Free Your Mind, The Rest Will Follow

Ask many musicians why they want to pursue music as a career and I'm sure you will get several different answers. Maybe they learned how to play the piano as a kid and instantly knew that this is what they wanted to do for the rest of their lives. Perhaps they were unfulfilled in their present career, wanted to make money doing something that they loved and thought that music would help them to find the joy that they are not finding in the office. Whatever the reason, you will almost always find the same theme: artists and musicians want to earn a living from the music that they create.

With that being said, the one thing that many musicians don't always take into account is that a desire to be in the music business is hard work. Talent is a factor, but it is not the only factor. When you chose this "line of work," or even when "it chooses you," you are going to have to be willing to accept that it is going to take effort. It is going to take time. It is going to take commitment. Most of all, you have to have the right mindset. This is no longer a hobby--this is your job. Just being a good singer or a great pianist is not enough. 

Now when you first hear someone tell you that, your first reaction may be fear. This is normal. You are not alone. In fact, many creative people deal with fear every time they go on stage or step into a recording booth. You know that you have the talent, but what will people think of your work? How will audiences receive your songs or react to our performances? What if the producer isn't feeling my voice? What if ___? 

Becoming a professional artist, musician, songwriter, producer, etc. is not about the absence of fear. It is about having the right mindset about that fear. It is about having the right mindset about life in general. As creative people, we have found that "One Thing" that truly makes us happy. We have found an outlet for our emotions that has the ability to connect with other people on an emotional level. It also means that you have decided to take that connection and turn it into a source of income. 

Success in this business comes from the talent that you sharpen, the traits that you develop and the mindset that you have. There is no success without a combination of the three.

Now don't be afraid. That is what this blog and the links you see there highlighted in blue are here for. Without freeing your mind of negative thoughts, opening yourself up to new possibilities and getting the help you need to succeed, how can you expect to succeed? Stay tuned, my fellow artists, we are going to do our best to equip you with the tools you need to put you on the path to success, one thought at a time.

How do YOU define success?

When planning your career, your day or even your dinner, you have to begin with a purpose. The importance of this planning is especially important in today's music industry. Nowadays, there are many outlets that an independent musician can use to further their career. If your music meets the criteria, and you pay the fees, your music can be sold on iTunes. We already know that most record labels are using tools like YouTube or Soundcloud to both promote their artists and recruit the "next big thing."

To stand out from the crowd, sometimes you have to understand how the new music business works. Sure, we want "hot", but we are learning that an "experience" is what really sells records. Fans want a solid connection, either real or implied, with today's artist.

With this in mind, I'll keep today's point brief. Success comes when success is practiced. Practice success everyday. Whether you are looking to remain independent, or looking for a record deal, labels and fans alike are looking to know who knows you. They want to know who is following you or listening to you, or coming out to hear you live. Carry yourself as if your have one million fans, and you will attract that type of attention. Build your following to attract attention.

Now, begin your journey by asking yourself: How do I define success? Not how others do or believe it to be, but how YOU define it. Whether you subscribe to this blog, or read an RSS feed or two, stay current by reading about your industry daily.

In the coming weeks, we will explore these resources together. Starting with this article on self-promotion from Clyde Smith's June 2013 article on Hypebot.com, gather knowledge from several different sources and formulate a "YOU" plan.