“With a narrow view of success, musicians unconsciously limit their career options.” –Angela Beeching The Musician’s Way, p. 300 Although veteran musicians might derive the bulk of their earnings from full-time jobs, rising artists often depend on multiple income...
Arts entrepreneurship isn’t a slice of the educational pie – it’s the pan. I adapted that opening sentence from a statement attributed to Andrew Rasiej (“Innovation is not a slice of the pie – it’s the pan”). The concept of pan...
“Few occasions in life are more hopeful than when musicians team up to form ensembles.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 115 If you’ve performed with a band or other group, then you know how magical collective music making can be. You’ve probably also learned that...
“A musician’s reputation is shaped as much by consistent professionalism (or the lack thereof) as it is by artistry.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 115 Although we musicians spend vast amounts of time practicing alone, professional music-making is largely a collaborative...
“It’s not who you know; it’s who knows you.” –Saying When it comes to networking, I can’t imagine a more useful truism than the one above. In essence, networking is an ongoing process of community-building in which we keep people informed about our activities...
“I find my greatest pleasure, and so my reward, in the work that precedes what the world calls success.” –Thomas Edison The Musician’s Way, p. 216 If we musicians want to organize self-produced events – things such as concerts, festivals, and community projects...
“Let your community feed your creativity.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 313 When we musicians plan self-produced concerts, we set out to share our art and generate income. Problem is, although self-produced concerts bring many rewards, they’re pricey to put on – venue,...
“The ease of your entry into the music profession will largely depend on the doors you open while you’re a student.” –The Musician’s Way, p. 305 If you’re studying music with the intention of becoming a professional, then, to succeed after graduating from a...
“There are different programs for different places.” –André-Michel Schub, pianist The Musician’s Way, p. 208 If you aspire to a career as an independent musician, then one of the best moves you can make is to differentiate yourself from other artists in your genre....