By Greta Larsen (Guest Author)
If you are passionate about music and would like to turn it into a career, do not expect an easy route. There are plenty of other talented musicians who have had a head start and are on their way to the top.
On the other hand, even if the music industry seems a bit oversaturated right now, the time to start now is pretty great. Why? Well, the ongoing pandemic is making people stay at home, and for some, music is one of the best ways to forget about their woes, even if it is only for a while.
Music fans are eager to discover new artists on the internet. If you play your cards right and get a bit of luck, you can become a recognizable musician. However, you will need to work hard to reach that point. Here are some ideas on how to increase the odds of succeeding as a musician.
Get Reliable Equipment
The first thing you need is proper equipment. Do not think that purchasing a cheap microphone and recording your voice on a computer will impress others. Unless you are super talented, you will need a proper microphone, headphones, and music editing software.
A computer is also a must. If you plan to work from home, a PC should be the go-to choice. On the other hand, you may need to travel eventually and work remotely, meaning that investing in a laptop is not a bad choice either.
MacBook Air could be one of the options. Besides work, you can also use the computer to video chat with fans or other musicians who may want to collaborate so long your Mac is functioning properly. In case you run into issues like macbook air microphone not working, you may need to take it to a computer service store or look for a solution yourself. Overall, though, Macs are quite reliable, and various performance problems occur rarely.
Set Small Goals
Once you set up your equipment, start writing a goal list. Working without a clear idea of what you should do is not the right approach. Besides, when you reach a certain milestone and cross it off the list, it will give you motivation as you will see clear progress.
As a rule of thumb, it is recommended to start small and be realistic. A goal can be as simple as having your first view on YouTube or a positive comment below the recording. Finishing a song and recording it is another great example.
There are many aspiring musicians who believe in having what it takes to succeed, but they never get past the first hurdle, which is making actual music.
If you succeed as a musician, it will be interesting to look back at your early goals and see how much you have managed to achieve.
Look for Opportunities to Perform
The opportunities to perform live are pretty much non-existent for many professionals because of the pandemic, meaning that the situation is even tougher for amateurs.
Nevertheless, if you get an opportunity to showcase your voice to other people, do not hesitate and go for it. The performance can be as simple as singing karaoke in a bar or having a get-together with your friends and letting them know about your dream.
The goal here is to let reveal your skills to as many people and have them become interested in hearing more from you.
Grow Your Network
Once you have a few performances lined up (even if they are relatively small), make sure to interact with people and grow your network. It can be fans, other musicians who may wish to do some stuff together in the future, or people from the music industry that could help with your career.
Similar to growing a fanbase, networking will also lead to growing your brand and leading to more opportunities to perform. Even a small connection could prove to be significant in what it does for your career.
Establish Online Presence
It is still too early to tell when the pandemic is going to disappear. Thus, you will need to put most of your resources into establishing an online presence. And it is not just about developing a decent website.
No, as a musician, you have opportunities to reach audiences on platforms like Spotify and Soundcloud after creating a profile and uploading your music there.
YouTube is another great example. Some world-famous musicians have started their careers on YouTube. Uploading a video where you perform and having the video go viral is pretty much all one needs to become a star.
Lastly, there is Twitch TV. Even professional musicians are joining the platform to keep in touch with their fans and make money at the same time.