The 6 Step Musician’s Survival Guide to Traverse the New Music Biz Terrain

If you joined my friend Ariel Hyatt and me last night, you know it was a RIVETING and radically evolutionary call. If you didn’t join us, I still want to share some of the sweat, blood + wisdom you missed out on — I’m just feeling extra generous today. 😉 Oh and – if you want to listen in on the call click here.

Setbacks, roadblocks and major disappointment will always pepper the journey of being a musician. You may have first-world problems – you just got kicked off the tour or your album hasn’t recouped its cost yet, and the label is ready to drop you – or you may have REAL, in-your-face problems like: you’re crashing on your friends couch, eating Ramen noodles for breakfast, lunch + dinner or maybe you’re living in a tent two steps from being homeless? The ENORMOUS sacrifices that artists make just to to do their music are epic. Chances are, your problems lie somewhere in the middle of that broad spectrum – but the point remains the same: this biz will eat you alive if you don’t know how to catch those curveballs the biz throws your way.

That’s why I’ve come up with this handy: The 6 Step Musician’s Survival Guide to Traversing the New Music Biz Terrain: Avoid the Pitfalls, Pack for High Altitude + Scale the Cliffs

1. Expect Setbacks. Don’t let them define you. Attempting to make a living from your music is not only risky, it’s tougher than starting a small business. Why? Because the minute you open your doors, you do not have dollars coming in, it’s pennies – if even. You are going to have to get used to setbacks, frustrations and disappointments – but if you expect them you won’t be so leveled when they occur. The trick is to think of them as challenges or opportunities to be creative and be a solution seeker.
2. Failures Are Stepping Stones. You aren’t moving forward if you aren’t failing here and there. Like #1 above, if you look at failures like stepping stones, you can use them to empower you instead of paralyzing you. When I was an artist pursuing my career, I would freeze sometimes for years when big failures happened. But, had I known they are stepping stones, I could have recovered quicker and not have lost so much time.
3. Risk Brings Reward. Nothing great comes from playing safe. You’re going to have to take some risks, and the bigger the risks, the bigger the rewards. That doesn’t mean to quit your day job without a plan, or set out on tour without booking your shows 😉 — it means to arm yourself with courage, pack for high altitude and then go after your dream. But don’t be unprepared – get ready to traverse the rocky cliffs – it ain’t gonna be easy (but it could blow your mind ;))
4. Aim Your Arrow for the Sky + Dig the Trenches. You always have to aim big but also dig your path. If you don’t aim high enough you won’t have the energy you need to meet your goal but if you only aim and don’t dig, you won’t carve your way with enough exactitude to get there. So learn to not be disappointed when you don’t reach your goal post – the goal is what motivates the journey. If you don’t give up you just might get there after all.
5. Go Mobile. Did you know that most touring musicians use their other creative skills to supplement their income on the road? It’s true! Web design, graphics, copywriting, and other virtual jobs make the road a little friendlier and easier. What can you do to support your music on the road and go mobile? Plus, make sure your songs are registered so you can collect those income streams! (Register your copyrights at copyright.gov and with your Performing Rights Orgs as well as Sound Exchange.) You’d be surprised how it adds up ;).
6. Don’t Fool Yourself, Age Doesn’t Matter Anymore. The old paradigm that said it’s over at 27 is over. That came from the old model that was based on labels having a long career with an artist and capitalizing on their youth (an easy way to sell records.) BUT – that’s only if you are aiming for “pop-stardom.” There is always an audience for every age group, and I’ll bet you are not aiming for tweens. Today you can do music at any age – so let go of that old mindset, make the best music you can and market it to your audience. All you need is 1000 super fans and you’ve got a career. Oh and – I made my first record at 40 years old and sold 30,000 copies. So, don’t be fooled.

Tell me about your fears, struggles and disappointments in the comments below – fessing up sets you and everyone else free!! Do it now!

P.S. Want more? Check out my kick-ass, jam-packed music biz program in registration NOW (only held once a year, comes with 1-on-1 time with me) – don’t miss this opportunity to traverse this new terrain, banish your anxiety and get on the road to living your dream now.

©2013 Cari Cole, Vocal Mag, Inc. All Rights Reserved.