Arts are not a very popular choice among young people and their career. It is a general opinion that you will have problems finding a good job with an Arts major. In situations where artists are self-taught, but still want to make it at a professional level, people usually put them through a lot of criticism and attempt to convince them that this is not a good idea. This kind of treatment is especially prominent when it comes to music.

Many people think that having a career as a musical artist is something reserved for young teenage dreamers and that it is something most people grow out of by the time they get their first “real job”. There are more than a few ways you can make money from being a musician, but if you want to promote your band or yourself as a creative artist with original music, things are a bit more complicated but they are far from impossible.

Tip No.1: Practice makes perfect

I know a lot of musicians and artists who have illusions of grandeur and are thinking about how to put their name out there but still don’t sound very well. Try to be realistic when it comes to how good you actually sound. I’m not talking about musical innovation and creativity. I’m referring to the technical quality of your performance and recordings, along with your skill level, when it comes to knowing your instrument or having control over your voice.

Tip No.2: Get connected and focus on networking

Smaller tours are something that can be arranged quite easily if you have made a name for yourself on a local level. Make sure that you mingle and talk to people before and after the gig, so you could establish connections and maybe create opportunities for yourself. This is kind of a natural process and has a chance of progressing quite organically. A lot of young artists tend to be impatient with club owners, event planners and other “suits” of the musical business, but this is mostly a sign of youth. You need to show patience and as far as business goes, you don’t have to like people you do business with.

Tip No.3: Live shows leaves a bigger impression

Having a video is great, so is a well-recorded album, but great live shows are the things that stay with the fans for the rest of their lives. This is your biggest opportunity to create high quality branding, if you want to talk about this from a business perspective. A good musical performance paired up with good showmanship is the way to get devoted fans and a great marketing boost.

Tip No.4: Invest into your gear

If you have second grade equipment, no matter how well you play or sing, you will not sound as good as you can. I am well aware that music equipment is expensive but it also means that you are permanently resolving this issue, or at least for a decade or so, since high quality music equipment stands the test of time. You will also feel more comfortable and inspired during rehearsals and when composing.

Tip No.5: Uses the Web to reach international crowds

It only makes sense to use social networks to allow fans to follow your career’s progress and updates when it comes to shows, new music, gig photos and so on. Many artists never move beyond this level and neglect the potential of the Web of breaking into an international scene. Many platforms beyond social networks like Facebook and Twitter exist and can be very useful for expanding your fan base and reaching people with a particular taste in music. SoundCloud is one of those platforms but it can be rather hard to break through since there are many people there promoting their own music. It is not a bad idea to buy SoundCloud reviews just to get things going.

The most important thing is that you love what you do and that you give your best. Those who are truly passionate about music rarely face failure and persevere, even when things are looking grim. You should be aware that the road to a successful musical career is not a smooth ride, and you should be prepared to run over more than a few bumps on the road.