southwestfolk

I often get asked, how can one get on in the music business? Well as most of you know it ain't easy, but over the years it got me thinking and I guess if you have or can handle the following reality check then you might stand a chance:
COMMON SENSE – Do you have common sense? Of course you do, but think about it. Look back at the stupid things you may have done in the past and did you learn? Look at the stupid things other people have done and still do and then learn from them!
ENTHUSIASM / DETERMINATION – Do you have it? By this I mean a real burning desire to succeed. If you do not have it forget it! It is as brutal as that.
TALENT - talent will out at the end of the day, if you ain’t got it at the very least you will find it extremely difficult to survive.
MONEY – Do you want to make it? Silly question? Be aware that everyone else in the business also wants to make money; usually out of you regardless of how successful you are and if after your first hit record you never have another one the music business could care less so without talent and enthusiasm you will join the other one hit wonders.
LUCK – Do you feel lucky? Well do ya? You do have to be at the right place at the right time and as with most businesses it’s not what you know but who you know. However, to a certain degree luck is something you can develop with the right intelligence and information gathering techniques. But there is always the unpredictable piece of luck, good or bad, which can come your way at any time.
REJECTION – Can you stand rejection? Be prepared for this, 90% of those who wish to appear on the X Factor aren’t. You need to have thick skin, because unless you have stood at the crossroad at midnight and made some sort of pact with the devil your song writing efforts will be rejected time and time again. This is where enthusiasm is so important, because you have to keep on chipping away at the people you wish to impress until eventually they say YES.
DISAPPOINTMENT – Do you have the ability to bounce back from Disappointment? Constant disappointment is what really grinds you into the ground, it eats away at you and breaks your self confidence until you reach a point where you want to give up. DON’T! I always take the view that it is their loss.
SUPPORT – Do you have the support of your family and or partner? If you don’t this may have a profound effect on you and those around you. You cannot choose your family so live with that. But you do choose your partner and it is important that he or she fully supports what you want to do. If they don’t and you still want to become a musician then there is going to be some heartbreak along the way – I’ve been there, done that and have the T-shirt!
TENACITY – can you stick with the game? After all the rejection, disappointment and let down can you still keep chipping away? I don’t expect you to say yes at this stage, but may be two or three years down the road you might have a clear view.
So there you have it, the list above is not exhaustive, but those are the main drivers or barriers to making a career out of music.

Thanks for that Brian. Sage words which should be read carefully by all. Personally, I believe that to be successful all that is required is to be happy. And if you are happy making music at the open-mics, with your friends, at the local festivals and gigs then you are by definition - sucessful. In truth, you are probably more successful than the people who are on the radio or TV day in day out. And that kind of success is the most valuable.

Why celebrate U2 or George Michael? Do we celebrate McDonalds or Wilkinsons hardware or Boots? There's always better shopping away from the High St.

R