Music Is an Art
Music Is an Art -- To Make Money at It Is a Business
FOCUS - International Musician, May 2003
by Bob Popyk
Probably not a week goes by when someone doesn't remind me about how great things were "in the old days." Bands were constantly working, clubs of all sizes were booking musicians, and gigs were available for any musician who could play well. Nobody played for free, live music was every where, and there weren't enough musicians to go around. Well, I don't want to burst anyone's bubble, but really there was never a time when the phone just rang off the hook constantly with people looking for a single, combo, or band of any size. It didn't happen. And it's not going to happen now.
If you want to work as a professional musician, you need to treat it like a business. That means networking, promo kits, demo CDs, your own PR program, business cards, brochures, voice mail (or a decent answering machine), e-mail, a Web site, and a business plan.
You also need a good attitude. A business attitude. You can't blame things you can't control for not getting yourself booked. By human nature, when things start going wrong, we like to come up with excuses. Excuses like: "The economy is bad," "Clubs want musicians to work for the door," "Mobile DJs are putting musicians out of work," "We're in a recession," or "Nobody wants to hire live musicians anymore."
On top of that, we blame the stock market, the President, the town where we live, the competition, or the customers themselves. However, all things taken into consideration, it is easier to just look in the mirror and see who is actually responsible for getting work, or the lack thereof.
It's you. You are the prophet of your own destiny. To make it in the music business today, you need to let people know who you are as a musician. You need to hone your craft, and you need to tweak your business skills as well. That means marketing, selling, publicizing, networking, and promoting as well as performing.
Any roadblocks you meet getting work as a musician can be overcome. It won't be easy, it will take some work, and that overnight success you're trying to achieve may take just a little longer than overnight. But if you really want to make it as a musician, and if gigs are really important to you, why don't you just bite the bullet and start putting in the time, money, and effort you need to be a success? Start today--now.
A journey of a hundred miles begins with the first step. Your personal success as a professional musician is directly related to your belief in yourself and your music. Your success is in your own hands. Henry Ford said, "Whether you think you can, or think you can't, you're absolutely right."
So, what's your answer? Do you want to go out and give it your best shot, or do you want to just sit back in your chair, hoping things will get better, and maybe the phone will ring? It's your choice. There are plenty of gigs out there. You need to be creative. And you need to go after them.
Bob Popyk is a member of Local 78 (Syracuse, NY) and Local 47 (Los Angeles). He is also a nationally known columnist and speaker on sales and marketing strategies.
