Achieving success in the music business

I think it safe to say, as young musicians, we all had dreams of limo’s, nice hotels, and fancy things, but success along those lines is frankly unlikely and a bit shallow. That being said, I have seen a multitude of success stories in the music business and the point of this blog is to help musicians define success. First, if you’ve had the fortune of performing or having someone perform or play your music for an audience, you’ve had success. The point of any art is to be appreciated and interacted with. Too often in the art industry we skip this basic phenomenon of people encountering our art. I would suggest this facet should always be on top of a musicians thoughts when they are engaging the public. Second, if your musical endeavors pay for themselves, you’ve reached a level of success most people never do and never will. At this point it is probably a little more than a hobby, and I’m guessing you may have some grassroots following. Be thankful, the market is saying they value your contribution and hope you will continue to create. Lastly, your musical endeavors may actually pay your “real” bills. This could mean earning the U.S. median income of 31k or much more. A lot of people in Hampton Roads have accomplished this via gigging with multiple bands and giving lessons. A few have actually done this with their own original music. I applaud both of those two groups! As a musician reflects on the trajectory of their creations, they should know that finishing the song is the first stage of success. I try to define what success means for each project or song I start before beginning. This helps build a good release plan and alleviates a lot of frustration; however, my most important criteria is enjoying what I’m working on. If you’re not having fun, figure out what it is you enjoy and pursue that. That is how you’ll be authentic and ultimately successful in the music business. -Travis-