Photo: Nancy Moran | By Nancy Moran, Azalea Music Group (With Permission) Image is everything in the music business. And I’m not just talking about artists. It’s important for everyone — artists, songwriters, musicians, composers, lyricists, producers, etc.
Before a publisher, record label, music supervisor, blogger, playlist curator, or anyone else hears your music, they’ve already formed an opinion about you from reading your email, seeing your CD cover and website, and from speaking with you on the phone or in person. Yet 99% of aspiring musicians and songwriters spend all of their time and energy on composing, writing, & recording their music and next to nothing on how they present their music and themselves.
While I agree that talent and a great song are imperative to your success, I also know that first you must get someone to listen to that great song. And to get someone to listen means you must first get them interested in you.
And to do that, you must be the 1% that knows how to be a professional!
How do you do that?
There aren’t any hidden secrets to acting like a professional musician. Most of the professional conduct rules are common sense and require only a small amount of effort on your part. But this extra effort is not optional; it is essential to your success!
Below I’ve listed 20 attributes — in the form of affirmations — that I consider to be the basics of the Professional Musician’s Code of Conduct.
Read them. Memorize them. Practice them religiously.
Following these “rules” will instantly separate you from the throngs of amateur wannabes:
1. I present myself in a positive light and display a professional image with everything that I do.
This means, no ranting on Facebook or drunken Instagram photos. Assume that the industry VIP you are trying to impress is reading your posts. Are you projecting the image of someone they would want to work with?
2. I respect people’s time by being organized, pleasant, and concise.
Let’s face it, EVERYONE is busy these days. And music industry pros are even busier than the average person. So, before you send an email or call someone on the phone, make sure you know exactly what you’re going to say. What is it that you want exactly? Be direct. And concise.
If you’re calling on the phone, ask “is this a good time?” If it’s not a good time, ask “when would be a good time for me to call back?” And then, call back at that exact time.
Little courtesies like this let them know that you’re thinking about them. And they will definitely appreciate it!
3. Despite anyone else’s disposition, I am likable, friendly, courteous, polite and easy to work with at all times! I treat everyone–regardless of title–professionally.
People want to work with people they LIKE. And generally speaking, that means they like people who are nice and easy to get along with. So be that kind of person…to everyone you come into contact with! Because the person answering the phones today can be the publisher you’re trying to impress next week. (Seriously. This actually happened.)
Also, the music biz is like a small town. Everyone talks. So, if you are rude or difficult to work with, others in the biz will hear about it. That’s the type of reputation that is hard to overcome.
4. I treat my music and/or songwriting as a career, even if I’m only doing it part-time for now. I am not in this for a one-time “quick hit.”
It doesn’t matter if you’re not able to spend 40+ hours/week on your music career at the moment. No one is going to ask you to clock in.
What matters is that you are in it for the long run. You’re not treating it like a get-rich-quick scheme, expecting to make a lot of money and then leave.
People in the industry want to work with people who are going to be around a while. So, regardless of how much time you have to spend on music, act as if you’re doing it full time.
5. I take my music and/or songwriting seriously and treat it as a successful business operation.
Oooohhh…there’s the “B” word. Business.
If you want to make music just for fun, in your living room. Great! Do it! Enjoy!
If you want to make a living with your music, then you’ve got to treat it like a business. Open a business checking account. Charge money for your services, gigs, licenses, etc. Track expenses. Think about making a profit, not just making money. (Yes, there’s a difference.)
And don’t buy into the “struggling musician” mentality. You can be artistic / creative / authentic AND financially successful at the same time!
6. I constantly hone not only my music and/or songwriting skills but also my business skills – such as communication, negotiation, marketing, and sales skills.
Most creatives LOVE to work on their music and songwriting skills. And the world is full of extremely talented musicians, artists, producers, and songwriters that no one has ever heard of.
That’s because business skills often don’t come naturally to creatives. But these non-sexy skills are the things that can make the biggest difference in your career.
So, take a class, listen to podcasts, read a book, and practice your business skills with the same amount of attention as you give to your creative skills.
> > > > > > > > >
Musically,
Nancy
Read the rest of the 20 “must do’s” here – they are VERY IMPORTANT to your music career:
https://azaleamusic.com/the-professional-musicians-code-of-conduct/
Nancy Moran – Artist Development Coach
Nancy is an independent Folk-Rock, Americana Singer/Songwriter with four critically acclaimed solo albums, a former member of the national touring group, The Four Bitchin’ Babes (2005-2012), the former Assistant Editor of American Songwriter Magazine and an accomplished background and harmony vocalist. She’s also an artist development and performance coach and the co-founder of Azalea Music Group where she teaches and mentors other singer/songwriters, musicians, and indie artists how to get their music out to a wider audience so they can make a greater impact in the world.
Thanks to COMBO member Bill Emery for contributing this article!
Http://www.billemerymusic.com
Photo: Nancy Moran | https://azaleamusic.com/about/
The Professional Musician’s Code of Conduct
