So you want to try and make it in the music biz?

[Blue Eyed Tone]

This was in response to a question from a friend about pursuing a career in music...

If you're serious about pursuing music as more than a career, as a solo artist, I'll offer a few suggestions... First of all, you need to write songs. If you can't write great songs, stop whatever you're doing and go get a job. It's all about the songs. John Mayer is who is, largely because of his songs.

The second factor is chick appeal. Again, John Mayer, with his great songs, also has great chick appeal. If the chicks don't come out in force to listen to your great songs, you're not going anywhere.

Then there is talent and charisma. Talent is referring to your singing ability and charisma is referring to your overall presentation. If you can't captivate an audience, you're not artist material. If you don't have a good voice, you shouldn't be trying to survive as a solo artist unless you have mind boggling good songs and great chick appeal which may enable you to overcome a less than great voice. But ONLY if you know how to use your voice in a unique way -- think Jack Johnson or David Matthew -- two guys who's voices suck, but they make 'em work in such a way as to get over it. Plus they have great songs and great chick appeal.

If you have all these pieces in place, then you'll have no problem developing a following. If you can develop a following fairly quickly then you can get lots of places to book you because you bring crowds and fans which means business to the venues that sponsor you. If you're having trouble developing a following, it means you're lacking in one of the areas mentioned or if you're doing cover songs, you're not choosing songs that are connecting with your audience or not covering them very well.

If all the pieces are in place, you are developing a following, you are building a fan base, you are booking shows (which means you're making money) and you are building a career in music. If you build your career based on all these factors, you have a 1 in 100 chance of actually taking that career to the next level. Yes, it's that hard and it's that risky.

The good news is, IF you are doing everything right, you can do music for a living regardless of the potential of being signed to some kind of a deal. There are people who make a living in music without "hitting the big time."

Understand this, you friends, family and church think your awesome. That means nothing in the real world. It's if the venue thinks your awesome, it's if a large group of fans think your awesome and from there it's IF the radio people, promoters and label people think you're awesome. Be selective about who you believe when they tell you "you're great." A lot of people may be trying to take advantage of you based on your "potential." If they have nothing to gain from telling you "you're awesome" and they have credentials that validate their opinion, it means something. Otherwise, say thank you and don't think about it.

A lot of mediocre musicians are pursing the dream because of all the people who told them "man, you're awesome." If you're really awesome, they'll buy your record, they'll bring friends to your gig, they'll put posters up all over town, they'll generate hype about you on the internet. If you're not awesome, they might tell you that you're awesome, but you won't have anything to show for it.

There it is, the reality of the music biz in a few paragraphs. I hope this helps you make the right decisions about how to proceed with your life. Understand that music doesn't have to be an all consuming career. There's no shame in paying the bills with a day job and gigging 3 nights a week because you love it. You'll be happy and your bills will be paid. Don't make the mistake of "holding on in faith" for that big breakthrough when you don't have any tangible sign that it can become a reality. Be patient until things develop to that point before you take the plunge.

Youtube is a great place to promote, but you will get people that tell you you're great and people will tell you that you suck and none of it amounts to anything either way. So put it up there and only listen to the opinions of those who can prove that their opinions matter. For instance, I have my guitar videos up and someone can say "man, that's great or man, that sucks" but it I won't give it a second though if I go to their page and all they have up is a bunch of junk. I find that they're a great guitarist, I might listen to their opinion.

Hope this helps!
Michael Lewis