If you love music and couldn’t imagine your life revolving around anything else, it sounds as if you should make a career out of it. This doesn’t necessarily mean becoming a performing artist; there are lots of different paths you can take where music is the main focus. You could be a club promoter, songwriter, producer, or something else altogether. Interested? Use this information to help…
You Really Have to Love It
Bear in mind that if you’re going to make music the main focus of your career, you really have to love it. Like, really. If you don’t, you won’t experience very much success. You need to have a ridiculous amount of passion to succeed in this kind of industry. Lots of people wonder whether turning a passion such as this into a career is a good idea, but if it’s the right thing for you to do there won’t be a question in your mind.
Start a Blog
If you have half decent writing skills, you could experience lots of benefits from starting a music blog. Writing about something you’re passionate about is fun, and you’ll probably get opportunities offered to you left right and centre. People might want to advertise on your blog, or guest post for you. You can charge for this, as well as join affiliate programs. There are too many avenues to name here, but you could make a decent living from it if you plug away at it!
Learn an Instrument
If you don’t already play an instrument, consider learning one to help further your career. Being able to sing is all well and good, but playing an instrument could help you in many different ways.
Have Singing Lessons
Again, not everybody in the music industry needs to be able to sing. I’ve never heard Simon Cowell sing, have you? He probably sounds like a deaf cat! Anyway, singing lessons could help you. You don’t need to be the next Mariah to make it big. Providing you have personality and the ability to entertain, you could go far!
Practice Using Software and Apps
There are hundreds of different kinds of software and apps about today for musicians and people in the industry to use. The days where you needed a huge studio to create music are gone. Now all you need is the internet and a PC or tablet! Practice using this kind of software and get as much experience with it as you can.
Speak to Other Musicians
If you can, speak to other musicians and you could get some valuable tips and advice on how to make it in the industry. Speak to musicians involved in all genres. Find forums, join in webinars and Twitter conversations, just get involved in any way you can.
Do a Course
Not everybody needs a degree or qualification to get involved in the music industry. I don’t think One Direction have any qualifications between them! Regardless, if you want to go into higher education, you should be able to find the perfect degree for people who love music. You can then use what you’ve learned to get a job and work your way up from there. You may not get the high paying job of your dreams to start with, but you can definitely start from the bottom and work your way up!
Write Songs
Try writing songs and see if that’s your forte. Read tips online. Remember, your songs don’t need to be related to you, or even to make sense. Just write what pops into your head! What sort of music would you like to hear on the radio? This is where it helps if you can sing or play an instrument. Who knows, you may end up writing masterpieces and selling them to big celebrities?!
Help Other People to Make Music
Instead of trying to make music yourself, why not help other people to make music? Use your knowledge of singing, playing, writing, and the industry to teach other people what they should be doing. Teaching somebody to do something, rather than doing the actual thing itself is usually more profitable no matter what it is. Consider becoming a music tutor, teacher, or blogger writing about what you know.
Develop a Business Plan
If you know exactly which direction you’d like to take your music career in, develop a business plan so you know where to go. Outline your steps, where you’d like to end up, backup plans, how you’ll get funding, and anything else relevant. A business plan will help you to get funding if you need it, and it’s also something you can look back at and take inspiration from when you’re feeling lost.
Will You Still Love Music Once It’s Part of Your Job?
Ask yourself this question and answer it honestly. As briefly mentioned before, love can quickly turn into hate when making it work could mean the difference between living on the street and a roof over your head.
Network, Network, Network
Networking is a key factor in making your music career work. Network with everybody you can. Set up meetings, attend seminars, and anywhere else you’ll find people in the same industry. You might find friends for life, or people who you’ll work with later on down the line. A contact may even introduce you to one of their contacts, and this could lead to huge opportunities. This is an industry where who you know counts!
Go For It
If this is what you want, then just go for it. Don’t be afraid to have no money for a little while. Don’t be afraid to work your way up either; everybody has to start somewhere, and you can’t expect international success right away.
If you are determined enough and refuse to give up, you could forge yourself a lucrative career in this industry. It won’t be easy, but it’ll be so worth it. We wish you all the luck in the world!
Thanks for reading!