Achieving success in the music industry requires a lot of hard work, a bit of luck, and a lot of planning. This is where most of us go wrong. We feel that music will lead us straight into the arms of eager labels and loving fans, and when that does not happen, we start looking at ourselves as failures.
If there’s anything you need to know, it’s that there are some habits that successful music artists have in common, and they aren’t as complex or complicated as you would think. Continue reading as we talk about the habits of successful music artists.
1. Know Thyself
Being a musician starts with you. Knowing and being able to articulate why you like music and why you need to make a life of it are the first steps to convincing the world that you’re in the business to stay. Understanding your strengths and weaknesses is equally important. If you’re tougher on yourself than others, you will be prepared for anything.
2. Work on a Schedule
Charlie Parker knew the level at which he wanted to play and practiced over 12 hours daily to get to that level. While you don’t need to practice for that many hours each day, you do need to apply the same level of discipline and structure. To reach your highest potential, you should keep a structured schedule and stick to it. Successful music artists have a solid set of goals and don’t quit until they have reached them.
3. Break Down Goals
The best way to attain your goals is to break them down into small, actionable steps. Have you ever taken piano lessons and gotten stickers after every exercise until you finished the entire book – a task that previously seemed unachievable? The truth is your instructor was training you on how to become a successful music artist. Therefore, the next time you decide to practice, don’t simply wander – make a path.
4. Keep Learning
Successful music artists never stop absorbing ideas and knowledge that enrich their minds. Listen, read, watch, ask questions, and surround yourself with interesting people. Don’t overlook unconventional sources of knowledge. Individuals who are continuously learning are the most interesting and are always growing.
5. Stay Flexible
If a particular way to reach your goal is not working, be open to adjusting it. For example, if you are working on increasing your social media following by posting stories daily, but after a few weeks, it just isn’t working, you need to try something different. This might involve tweaking the kind of content you deliver. Or it might involve exploring another social media platform.
In simple words, you should know where you are going but stay flexible on how you get there.
Last Few Words
The cellist Yo-Yo Ma explained that once you have taken care of all the organization and logistics, you will attain a higher degree of focus than you would have thought. This is the state where you attain greatness – where successful music artists live. The top practice habits, including the ones mentioned above, all aim to reduce interference and drive you towards your goal.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. Eric is also known for his weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” where he converses with influential entrepreneurs from a range of industries. Additionally, he supports education through the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” which grants four scholarships to US students. Stay connected with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn,YouTube, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.
