Here’s What You Need To Make It In The Music Business
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Many people dream of the day they make it in the music business.
Whether it is getting a record deal...
... going on tour...
... working as a session player...
... or becoming a professional musician in other ways...
... fact is, most of what you need to start (or grow) a career in music fall into one of six categories.
These six simple things that help you make it in the music business can be learned (or developed).
Most importantly...
... they are entirely in your control as you work to grow a career in music and become a professional musician.
EMAIL TO GET ACCESS
By submitting your info, you agree to send it to Tom Hess Music Corporation who will process and use it according to their privacy policy.
It still takes work. But these keys are simple. And you CAN do them all.
Plus, guess what:
... "luck" is not one of these keys to making it in music.
Here is some of the best music career advice I *wish* someone had told me when I was trying to become a professional musician:
Tip #1 For Making It In Music: Become The Right Person
The person you are has much to do with your odds of making it in music. The best news is you can choose – at this very moment - to become the person you need to be to make it in the music business and build a career in music.
Successful people think, believe, and act differently than everybody else. Long-term success is not an accident, chance, or luck. Principles of success are universal. Learn them, adopt them, and embrace them.
Doing so will improve your life, whether you want to make it in the music business or choose any other career path.
Tip #2 For Making It In Music: Increase Your Value
In order to make it in the music business and have a career in music, you need to create value and become valuable. What does this music career advice mean?
It means adding value to those you seek professional relationships with within the music business. For example, most bands on tour do a very poor job of selling their band’s merchandise to their own fans, who are already there with money to spend.
I have identified 21 reasons why music fans at concerts don’t buy more band merchandise.
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And once I discovered these reasons, I quickly created solutions to solve every one of them. This is a perfect example of increasing value to any band in the world – and it’s quite easy to do.
Here is some more practical music career advice on how to increase your value:
Buy a ticket to any concert to discover some of these reasons (and the solutions).
Arrive as early as you can, stay as late as you can, and watch what happens as soon as the doors open. Then watch what happens during most of the show (stand by the merchandise booth and observe and take notes), then when the show is over, observe what the fans do as they pass right by the merchandise booth and buy nothing. Then ask why these things happen.
Once you do that, your mind should easily create many simple ways the band could have sold a lot more merchandise.
Make a list. That list is pure gold and can immediately open doors to you that would otherwise be closed because you created value out of thin air.
In simple terms: this will help you to make it in the music business. This has worked for me and other musicians like you who I mentor and coach.
To see one of my favorite examples of “becoming the right person” (in a field that has nothing to do with making it in music), pick up a copy of:
Arnold Schwarzenegger’s bio “Total Recall”.
Then flip to the chapters about Arnie’s bodybuilding-era mentor Joe Wieder.
And feast your eyes on: a damn-near perfect caricature of how you become a professional musician!
It goes like this:
Wieder (multi-millionaire business mogul & founder of all the top bodybuilding contests) famously called bodybuilders who trained in his gyms: “Lazy Bastards”.
Most of them just wanted to lift weights and for Wieder to sponsor them with money and free supplements.
And when he’d say no, they’d call him a “cheap SOB” behind his back.
Except Arnold.
Because the young Governator-to-be wanted to work with Wieder.
So, instead of handouts, he asked Joe for work to do.
And since at the time, Arnie had no business knowledge and barely spoke English…
…he was happy just to be around this self-made man & work for him for next to nothing.
In exchange, he learned new skills, earned Wieder’s respect and eventually became his business partner.
All while training 5 hours per day to become the youngest Mr. Olympia (highest title in bodybuilding) in history.
Eventually, Wieder mentored Arnold on launching his first mail order business and even helped him land his first-ever movie role.
Here is what it all means for anyone looking for a music career:
Show me anyone who, like Arnie in his come-up days:
- Is open-minded, humble & coachable
- Has a never-quit work ethic and single-minded focus
- Doesn't get distracted by shiny objects like a cat chasing a laser pointer
- Is willing to make short-term sacrifices for long-term success
- Isn’t poisoned with entitlement mentality (i.e. isn’t a “Lazy Bastard”)
…and I’ll show you the closest thing to someone destined to make it in the music business.
More:
For someone with the right head on their shoulders, opportunities to make it BIG in music are literally everywhere.
Because the “Joe Wieders” of the music industry (record company executives with connections, power and money to help your music career) are always looking for musicians with a mindset of a young Arnie.
Someone who isn’t afraid to get his hands dirty, work his way up the food chain and earn his success every step of the way.
Alas, every day they are pitched by hundreds of your typical “Lazy Bastard” wannabes who just want to write songs and play gigs… hoping for someone to pour money into their career, just because.
Whatever you do, DON’T be one of them if you seriously want to become a professional musician and make it in the music business.
Tip #3 For Making It In Music: Reduce & Eliminate Risk
To make it in the music business, you need others (record companies, managers, promoters, booking agents, and bandmates) to invest in you.
So, here is some no-brainer music career advice on how to make that happen:
You want to become the least risky investment possible for them.
There are hundreds of potential risk factors that musicians bring to the table (that kill their chances to make it in the music business and have a career in music). For example, if you consume large amounts of alcohol, that’s a risk factor.
If you do drugs, that’s another risk. If you have a big mouth, there’s another one thing that can get in the way of your ability to make it in the music business. If you’re financially unstable, that’s another. If you’re emotionally unstable, this is a risk also.
To break into the music industry and grow your music career, you have the best chance of success when you are the lowest-risk option for others to invest in.
Tip #4 For Making It In Music: Strengthen Your Mindset
As you pursue your career in music and try to make it in the music business, there will be challenges at every step along the way. Each will test your mindset.
Although your mindset is the one thing you have the most control over, it is also the one that most fail to control. Instead, fear, doubt, frustration, negative thoughts, and attitudes creep in.
This is one big reason why many fail to make it in the music business. Some (unsuccessful people) dismiss the idea that one’s mindset plays a crucial role in becoming a successful musician; it’s critical to your success.
Mindset training is one of the first things I mentor musicians to master as I mentor them to make it in the music business.
Tip #5 For Making It In Music: Build Your Time, Money, And Freedom Triangle
To pursue opportunities in the music industry, you’ll need some additional time, money, and freedom to do so; you will need all three. Without them, you will encounter two problems in your quest to make it in the music business and build a career in music:
A. You will be offered little or no opportunities to make it in the music business.
B. You will most likely be unable to say “yes” to opportunities when they do occur.
One of the very best ways to gain the time, money, and freedom you will need is to start your own music-teaching business out of your house. That’s what I did; it’s also what many of the most successful musicians I’ve mentored have done and it gave them the time, money and freedom to become professional musicians, get record deals and go out on tour for weeks at a time.
Tip #6 For Making It In Music: Refine Your Musical Skills
Although music skills are on the list, there is a good reason they are listed last; they’re not as big of a factor for your potential to make it in the music business as the other five categories are. If you have any doubts about that, turn on the radio!
For most musicians, the most crucial musical skill is being able to play tight. Rhythm and impeccable timing are essential. Even a mediocre band can sound like pros when their rhythm is tight and clean.
Want even more (free) music career advice that can help you make it in the music business? Download this free eGuide on How To (Easily) Stand Out From All The Other Musicians.
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