There are a lot of qualities that help make certain musicians successful while others fail to achieve success. Different artists also have different ideas of what successful means to them. Regardless of what you consider successful, there are some things that are universal if you want to take your passion into the professional arena.
Thou Shalt Fine Tune Your Graven Image
It has been said over and over again that your image is as important, if not more important, as your music itself. Your music is the main product, but your image and all its various components are part of the packaging. Think back to when you were a child. The toys with the most interesting packaging were the first to catch your attention. Pay attention to your image and how it reflects on your music.
Thou Shalt Love Your Fans And Their Support
You can’t have a music career if no one is willing to pay you for what you do. Whether it is teaching lessons, writing songs, or playing covers, your fans are your lifeblood. It is their support that will take you where you want to go. Always treat your fans with the respect they deserve.
Thou Shalt Spread Your Presence Online
Gone are the days when playing a local club was the only exposure some fans had to you. Now your fans can follow you on your website, blog, social profiles, video uploads, etc…. There’s no end to how many ways you can interact with your fans online. So pick what works best for you and maximize its potential.
Thou Shalt Make Your Live Show Unforgettable
With the decline in music sales over the recent years, many artists have shifted their focus towards touring more. The same goes for the unsigned 200-mile radius bands as well. Even if people don’t buy your merch, they will pay for your live shows if they see the shows as worth it. Make your shows the best you can and you will give fans, both new and old, a reason to come see you.
Thou Shalt Aim For The Highest Quality Product Always
Don’t settle for “good enough.” Always strive for the best you can achieve. Lady Gaga doesn’t settle for simple live shows and decent production quality on her albums. She takes it to the highest quality level she can, and it shows. The words “good enough” shouldn’t be in your vocabulary if you want to make a career out of music.
Thou Shalt Give And Share
People love free stuff. So even though you may be concerned with the money, finding things you can offer to fans for free will help. You don’t even have to give them anything tangible. Just share something special with them. Maybe it’s a special photo you take with them and post online for them. It could be you tweeting a congratulations message or birthday wish to a loyal fan. Don’t just take your fans’ money. Give them something back worth more than money.
Do Unto Others As You Would Have Do Unto You
If you want the help of others, be willing to offer your help to others. Nobody likes someone who always asks for favors but never returns any favors. If you want help from another artist or band, be willing to offer your help first. Maybe you can’t help them in regards to getting a gig, but you could help them by promoting one of their gigs. You could help them with loading out their equipment at the end of the night even. Be willing to support other acts and watch their support come to you.
Thou Shouldst Know Thy Legal Rights
It’s sad sometimes that you would have to worry about being cheated, but it happens all the time. There are many tales of artists who were ripped off for large sums of money by managers, lawyers, and even the record labels. Knowing your legal rights and protecting yourself legally are an absolute requirement if you wish to make music your profession.
Thou Shalt Work For What You Want
While we do love free stuff, the best things in a musical life aren’t free! Don’t expect handouts. If you really want to achieve success, then you must be prepared to work for it. Remember, you must decide what you consider to be success. Then you just have to find and follow the path to that success.
Thou Shalt Do This For The Right Reasons
No matter what else you do, you must do this for the right reasons. If you are doing this simply to make money and that is your only concern, then it will show. If you do this for the joy of music and the personal fulfillment of doing what you love for a living, then it will also show. The best artists are the ones that you know are doing it because they love doing it.