Did you know that 91% of all artists remain completely undiscovered? Meaning that every 9 out of 10 musicians will never be able to convert his/her passion for music into a stable source of income. Did you know as well that NOBODY is telling the 91% how to move up? Unless you’re connected to an already established artist, record label, radio DJ, club promoter, entertainment lawyer, you’re gonna end up in the dark about how things work. Luckily for you, we got you covered. Let’s break down the top 10 crucial qualities you need to possess in the music industry in order to turn your passion into a job.
10. Be Patient
You might have heard it over and over again, but there’s a reason for that. Nothing will come to you as fast as you want it. Why? Because in the music business you DEPEND on lots of other people as well. And all those people need to be in sync about your project in order for you to take your career to the next level. Learn how to put a team together and more importantly, learn how to make them STAY together. And more so if you’re in a band… Stay consistent and practice patience.
9. Be An Independent Thinker
Throughout your career, you will hear millions of opinions. You need to be able to sort through the thoughts around you and categorize them into constructive criticism, unimportant opinion, straight BS. Constructive criticism comes from people with a background in music themselves who prove their point of view very well. Unimportant opinions come from people who don’t really have anything to do with the music business and yet they love to throw in their 2 cents. And straight BS comes from individuals who would love to drag you down and never really give any realistic reasons for their opinions. You need to classify all the stuff you hear and do it well. Make sure you never expose yourself for a long time to naysayers. They will mess your self-esteem so bad, that you’re gonna forget who you are and why you’re doing what you’re doing.
8. Trust The Struggle
Simply put: have faith. Have faith it will all work out in the end and that the right people are coming to you at the right time giving you the right help. A positive mindset will keep you alive on the inside when it gets dark on the outside. You need to keep your soul and hope intact because it reflects in your music. And no one likes a party pooper. Or a loser for that matter.
7. Stay Creative
The creative process does not end when you finish writing a song or a beat. It has merely begun. You want a good music video but have no budget? Barter with a college student and give him something he needs in exchange for something you need. You know exactly how you want your video footage to look like but don’t have a video camera? Buy it off Amazon, use it one day and give it back. Use your gray cells in all matters related to creating music, promoting it and finally, selling it.
6. Learn How To Network
If you’re an introvert, my bad but there’s no way around this. Pick up some self-help books and learn how to create confidence within yourself, how to look your best version and how to chit chat effectively with people from different backgrounds. You may not have the money but you definitely have the time if you’re an independent artist. So get genuinely curious about people who are doing better than you. They know something you don’t, and they most likely have done something you haven’t. Now find out WHAT IS IT.
5. Embrace Frugality
This one goes hand in hand with number 4. You need to think about advancement 24/7. So that when you get tempted to buy that shirt on sale, you think of the $20 you could spend on Facebook ads instead to promote your music video. When someone asks you to a party, you have to think of how much time and money will go invested in a person that has nothing to do with your business. When you feel lazy and want to order in, get your ass up and go cooking in the kitchen. Your financial priority is INVESTING IN YOUR MUSIC CAREER.
4. Stay Curious
So everyone likes Billie Eilish and you just can’t wrap your head around WHY is that so? Instead of talking without knowing, go on YouTube and see some of her music videos. Try to figure out what makes so many people tick when they see her. Hint: teenagers never want to feel normal or part of the norm. So lime-green clothing and blue hair are actually emotions and not just a fashion statement. Billie Eilish is selling emotions to the youth, not music necessarily. So stay curious about the music industry and never stop asking questions. It will only help you.
3. Take Care Of Your Health
Do you know how much money you’re saving when you’re brushing your teeth twice a day and floss regularly? Or how much cheaper it is to eat healthy and avoid processed foods? Your health equals your financial stability. Lose health and you’ll lose most, if not all your money. When you lose that, you know what else you lose? The possibility to evolve as an artist. You’ll be back to square one and that IS NOT FUN.
2. Be Supportive Of Other Artists
Do you believe in karma? It’s time you started. How can you expect others to put their time and mental energy behind you if you, yourself, are not doing much to help others either? Support artists you really like and believe in. Fake arse kissing is very obvious and won’t help anyone. Go comment, like, share, talk about it, show up to their shows, spread the word and they’ll show you their support back. Again, do not support artists you don’t believe in. It’ll turn out to be a waste of time for all parties involved.
1. Be Grateful
If you think you got it bad, always remember that somewhere in the world there’s someone who got it worse. 100% of the time. Here’s some facts to cheer you up indirectly: 11% of the world’s population don’t have access to clean water (790 million people more or less); 815 million people of the 7.6 billion people in the world, or one in ten, are starving at this moment right now; only 50% of us (3.5 billion) have access to internet; about 1.6 billion, (approximately 20% of us), lack adequate housing while 150 million are completely homeless. If you got internet, a roof above your head, clean water to drink, and food in your stomach, you are part of the fortunate ones. The music career will come too. But be grateful for the basic things first.
Blue Rhymez Entertainment 