What I have learnt about being a musician (so far).
Being a professional musician is the greatest privilege in the world. To wake up every day and get to play music is thrilling, wonderful and fulfilling.
Being a professional musician is also tough. Regardless of how successful you are, you face repeated rejection, the fleeting opinions of others can determine a great deal, and you lack any external structure and job security.
I’m Bertie, an independent artist and songwriter who, at the end of last year, was lucky enough to win the Headliner and Yamaha Music London Music Ambassador competition. I have been a full time musician for almost two years now, and have worked as a musician for over ten.
I wanted to share with you what I have learnt from my journey so far about building sustainable success:
1. Don’t forget why you are doing it.
Never forget your love for the music itself! I know this sounds simple, but it can be hard at points. The music can get lost in the admin and marketing and repetition. It’s the real reason why we all do this and we need to be careful not to lose sight of that.
2. Be kind.
First off, to yourself! What you are doing is amazing and hard. Well done. We are often our own harshest critics. We say stuff to ourselves that we would never even dream of saying to another person. The things we tell ourselves really have an impact. So be kind to yourself and celebrate your wins.
And, to others! To other musicians and to the people who take the time to listen to your music. Again, obvious, but we can forget to do this too. Being a musician really is not a competition. We are all learning and growing. By working with other musicians you are able to raise each other up and learn more, faster. It also just makes it much more fun. Which brings me on to my next point…
3. HAVE FUN
This is one of the main reasons to do music, it is just so fun. As musicians we are entertainers, the people we play for can sense authenticity and enjoyment in the performance. When writing and creating a state of play is absolutely crucial. Messing around and making mistakes makes great music. So enjoy yourself! You are making nice sounds on a rock in the middle of space, you might as well be smiling whilst you do it.
4. Personally Sensitive and Professionally Tough
This is a hard one. It might seem strange that I grouped them. I would say this is what I have struggled with the most. Lots of musicians (myself very much included) are very sensitive people. It’s what enables us to connect, to feel and create and to make beautiful music. It is, therefore, essential that we retain this quality, this authenticity, in our quest to continue making beautiful music.
However, YOU NEED TO STAND UP FOR YOURSELF. Basically, if you don’t, no one will. You are not rude if you set clear boundaries, expectations and standards. In fact, once you set these with the people you work with, you will find that the outcomes are so much better. Whether its promoters, producers, band mates, managers, labels or publishers, when you are clear and firm on key issues you will see a blossoming of success.
If you feel underpaid, overworked, disrespected, uncomfortable, tired, unsafe, exploited, stand up for yourself. Say something. This is not easy, AT ALL. But in my experience, when I have been tough for myself, I have come out so much better.
So yes, keep that sensitivity, never lose it. But stand up for yourself.
5. Keep Going 🙂
Honestly, you’ve got this. There are always going to be days where its raining outside, you just got 2 rejections in your inbox, a gig opportunity fell through and you don’t feel able to write anything!
Like any career, music takes time and hard work. So often, people don’t fail, they just give up. So, if you’re on your musical journey, keep going. You never know what tomorrow could bring!
