Play It Out pt. II

Lay It Out So You Can Play It Out
pt. 2 Obstacles

The primary obstacles to starting a music career are mental. Most aspiring musicians can’t imagine putting in the amount of time and effort necessary to “make it”. The biggest problem with that way of thinking comes with the definition of “making it”. Many people assume “making it” means playing sold-out shows in large amphitheaters or stadiums, money and widespread fame.

By that definition, most of the musicians we know and love have not “made it”. Of course that depends on the style of music you prefer; Top-40 listeners will certainly enjoy some artists who play stadiums and end up making money off of touring and merchandise, but most artists do not enjoy revenue from their record label (it’s better to run your own) and during these economic times, touring and selling records becomes tough. “Making it” then becomes providing for your self and family and expecting a steady income, even if it is not an enormous sum.

If the aspiring artist is willing to adjust his conception of what “making it” means, and is willing to treat his career as a nine-to-five like any other job, great results can come about.

Once our aspiring artist’s attitude is adjusted toward realistic success, he is then ready to tackle the very real problems associated with the transfer from his current career path, to a musically oriented lifestyle.

If our musician is a student, she can quickly enter the “real-world” of gigging regularly and selling recordings and merchandise after finishing her studies. If she is currently employed, she may have to spend some time gigging and working intermittently, in order to save enough to make the full-time switch to music.

After that switch however, a musician’s success will be directly proportional to how hard they work at what they do. They must eat, sleep and breathe music everyday: write, promote, book, market, advertise, rehearse and polish, not to mention playing the gigs themselves.

For those who choose this path there is great reward. The first step is the hardest. There are many decent resources regarding different aspects of the music business and how to promote and protect yourself. Everyone should copyright their material and most recording artists should consider joining a PRO (Performance Rights Organization) who will make sure you receive your royalties if your music is played live or on the radio.

Get out there and lay it out, so you can play it out!