What they don't teach you at music school

This topic has 4 voices, contains 4 replies, and was last updated by 19 oclock 186 days ago.

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November 16, 2011 at 12:59 am #6888
alanbrown	<p>The title of this topic is really the thought that has been going through my head since discovering this fantastic website as really what is being achieved here is essentially that. Many musicians are of the belief that it is "all about the music" which is great and everything but you gotta eat right? So here we all are, some aspiring to get regular gigs, some of us lucky enough to have them, but my question to the forum is this:-</p> <p>I now view my musical life as a business in its own right. I do not think particularly creatively nor do I see myself as an artiste. I see it as a job and this mindset has always worked for me.</p> <p>So, do any people here if they are honest feel that if they approached their own musical life in more of a businesslike fashion then they might get further? Its a tough world out there remember.</p> <p>I ask because this is something of a crusade for me and I would love to give extensive advice on how to work this way and the benefits, certainly in my own experience. But perhaps its just me? I am very interested in your thoughts and comments. </p>
November 16, 2011 at 5:11 am #7963
funkyguitar	I agree with you, as an independent musician you’re basically running a small business. The way I put it to people is “The music business is 50% music and 50% business.” Ultimately playing good music is important, but the hard part is not playing the gig, but [i]getting [/i]the gig. There’s no substitute for putting in the effort to get a gig, despite the fact that some musicians may feel they’re entitled to one, thinking their talent/music is undeniable. I was certainly a bit guilty of this when I was younger, feeling that I “deserved” a gig. Eventually I came around though, and put more effort into getting gigs and refined my social and networking skills. I’d be interested to hear what you’ve done to be more business-like and how it’s worked for you… Have you made more cold calls to restaurants and lounges for gigs? Updated your website more frequently? Thanks for the kudos on my audition, and congratulations on landing the Carnival job!
November 16, 2011 at 1:37 pm #7966
Cameron Mizell	Hi Alan, glad you like the site, and thank you! I believe you’re right, that musicians need to view their skills as a service and their performances or recordings as products, and function as a business that sells those services and products. Something worth pointing out, not necessarily to you but to everyone that comes across this post, is that the one thing we never talk about on this site is really the most important piece of the puzzle: [b]The music.[/b] There are a lot of websites and books by business people (marketers, sales people, PR folks, etc.) that lead people to believe that, if they just set up their business and market their music properly, they’ll be successful. What they don’t tell you is to go practice 8 hours a day for years, hone your craft, experience life, and find something to say with your instrument [i]before[/i] you start marketing that product. Once you’ve done that, you have a foundation for your business. Of course, telling people to go practice doesn’t make for a very compelling website or book. The articles we post on MusicianWages have to start with the assumption that you’re playing at a professional level, or at least have that within reach. When writing to younger readers or [url=http://www.musicianwages.com/the-working-musician/advice-on-using-a-music-education/]discussing music school[/url], I always encourage people to spend their energy on practicing and playing with other people first and worry about their website and resume later. Whenever musicians have a hard time finding work, the first thing we should evaluate is our abilities as a musician, not our abilities as a business person. Sometimes we don’t get the gig because we’re just not good enough. Luckily, that’s something we can control. Like a surgeon learning to fix a heart valve, or a pilot learning to land a plane, musicians can learn to be better. It’s all about putting in the hours of practice every day. The next part is getting the job, keeping the job, and doing the job really well. That’s the discussion we try to have on this website, and advice from you, Lance, and everyone else is always welcome and appreciated!
November 16, 2011 at 4:35 pm #7967
alanbrown	Thank you for your replies. I have to be honest that the your thoughts on the many thousand hours of practice (and meaningful, purposeful practice is a subject all on its own); should be a given. When it comes down to it you have to able to do the job and my view of being a musical business has as much to do with your approach to playing as it does to getting the audition for example. An example of this from my own experience is this. I am British and although I have a very broad range of musical taste and experience when I came to work on American ships rather then British ones I had to look again at my repertoire. I had to research songs that were popular in the Piano Bar type environment that I play in. I would never play Margaritaville or Friends in Low Places or Old Time Rock and Roll to take three obvious examples to a British audience as they are songs that they are not familiar with at all. By the same token I trimmed songs that were less familiar to a US audience. This is also the ‘business’ of music. It isn’t just a case of marketing. I think that is a short sighted and you make the point very clearly, however it is more than just adding your chops as well. Your technique should be of a professional standard – period but you should research and understand the gig you are going for as much as possible. Whenever anybody tells me that I am lucky to do what I do I always say “well it beats real work….” but the fact is, it [i]is[/i] real work both on and off stage if you want to do it full time. I feel this subject has some mileage! Thanks again for this marvellous platform.
November 17, 2011 at 5:05 pm #7971
19 oclock	Full-time accountant and moonlighting musician here. I received my degree in Accountancy and am almost a CPA, but anyone will tell you that I’ve spent a majority of my educational experience studying and performing music. Accounting has always been the stability/fall-back for me. Music has turned into my fun money. After college I worked with Carnival Cruise Lines to earn money and eventually move to the high rockies of Colorado and forget music to become an accountant. I lived here a year before my friendly bar-owner booked me for a gig and I’ve been regularly performing since. You don’t quit this business, at best you can take a year off. I see and have advice for lots of my fellow musicians when it comes to running it as a business. Get licensed with the state, file your taxes, and do everything that a business does. A lot of people don’t file their taxes for music income and it freaks me out: you can get in big trouble for not doing so. In terms of professionalism? Show up on time. Look presentable. Don’t get drunk. Know how to play your instrument. Advertise. Make it easy for them to hire you. Ask for feedback after the show. Tax deductions for music expense are great, too. I offset my income with instrument purchases directly linked to my work as a musician. It’s great reinvesting my income into the business because, hey, I actually like doing this stuff. It’s lots of fun playing music and I am happy that the hobby/business can support itself. In terms of netting gigs? Be social. Word of mouth is priceless. I consistently book business by virtue of playing with lots of musicians and for lots of different venues. I guess it all depends on what type of gig you want to get, but by playing bars I have branched out into classical singing shows and wedding ceremony music. I’ve always been able to play these shows, but have never made it my target. If you can make friends with conference coordinators and wedding planners it can go a long way to keep you busy.