrass them.
How do you meet other musicians? Never say no to a gig no matter what it pays or whatever other details may be less than desirable. Every gig I have ever played, I have met other musicians and have gotten referrals from them. Even if the gig doesn't pay, it pays. The bonus is that you can learn something on every gig. I once play a big band gig for a whopping $25. I met many great musicians, got a few good paying gigs from some of them and hired a few of them for my subsequent gigs.
Other factors to get recommendations: Never be late. In fact, if you are fifteen minutes early for a gig, you're late. Always be positive. Don't be difficult to work with and be easy going. Don't be a musical terrorist or hijacker. Always be prepared and if someone says something like "take a solo" you'd better do it. Sometimes opportunity knocks only once. These suggestions go for any musical job. No one wants to work with someone who complains, is offensive or difficult.
I once hired an excellent Joe Pass style guitarist for a gig at a club and when he came in to set up he asked me "What time do we eat?" I said that a meal wasn't in the contract. He threw his stand to the floor and said "If I don't eat I don't play." Embarrassed I spoke to the owner who cheerfully set up four settings for all of us. I never hired him again but did play a B'way tour gig with him and one night he didn't like that an extension cord was running under his seat so he unplugged it and plugged it in outside the pit. It blew a circuit and it took the stage manager half an hour to figure out what was tripping the circuit. The show started 15 minutes late. They asked who moved the extension cord and he admitted that he did. We had a new guitarist the next night. Since he now angered the union booking agent, I never saw him on a gig again.
How do you meet other musicians? Never say no to a gig no matter what it pays or whatever other details may be less than desirable. Every gig I have ever played, I have met other musicians and have gotten referrals from them. Even if the gig doesn't pay, it pays. The bonus is that you can learn something on every gig. I once play a big band gig for a whopping $25. I met many great musicians, got a few good paying gigs from some of them and hired a few of them for my subsequent gigs.
Other factors to get recommendations: Never be late. In fact, if you are fifteen minutes early for a gig, you're late. Always be positive. Don't be difficult to work with and be easy going. Don't be a musical terrorist or hijacker. Always be prepared and if someone says something like "take a solo" you'd better do it. Sometimes opportunity knocks only once. These suggestions go for any musical job. No one wants to work with someone who complains, is offensive or difficult.
I once hired an excellent Joe Pass style guitarist for a gig at a club and when he came in to set up he asked me "What time do we eat?" I said that a meal wasn't in the contract. He threw his stand to the floor and said "If I don't eat I don't play." Embarrassed I spoke to the owner who cheerfully set up four settings for all of us. I never hired him again but did play a B'way tour gig with him and one night he didn't like that an extension cord was running under his seat so he unplugged it and plugged it in outside the pit. It blew a circuit and it took the stage manager half an hour to figure out what was tripping the circuit. The show started 15 minutes late. They asked who moved the extension cord and he admitted that he did. We had a new guitarist the next night. Since he now angered the union booking agent, I never saw him on a gig again.
Thomas O'Shea
Music Producer, Composer, Live Sound Engineer, Musician
118
Answers
Madison, Wisconsin
Updated
Thomas’s Answer
Hey Jack,
I agree with a lot that's already been said. It defiantly helps to have something that makes your music more like a part of you- you are marketing yourself and your music as the product or services. Ask yourself- am I a singer? am I a producer? am I a songwriter? a composer? am I all four? Chose something to focus on and make that your thing. Now that you have your "thing" it's time to post about it and show what you do. Post to tiktok, YouTube, instagram- anywhere you think people will listen. Do the thing that you chose to focus on and show how cool your music is. You can begin adding more things to work on when you think you're ready to add to your main thing.
You could also go to a music school- not necessarily the expensive ones either. I'm at a small music school that I have already been able to make great connections at that will help push my career. By going to music school, you are meeting other people about to enter the same industry and can work with them and grow together. If college isn't in the dream for you, find another way to meet other musicians and network. Use apps that are easy to talk to people and get in front of bigger and bigger names. This could be Threads, X, or even Clubhouse. Develop working relationships or even friendships with these people and work together on things. If you have a specific thing you do, target those same kind of people to chat with- if you want to be a producer, network with other producers and up and coming rapers, if you want to be a singer or rapper, reach out to people who already do that or reach out to producers and songwriters to see if they want to work together.
Hope this helps!
I agree with a lot that's already been said. It defiantly helps to have something that makes your music more like a part of you- you are marketing yourself and your music as the product or services. Ask yourself- am I a singer? am I a producer? am I a songwriter? a composer? am I all four? Chose something to focus on and make that your thing. Now that you have your "thing" it's time to post about it and show what you do. Post to tiktok, YouTube, instagram- anywhere you think people will listen. Do the thing that you chose to focus on and show how cool your music is. You can begin adding more things to work on when you think you're ready to add to your main thing.
You could also go to a music school- not necessarily the expensive ones either. I'm at a small music school that I have already been able to make great connections at that will help push my career. By going to music school, you are meeting other people about to enter the same industry and can work with them and grow together. If college isn't in the dream for you, find another way to meet other musicians and network. Use apps that are easy to talk to people and get in front of bigger and bigger names. This could be Threads, X, or even Clubhouse. Develop working relationships or even friendships with these people and work together on things. If you have a specific thing you do, target those same kind of people to chat with- if you want to be a producer, network with other producers and up and coming rapers, if you want to be a singer or rapper, reach out to people who already do that or reach out to producers and songwriters to see if they want to work together.
