10 Things You Don’t Need to Worry About in Your First Years as a Musician

Often, while scrolling through social media posts and dedicated forums, we see rookie musicians concerned with the least relevant of things. There are levels to this sh*t, and you must have the self-awareness necessary to determine your level of priorities. Here are ten things you can take off your worry list when you’re first starting out as a musician.

10. Having a Huge Fan Base

Every artist dreams of having a large, dedicated fan base, but gaining followers takes time. So what are you doing begging people to follow you when you only have one single and two photos out? Tsk tsk tsk. Instead of focusing on the numbers, concentrate on building genuine connections with your listeners. A small but engaged audience is more beneficial than a large, indifferent one.

9. Releasing a Perfect First Album

Perfection is a lofty goal, but it’s not a realistic one, especially for your first album. It’s more important to get your music out there and learn from the experience. Each release is a step forward in your artistic journey and an opportunity for growth. And seriously, we’re all crappy songwriters when starting out. ALL. Quantity will lead to quality.

8. Constantly Comparing Yourself with Other Artists

It’s natural to compare yourself to other musicians, but it can also be counterproductive. Every artist’s path is unique, and comparing your journey to someone else’s can lead to unnecessary stress. Focus on your personal growth and artistic expression. Basically, mind your business and you’ll do better, faster.

7. Signing a Record Deal

While signing with a record label might seem like the ultimate goal, it’s not essential, especially in your early years. Many successful artists have built their careers independently, maintaining full control over their music and profits. If you give up your ownership too soon in your journey, we promise you, you WILL live to regret it.

6. Having High-End Equipment

While good-quality equipment can enhance your sound, it’s not a necessity when starting. Basic home recording equipment can be enough to create your first tracks. As you grow as an artist, you can gradually upgrade your gear. Focus rather on saving a small budget to record by the hour in professional studios. That’s more than sufficient when you’re barely starting out.

5. Making Money Right Away

Many musicians don’t earn significant income from their music at the beginning of their careers. Rather than worrying about profits, focus on creating and sharing your music. With time and dedication, financial rewards will follow. Actually, let’s rectify that. Money follows when the marketing grows. Shift your focus from making money to studying branding and marketing.

4. Having a Defined Style

In your early years, it’s okay not to have a completely defined style. Exploration is part of the creative process. Feel free to try different genres, techniques, and instruments. Over time, your unique sound will develop naturally. But also, don’t take a decade to realize you don’t really like doing Folk music and would rather put together synthetic music and wear a blond wig. Two years should suffice.

3. Dreading Negative Feedback

Not everyone will love your music, and that’s okay. Negative feedback can be hard to accept, but remember that music is subjective. Instead of letting criticism get you down, use it as a tool for improvement. And of course, don’t forget that some people have nothing better to do than pick other people’s craft apart.

2. Being Everywhere at Once

While it’s important to have a presence on social media and music platforms, trying to be active everywhere will be overwhelming (even for major artists). Choose a maximum of three platforms where your potential fans are most likely to be and focus your efforts there. You’ll expand much easier when you have a solid fanbase.

1. Achieving Immediate Success

Success rarely happens overnight. It’s a result of consistent effort, resilience, and passion. Don’t be disheartened if you don’t achieve your goals right away. Keep making music, keep learning, and keep moving forward, but also keep track of what works and what doesn’t. It’s a business and ‘inventory’ must be accounted for accordingly.

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