Doing what you love and following your dreams isn’t often easy. In fact, many people have to work hard to get their dream career. One of the most difficult areas to get into is the music industry; there are so many talented artists out there, that you will often find many having to make ends meet with other jobs just to survive. That said, there is nothing stopping anyone from becoming who they want to be, so here are a few tips and tricks on what it takes to break into the music industry.
Join a Street Team
For those that don’t have a huge amount of experience in the music industry, street teams can be a great way to get connected. Street teams will typically go around their local area and hand out flyers, stickers and other promotional material to shops and businesses. It normally includes coffee shops, music shops and other places where young people congregate. The good thing about being in a street team is that you are mixing with industry professionals and making connections without trying. Many music companies need people that want to do the work, so it can be an easy way to get your foot in the door. Although there are companies that use street teams, you can always approach the music labels yourself and see if they need anyone to distribute material for them.
Work at Festivals
If you love music, then you have probably been to a few festivals! However, rather than be in the audience listening to the music, wouldn’t it be great to get involved backstage? Doing so can be a good way to mingle with the professionals and gain a reputation in the business. There are a few companies that will let you attend the festival for free if you are willing to volunteer. Although not all the jobs will be glamorous, there is potential to move backstage and be involved with the running of the festival. The more of these roles you do, the more you will become known, and the more people you will meet. Eventually, you will be able to get involved with the area of music you want, such as sound control and other departments. It is important however to remember that there can be drug and alcohol misuse at festivals which you can learn more about online, and you need to avoid such things to be able to work in this environment.
Grow Your Network
Once you have started to meet people and make connections, it is important to keep going. The music industry is more about who you know than what you know, so the more people you can mix with, the better it will be for you. Keep in touch with those people you met at the festivals or when you took part in the street teams. Engage with them often and let them know you are still around and looking for more opportunities. If you can make your name known, even to a few people, it can quickly spread.
Use Social Media
With so many people now on at least one of the social media platforms, this is the perfect way to get in touch with people and stay connected. Follow music labels, artists, and other music industry professionals so that you know what’s happening in the business. More importantly, you need to engage with them and show them that you are there. If you have something to say, then say it! You never know where it might lead, and it will get your name noticed. Follow those you met before and let them know who you are. They might not remember immediately, so remind them and tell them how great it was to meet them and work alongside them. Once you have established a relationship with someone, keep it going by replying to their posts and being interested in their announcements. It is good to follow many types of people in the industry, but you also need to focus on those that are in the area you want to join.
Start a Blog
Blogging is a big business and everyone that wants to say something has a blog to get their message out there. That is why there is no better way to get people interested in what you have to say than starting your own blog. Not only are you going to write about your own taste in music and what area you are interested in, but you are also going to be able to connect with others in the industry. To stand out among the others who are also writing about music, it is a good idea to have a niche. For example, if you love a particular type of music or a certain band, then try to focus on that as opposed to a generic love of music. Once your blog is up and running, you need to make sure that those in the industry and other music lovers read it. Post in groups and forums and tell people about your blog. Post in social media and use hashtags to get it in front of the right people.
Start a YouTube Channel
There are millions of people who tune into YouTube every day, and there are also hundreds of great channels. Some of these channels are started by people who love to sing and want to sing for others. If you want to be a singer or a musician, then this can be a great way to showcase your talent and your music to others. Even if you don’t find someone that wants to work with you, at least you will begin to grow a following that can lead you to better things. You can also start to generate an income from your singing on these channels, which can help you to fund other parts of your career. It is important that you are engaging on your channel so that your followers know you are taking their comments on board. There is nothing worse than making a comment and no-one replying.
Find Like-Minded People
Sometimes when you are trying to reach your goals, and things aren’t going so well, it can be easy to get despondent, especially if you are on your own. That is why it can be a good idea to find others that are also looking to break into the music business as well. By getting together, not only can you share good experiences, but you can also support each other when things don’t go well. It can also be good to bounce ideas off one another and give yourselves more reach for your opportunities. For example, if you all host a blog, you can share each other’s content and write for each other. You can also collaborate on YouTube videos together which will place you in front of other viewers.
Find a Mentor
If you can find someone that can help and advise you, then this can be a great way to get into the industry. A mentor will not only help you to understand more about the industry and where you need to be, but they can also use their connections to give you a step up into the department you want. The only problem you will have is finding the right person to become your mentor. Most of the time, the jobs you do such as street teams and festivals will place you in front of those that can help you. If you find someone that you think will be a great mentor, then ask them if they want to have a coffee and a chat about music and where you want to go. You can then speak to them about your goals and dreams and see what they can offer. Even if they can’t help you directly, they might know someone that can, which will be more than you had before.
Do Street Entertainment
If you want to be a singer or a musician, then there is always the opportunity to be a street entertainer. You might need to get the relevant permits to perform, but it will give you the chance to perform in front of many people, which will be a good experience. You can also have some CDs made that you can sell to people who like your music. You might even meet someone that has connections in the music industry. Some cities have festivals each year that have street entertainment as part of the day. If you speak to the organizers of these events, you might be permitted to perform on a stage at one of the venues. It will be a huge experience for you, and an opportunity to be in the middle of a mainstream event. Make the most of it by telling your social media followers or YouTube followers that you are there so they can come and see you.
Although getting into the music industry can be tricky, it isn’t impossible. If you can focus on what you want and persevere, you can achieve your goals.
