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5 Things To AVOID For Aspiring Musicians

May 30, 2023

5 Things To AVOID For Aspiring Musicians

Are you an aspiring musician, ready to jump start your career and get some serious recognition? 

Before you set your career in full force, take a moment to consider the five things listed below that could hold you back from reaching success. 

From external pressures such as unrealistic time frames, to internal setbacks like failing to practice intention and mindfulness, it’s important for young artists to know what is within their power—and what they should avoid at all costs! 

Read on for our comprehensive guide detailing how avoiding these common pitfalls can help lead your music career down a successful path.

What Percentage of Aspiring Musicians Make It?

Aspiring musicians have a difficult journey if they wish to make it in the music industry:

  • Although exact statistics on what percentage of them actually become successful vary, many resources suggest that the numbers may be far lower than we think. 
  • To increase the chances of making it big, up-and-coming musicians need to invest in their craft and learning new skills, such as building relationships with industry contacts and networking with producers, who can help take their career to the next level. 
  • Additionally, mastering a unique sound and learning how to market themselves effectively are essential ingredients for gaining recognition. 

There is no one formula for success when it comes to breaking into the music industry but aspiring musicians should keep honing their skills and never give up on their dreams.

Want to make sure the odds are in your favor as an aspiring musician? Sign up for music lessons! You’ll learn everything you need to know to become one of the many aspiring young musicians who makes it – plus helpful tips like what you see in the video below:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huqdwhVX9TI

5 Things to Avoid for Aspiring Musicians

If you’re an aspiring musician, you’ve most likely researched all of the great advice to reaching your goals – build a strong network, and of course, practice! – but what are some things you should avoid?  While those are great “Do’s”, we found some great “Don’ts” on Audio-Sounds.com and thought it was important enough to pass along.  Check out just a few things to avoid here:

1. Stress

Yes, stress! Stress causes fatigue and fatigue is a no-no for a musician because it can affect your voice.  It can block your mind and hinder you from being creative.  Lastly, you can’t function very well under stress, and this means you can’t produce or process things normally.

2. Procrastinating

This is very important – a musician is all about inspiration, and procrastinating is not a very good habit to have when you suddenly get inspired.  When that creativity hits, get to work!

3. Not setting goals

Goals are what motivate people and drive them to wherever or whatever they want to achieve. By not setting goals you are asking for a career suicide.

4. Not doing anything to become known

If you are an indie or underground musician, you should start working on getting your name out there – every famous musician was unknown at one point!  Applying for gigs is one good way of promoting yourself.

5. Giving up

No matter how many trials and errors or how many unsuccessful song you have made, if you are a true musician, you will never give up.  Instead, you will strive to create a name for yourself and a genre of your own.

5 Things Aspiring Musicians Should Do Instead

So, you want to be a musician? The life of a musician looks glamorous from the outside—long nights on stage, singing in packed venues with adoring fans, sold-out tours, and albums. 

But what does it take to get there? There’s more to making it as a musician than writing good songs and having a great voice—here are the five things aspiring musicians need to do if they want to make it big. 

1. Get Organized 

Making your way in the music industry can feel like navigating a minefield of red tape and bureaucracy. You need to keep track of songwriting royalties, licensing agreements, contracts, gigs, and more. It’s important that you stay organized so you don’t miss any important deadlines or opportunities. Invest in a planner or calendar so you can keep track of all your gigs, appointments, and tasks.  

2. Network 

Networking is an integral part of being successful as an artist, no matter what genre you specialize in. Reach out to other artists who are at the same level as you or even one step ahead—they may be able to offer valuable advice for getting your career off the ground or even point you toward new opportunities and collaborations. Ask around—it never hurts! 

3. Develop Your Brand 

Your brand is much more than just your logo or website design; it’s how audiences perceive your music and identity as an artist. Think about what kind of message you want your music to send and use this message consistently across all platforms, such as social media, streaming services, digital downloads, etc. Your brand should be recognizable so that people can quickly identify who you are when they hear your music. 

4. Stay True To Yourself 

It’s easy to get caught up in trends while trying to make it big as an artist but remember that at the end of the day, what matters most is staying true to yourself and creating something unique that reflects who you are as an artist—not just chasing after popular genres or replicating what other successful artists have done before you. This authenticity will set you apart from the crowd and help build a loyal fan base over time!    

5. Have Fun! 

Finally…don’t forget why we do this – for fun! Don’t take yourself too seriously – sure, success has its rewards, but if playing music isn’t enjoyable, then maybe this isn’t for you! Take every opportunity with stride – even if things don’t work out exactly how planned- learn from every experience! Most importantly, remember why we play our music – because we love it! 

The Best Advice for Aspiring Musicians: Always Keep Learning!

If you’re an aspiring musician, there are certain things you should avoid if you want to be successful. 

From social media stardom to choosing the right collaborators, make sure you’re making the best choices for your career. With hard work and a bit of luck, you can achieve your musical dreams.

And most importantly, never stop learning. Sign up for music lessons so you can continue to hone your craft – even if you think you know everything there is to know already!

Readers, what do you think?  What other things are YOU avoiding along your musical path?

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You might also like…
More Than Just Music:  7 Secrets of Successful Musicians
How to REALLY Maximize Your Practice Time
Avoid the Musical Plateau and “Trick” Yourself Into Practicing Longer

 

Image Courtesy of http://meetcolettesummers.com/1-key-to-success-in-home-based-business/

author

Suzy S.