Subject: Get in The Flow
You are getting this e-mail because you subscribed to it on www.learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com. If you don't want to receive these e-mails any longer, go to the bottom of this message and click on "unsubscribe." Hey there Friend, Last week I suggested that if you were going to pad your landing with a backup career plan "just in case the music thing doesn't work out," you should look for an occupation that compliments music, not something that completely removes you from artistic and creative influences. One of the underlying messages you should take away from that is to be flexible and open to opportunities that present themselves.As someone who could have benefited from this advice 30 years ago, I hope you consider all the different options we musicians have open to us now. If your first love is guitar, then pursue that with everything you've got. But realize there are other complementary instruments available to you that will help grow your musicality and could open doors for you that guitar alone may not. For example, piano (keyboards) can really help you develop your understanding of harmonies and chords. Bass is a natural possibility - you already know all the notes! And let's not forget mandolins, ukuleles, lap steels and any other stringed instrument. I was stubborn - on a number of occasions my lead guitarist suggested I learn bass. Since I was also the lead singer, it made a lot of sense, but I wanted nothing of it. I was a rhythm guitar player, that's what I was going to remain, dang it! I would have created many more opportunities for myself if I had listened to him. Now I'm not saying to dilute your efforts by switching up instruments every time you sit down. I'm suggesting you consider diversifying your talents if it makes sense. Perhaps you could play in multiple bands, guitar in one and bass for another. There are many other career paths you can consider as a "fall-back" option in music that don't require you to be virtuosic on your instrument. You can satisfy any compulsion to get additional schooling and still make your way in music if your first passion doesn't end up breaking you into the business. Notice that word "business." That is something you need to keep in mind as you pursue your dream. Musicians tend to have a more romantic view of what we do; that we do it for the art and to enhance the world with our creativity, and that's fine if music is your hobby. Creating music isn't about the money. But if you are looking to do music professionally, meaning you earn your living and support yourself (and family) with music, you need to realize that it is a commercial venture like any other business. Your music (or skill) is the product and it needs to be sold for you to earn that living. This is why it's very prudent to be more than a "one trick pony!" The more skills you have, the higher in demand you will be. Depending on what you choose to do, you can remain self-employed or go to work for a label or studio. There are a growing number of college programs devoted specifically to music business. You might find you really like management or promotion. Or perhaps you're a musician that also is passionate about indy musicians not getting screwed over by big labels, so you become a music business attorney with your own practice helping bands in contract negotiations. For example, Mark Avsec was a founding member of Donnie Iris and The Cruisers and has written a number of chart-topping songs. He's also an intellectual property lawyer. He decided to become a lawyer after being sued over one of his songs. To me one of the most obvious paths is to study recording and engineering, particularly if you have an interest in songwriting and production (two other possible options for you). Recording involves getting your song idea from your head to an instrument (anything that produces sound), then to a medium that can be saved. Engineering focuses more on the technical aspects of capturing these sounds and then combining and manipulating them so that they are balanced and placed in the song properly. There are so many techniques you can use to record and process sound. If you're lucky enough to know someone who owns a studio, it's a good idea to try and spend some time watching the process in action. Many mix engineers and producers got their start working as assistants and learned on the job, but there are some excellent programs available to learn the skills. This is a good place to mention that regardless of what you decide to pursue, you need to be constantly improving your ability to hear differences in sound levels and pitch. You can get a real head-start now on your career by investing time in aural training. There are many free online sites devoted to ear training, so this is something you can do in addition to your normal practice or study routine. Just do a quick Google search for "aural training". Teaching is another viable option that has a bit of a bad rap. Most people think music teachers (particularly guitar) are "broke" musicians who teach on the side to make end while they're looking for their next gig. Unfortunately, in many cases that is closer to fact than fiction, but that's because these musicians don't give their teaching business the attention it needs to become a viable business. There are proven techniques to build large and very lucrative teaching businesses - but there's that word again, business. If you're into computers (many of us are), you could become a software designer, creating instrument and effects plug-ins for digital audio workstations. Universal Audio, Native Instruments, Arturia, Waves Audio and Steven Slate Digital are just a sample of the hardware and software companies that make innovative digital instruments and effects. You hear their products on nearly every major music recording. Starting on that side of the business could lead you to working for these vendors as a product manager promoting instruments, sound equipment, hardware and electronics. You could find yourself traveling to conventions and other events demonstrating your company's products. This type of gig is an excellent way to support your musical aspirations and can open many doors to artists and producers. You can even keep a solo gig going by creating your own label and promotion business to help other artists get the exposure they need. Many label owners started as musicians and found this niche while they themselves were trying to get signed. If you have an eye for talent and some business sense, this could be a real option for you. I've barely scratched the surface of opportunities there are in the music business. Remember, you are not just a guitar player - you can really help your cause by being willing to try new things out. If you keep your awareness high to opportunities, you could find yourself in a gig that enhances your chances of success as a musician. The key is to keep yourself surrounded by music business professionals. As you've likely heard many times - often it's not what you know, but who you know. If you're working in some job unrelated to music, you've effectively pulled yourself out of the flow. So get in the flow - and stay there! Peace~ Dave Dave "Eddie" Vance is a rock guitar enthusiast and gear nut. He has been playing guitar for over 30 years and enjoys tormenting the neighbors every chance he gets. When he's not slaving for the man, you can find him rocking out with his B.C. Rich Bich guitar, a cold beer and some sweet tunes. He also runs Learn-To-Play-Rock-Guitar.com, but you knew that already! Follow Learn To Play Rock Guitar:I welcome your feedback! Did you like today's message? What other topics would you like to see covered in my e-mails? Please let me know at: dave@learn-to-play-rock-guitar.com As always, please feel free to forward this email to a friend! I review products before recommending them. If you buy a product based on my recommendation, I will receive a commission. However, my emails also contain links that don’t require any investment on your part and are jam-packed with "juicy, guitar learnin' tastiness". We don't rent or share your name with anybody. Feel free to forward this issue to any friends you think would enjoy its contents. They will thank you. So will I.
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