Hope this helps!
Robert Watts
MusicProducer
5
Answers
Scottsbluff, Nebraska
Updated
Robert’s Answer
At 53 years young, I wear many hats - Beat Maker, Producer, Film and TV Composer, Rapper, and Electronic Music Artist.
Here's a nugget of wisdom from my journey: Always have faith in your abilities and let your imagination run wild.
When I began visualizing myself in the position I aspired to be in, mysteriously, and it's hard to put into words, the path to understanding music in the way I wanted unfolded before me. So, trust in your capabilities, unleash your imagination, and never, ever throw in the towel.
Here's a nugget of wisdom from my journey: Always have faith in your abilities and let your imagination run wild.
When I began visualizing myself in the position I aspired to be in, mysteriously, and it's hard to put into words, the path to understanding music in the way I wanted unfolded before me. So, trust in your capabilities, unleash your imagination, and never, ever throw in the towel.
Jenny Dang
Producer & Mixing Engineer
8
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Jenny’s Answer
Hi Jack,
This is a great question that comes up quite a bit- the other responses on here are pretty spot on too so just wanted to add some quick notes:
1. Breaking into the industry is different for everyone:
1a. Some get the chance to be in the right place at the right time where they meet that person that's open to supporting/helping (this is pretty rare)
1b. And for others it can take quite a bit of time (even years on end- this is more common)
2. Control what you can:
2a. Do your best on consistently working on your music so when the opportunity comes, you're able to showcase that you're a pro
2b. Having patience and staying positive, it's not an easy industry but it's worthwhile if you love music
2c. Network by supporting other musicians, connecting/collaborating, and making an effort to make authentic connections (some of these people may just be the people who can help get your foot in the door more in the industry.
This is a great question that comes up quite a bit- the other responses on here are pretty spot on too so just wanted to add some quick notes:
1. Breaking into the industry is different for everyone:
1a. Some get the chance to be in the right place at the right time where they meet that person that's open to supporting/helping (this is pretty rare)
1b. And for others it can take quite a bit of time (even years on end- this is more common)
2. Control what you can:
2a. Do your best on consistently working on your music so when the opportunity comes, you're able to showcase that you're a pro
2b. Having patience and staying positive, it's not an easy industry but it's worthwhile if you love music
2c. Network by supporting other musicians, connecting/collaborating, and making an effort to make authentic connections (some of these people may just be the people who can help get your foot in the door more in the industry.
Kilo House
Music Professional
6
Answers
Burbank, California
Updated
Kilo’s Answer
How I wish someone had told me this a long time ago...
Create the kind of music that you'd love to unwind to after a long day of making music.
Then it will come from your heart.
Create the kind of music that you'd love to unwind to after a long day of making music.
Kilo recommends the following next steps:
Katherine Avery
Run a music studio and teach private music lessons; teach college-level religion classes
350
Answers
Spanish Fork, Utah
Updated
Katherine’s Answer
Join any social media groups and follow people on social media where you would be able to interact with other people who have these same interests, and then see what people are chatting about (whether locally or online) and pretty soon something will come along where you can offer to help or give advice, and then over time you gain more confidence as well as more information about what people want as a service most often etc., and you can start to know your industry.
Pepper Reasnover Sr
Technical Support
1
Answer
Crete, Illinois
Updated
Pepper’s Answer
Embarking on my musical journey in the early 90's, I didn't have the luxury of the internet as we do today. Therefore, my suggestion to you is to leverage this platform to its fullest. Platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram can help you gain recognition and potentially secure commissions to catapult your brand globally, reaching diverse genres and offering boundless opportunities for your success and expansion. Utilize the internet to study both successful and unsuccessful artists; this will provide you with a blueprint of the necessary behaviors to achieve success and sustain it for a long time.
Make sure that you protect your work under copywrite
Pepper recommends the following next steps:
Ryan Singleton
Appraisal Manager
9
Answers
Frisco, Texas
Updated
Ryan’s Answer
Act like a professional.
Embrace the aspects to success that go beyond just sheer talent. There are plenty of talented people out there, but there are also many "deadbeats". A great way to set yourself apart is by being dependable and easy to work with. Remember, you want people to want to work with you, so...
Show up on time. Nuff said.
Know your material. If you're a session musician or a band member, show up to the performance or rehearsal in "ready to play" mode.
Have a positive attitude; be open to feedback; stay humble.
Avoid the party scene. Don't do drugs, don't get drunk. It's sad that this needs to be said, but I can assure you that you'll encounter some really talented people that fall prey to substance abuse. It can be a career-killer.
Continue to practice and hone your craft. Whatever your instrument, there is always room to improve, and there is always new gear and tech being introduced. Learning another instrument is never a bad idea either. Best of luck!
Embrace the aspects to success that go beyond just sheer talent. There are plenty of talented people out there, but there are also many "deadbeats". A great way to set yourself apart is by being dependable and easy to work with. Remember, you want people to want to work with you, so...
Ryan recommends the following next steps:
Delete Comment
Flag Comment