Question: How should I start a career in music? I have a relative who says I should go see a talent agent to guide me.

Tom Hess's Answer: A career in music can mean many things, and depending on your specific goal, I may recommend different things. However, the first and most fundamental thing everyone must do to “start” a music career is to prepare yourself mentally for the music industry. Read this article about how to become a professional musician to learn what I’m talking about.

What you need instead of a talent agent is a real mentor who will show you how YOU can build a real, sustainable long term music career in the music industry without depending on anyone. You need to learn from someone who has done the things in music that you want to do and can train you to do them.

Another thing is that it is often dangerous to accept advice about the music business from people who have never been professional musicians. Very often, our friends and family, with our best intentions at heart give misinformed advice about the music industry that is based on fears and misconceptions rather than experience. So be careful about accepting advice from someone who isn’t qualified to give it. It will be similar to asking a friend who is a plumber about a health problem (as an example). Your friend may have the desire to help you, but would not know how to do it, since his experience does not extend into curing people of health problems.

Check out my Music Career Mentoring Program for real mentoring on how to start a career in music.

Learn the most effective, full-proof way to make it in the music business.