How do you think I should start my career in music?
Hybrid Myst asked:
I don’t know whether I should form a band or start a solo career.
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I don’t know whether I should form a band or start a solo career.
I need some advices here. I like to sing multiple genres so probably if I will be in a band the bassist will have no work to do sometimes.
I also need to know what are the ups and downs of starting a career in music with a band or solo.
I need some advices on this guys.
I also think about a 2 man band
August 4th, 2009 at 10:18 am
A solo career is more difficult. Many of today’s solo singers started out in bands, and got their fame in bands.
So, a band is the way to go.
August 5th, 2009 at 7:01 am
Well first of all, Record a couple of songs and make yourself a myspace, Facebook and Bebo. Spread yourself around a little bit, Take any positive criticism. Send me some of yours song’s as im a Radio presenter at a small radio station in the south-west of england. I might play them, But the main thing is to get a Myspace and just link your website to all the Music company’s out there!
August 6th, 2009 at 12:49 pm
First things First.
Ask yourself the question.
What do I REALLY want?
then when your done thinking about your true answer then i have some tips and advice:
You can’t just boom - start a band.
First, write a couple of songs by yourself.
Then record them and send them to everyone you know.
Start writing songs FOR people.
you can also put your songs on Myspace, Facebook, or iLike.
And that is a great start.
I would also suggest sending your recordings to singing agencies
and management so that you will get discovered.
Once your at least in an agency, or have gotten somewhere with people at home or school with your recording,
Then hold auditions at a local community centre to find the right people to be in your band.
Remember, you are looking for someone who loves music, and is not just doing this for friends, popularity, or fame, but to do this because they also truly love it, and also, you have to make sure that they are good.
I wanna give you advice, not to judge people on the outside because we come in all shapes and sizes and are all beautiful. Judge them by what they really have - Talent
August 8th, 2009 at 5:16 am
Get some experience doing both, before you try to decide which would make a good career.
If you work at both, you will have your own answer in a couple of years.
Good Luck
August 9th, 2009 at 3:07 am
Several people have already answered most of this question the way I would, so I’ll just add what you were asking about ups and downs of starting a career in music. I don’t know about ups and downs, but here are a few thoughts:
Consider:
1.) Unless you have a trust fund or are married to someone who is willing to support you, you will HAVE to have a day job for at least the beginning of your career.
2.) Once you start getting gigs, you may be able to give up your day job, but you will be working A LOT in MANY different things, and may NEVER make much money. The whole fame and fortune thing sounds nice, but the truth is that most working musicians (yes, even the good ones) will make anywhere between $30,000-$60,000/yr. That’s if you’re really good and/or lucky. That doesn’t mean you can’t make it big and shoudln’t try, because everything is worth trying. But just know, it’s not all limos and lights.
3.) Not only you do need to start a band, you need to get jobs. This involves shelling out a lot of money to send out demo CDs, brochures, setting up a website, etc. I agree that you should go on FB/Myspace (mostly because it’s free and is accessible to everyone!) but I also think it’s important, once you get going, to show that you’re serious about it by setting up a website and getting some real stuff out there.
4.) Dedication, dedication, dedication. Even if you walk away from your career for awhile, always come back swinging. I recommend NEVER walking away. It takes a lot of persistence to make it as a musician.
5.) Develop a thick skin. Rejection is inevitable. It doesn’t mean you suck, or should give up. Hard to believe wehn it happens (bc it feels like crap!) but believe it. Learn from the experience (if there’s something to be learned from it) and try again–with the same people and with different ones. Unless EVERYONE around you is universally telling you that you’re really bad, and you secretly know it might be true, DON’T GIVE UP. (I say this because people who are bad at something sometimes tend to think they’re really good. If no one else thinks you’re good, you’re probably not. That’s just the cold, hard, truth.)
All of this maybe sounds negative, but I wish someone had told me this stuff before I’d started my career. I’m still trying to get it drilled into my head. I think it’s important to know what you’re getting into. A lot of people think that a musician’s life is glamorous, but the truth of it is that much of it is playing the same songs in different smoke filled bars (or at weddings), on weekends when your friends and family are off work, and once in awhile something might come along that really gives you a chance. This is the making a living part, I mean. You can always promote yourself on Facebook and do things on your own (for free) that you find fulfilling. But getting paid tends to involve many nights of work work work. I think it’s important to know this stuff. If you’re not willing to put up with these things, you need to reconsider. If none of that matters to you, then forge on, my friend! But avoid being disillusioned to the point of paralysis. (which is what happened to me. I’m a classical musician, but still.) Knw these cold, hard facts, and don’t try to avoid them! It’s just reality. Sorry if it’s a bucket of cold water.