How to be a smart professional musician

Our mulit-talented New York teacher Jamison submitted an entry about how to be a "smart" professional musician and teacher. Here is his post:

I appreciate and value all of my students, but lately, some their parents have been a challenge. Interruptions, billing issues, and I am tempted to remind them that if I can schedule lessons for 30 kids, they should be able to schedule after-school activities for two or three. While this situation and the frustration associated with are specific to private lessons, and petty at that, there are a few lessons to take away from my struggles that apply to all musicians of all varieties.

More often than not, the career of a musician, or at least a successful yet one, is multi-faceted. Even if you are purely a performer or composer, scheduling and managing your time effectively is essential to success. I would employ some kind of system, or if you’re doing well enough, secretary/manager/assistant to manage business related issues. I know that I constantly struggle to keep track of my income, as it changes on a weekly basis.

Lastly, it is important to carry yourself professionally in every situation. You don’t have to be uptight (that’s not our way ☺), but timeliness, organization, and looking at least decent are good places to start.  Also, it’s been important for me to remind myself that different gigs, performing, teaching, and otherwise, will expect different standards of you. Some may even cling to negative musician stereotypes. In these cases, your own professionalism can dispel these misconceptions, further your career, and build reputation simultaneously. Some funny examples I’ve gathered from clients who’ve had bad experiences with teachers and performers, mostly of the rock and roll variety: