Before Lady Gaga was making headlines with her off-beat music videos and selling millions of albums, she was just Stefani Germanotta, performing in school musicals and open mic nights around New York City. The whirlwind of success she attained between then and now has made her one of the most well-known artists of this decade. She has continued to stay a media favorite, with her head-turning wardrobe, die-hard fan following, and numerous award nominations. Wondering the secret to her success?
Musicians who have catapulted themselves into stardom often have many personality traits in common – from strong networking skills to get them in the door to a commitment to working hard at their art.
Here, Suzanne Glass at indie-music.com describes the essential personality traits for today’s successful musician – and we couldn’t agree more!
1. Patient – From the studio to traveling to rehearsing to making business calls, being a musician requires attention to detail. It takes a lot of practice to get it down perfectly. Being patient and relaxed about the inevitable delays is necessary.
2. Thick-Skinned – From the time you first perform in public, some people are going to judge your music harshly. This might come from a label rep or a departing band member or a publisher, but you can’t let it get you down. Keep believing in yourself, and move on to the next thing.
3. Persistent – You have to have drive to succeed in the music business, and that has to carry you through times when things aren’t going very well. If you can’t get up and try again, you’ll be out of the game early.
4. Optimistic – Remember that you got into music first and foremost because it was inspiring and FUN. Look on the bright side of things, take criticism constructively, and enjoy the process of “getting there”.
5. Extroverted – If you naturally love going out and meeting new people, that will be a tremendous asset in this networking-heavy business.
6. Self-directed – You need to know what your dreams and goals are, and you need to keep yourself focused on them. You have to have internal drive, and you have to depend on you own instincts.
(View the full article here.)
If you’ve honed these skills already, you’re already one step ahead. Stay committed to your music lessons, continue to follow your passions and you’ll reach your goals in no time. Sometimes, all it takes is perseverance! (Need a music teacher? Search for one near you here.)
Suzy S.