Six Rules to Success in the Music Industry

Everyone defines success as something different. To some it's having a successful career, and others it's becoming a great father and supporting wife and kids. So far I've achieved some light success in my career field of Music Production. I've strive to follow through on every goal I set, and I keep my word. When I say I'm going to do something I do it. That being said, there are some cardinal rules that I've set forth for myself to achieve success:

1. Being at the right place at the right time - This means actually PUTTING YOURSELF THERE to maximize results of an event occurring. If you're not even there, how do you expect to get recognized? This also means GETTING TO THE EVENT EARLY AND STAYING LATE. This will MAXIMIZE YOUR CHANCES to meet people and ask questions. Often times after an event is when people are more relaxed and inclined to answer your questions.

2. Being ready - This means HAVING MATERIAL READY to present at any given notice. It also means you have the ATTITUDE, SKILLS, KNOWLEDGE to speak fluently and enthusiastically about your career field. It also means having the RIGHT EQUIPMENT, and DRESSING THE PART. You have to make sure that other people recognize without a doubt that you are serious about what you do. STUDY ABOUT THE PLACE you are going and STUDY ABOUT the people. This shows that you are truly interested in what you're doing.

3. Loving what you do - I shouldn't have to explain this. You should LIVE AND BREATH YOUR CAREER EVERY DAY. You should love it so much that NO MATTER WHAT YOU ARE LEARNING, YOU CAN APPLY IT TO THAT ONE JOB. If you don't love what you do, or show that you do, what's the sense in doing it. This also means that you have HOPE when everything is looking grim.

4. Building relationships - Always seek to build a relationship with everyone. Take the time out of your job to STOP AND TALK TO PEOPLE. I DON'T MEAN TO TALK TO THEM ABOUT WORK. Show that you are INTERESTED IN THEM, and CONTINUE TO ASK THEM ABOUT THEIR GOALS, help them follow through with them, and if they have any PERSONAL INFORMATION they want to share. That's how you get people to open up to you. If you have a problem with someone then try to seek out what's bothering them. Oftentimes it might something personal or that you never thought of that's affecting how they treat you. Ask people about SPECIFIC THINGS YOU DISCUSSED LAST TIME YOU SPOKE. Actively seek out people in the same career field. Support them, and they will support you back.

5. Relax - Even MUSIC HAS RESTS. You have to take the time to relax and clear your head. You can come back to it later. Not everyone can learn things or do things at the same speed, and you shouldn't expect yourself to. Shit, I forget sometimes to even eat when I'm working on tracks. This is time meant to SPEND AWAY FROM MUSIC for a while, and with your family. This is one of the most overlooked thing in people's careers.

6. Taking risks - You took the risk to go into the music industry which is one of the hardest career fields, but it was an APPROPRIATE risk that aligned with who you are and your goals. Taking risks can be a very hard concept to grasp at first. This means taking a leap of faith, going with your gut instinct, or BREAKING RULES. Making music is about breaking rules appropriately. You have to know the rules to break them.

(7.) Yes, I have a hidden seventh rule that I keep internally. The secret weapon when everything else fails. FAITH.