Here are some Industry tips for entrepreneurial musicians. Speaking from personal experience, these tips apply to commercial musicians and to "classical" musicians, as well:
1. You need to study, to practice, to spend a predictable (and significant) amount of time every day becoming a better musician, composer and businessperson. Find good teachers who will help you gain new knowledge, no matter what the stage of your career.
2. Spend the time and do the work to stay healthy. You can't have a lasting career as a musician if you hurt yourself with a steady diet of junk food, controlled substances or lack of sleep. There are no sick days for a performing musician. When you are building you career, you can't say "no" to any legitimate offer of work as a musician.
3. Decide how your professional obligations can co-exist with your personal life. If you have a partner in your personal life, do your best to find one who shares your belief in your professional musical goals.
4. There may be good reasons, but there are no good excuses, for a bad performance. Each rehearsal or performance is an audition for your next job.
5. Despite the most careful preparation, there will be performances that are not as good as you would like. Learn how to find the strength to look ahead to better performances, rather than re-living the anguish you felt at a disappointing performance.
6. Build a list of goals and stay focused on those goals. You can achieve anything you want, but you must have the goal clearly in mind and be faithful to it.
7. Remember that every hour you spend practicing your instrument or singing, or writing your music, is a gift you've given yourself that no one can ever take away from you. Every hour you spend in performance is a magic chance to communicate those things that are unique to you and your audience.
8. Hold on to the intensely joyful moments of music. That joy is central to anyone's life and will help you make sense of anything else that might happen.
9. Music is about truth, love and destiny, and that's why it's so important to everyone. Stay true to your own truth, love and destiny. That's the way to succeed.
Lifestyles
industry tips
- Lifestyles
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To Dad, With Love: Give gifts of experiences, presents from the heart
Just as research shows that experiences tend to make people happier than material possessions, the gifts that are individual, created and experienced make Father's Days most memorable.
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History of Father's Day
The first records of an official Father's Day in United States took place near Monongah, W.Va., in 1908 as a community-wide memorial following a coal mining explosion where 362 men perished.
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Oneonta's Mr. Baseball
The title "Mr. Baseball" in Oneonta doesn't get tossed around lightly like a Frisbee. It's more like a manhole cover, as those who have earned the title didn't just hope for good luck to bring or keep baseball in Oneonta. They used determination and hard work to achieve that goal.
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The plot beckons
It is time to plant a garden.
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The history of Memorial Day
Though not formally designated by Congress as a federal holiday until 1971, Memorial Day has its roots in private and pensive observances dating back to the 19th century.
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- Around The Arts
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Art found in the foods at local road stands, markets
Artisanal foods have become quite popular in recent years, with some abuse of the term by mass-retailers and fast food restaurants.
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'Record Breaker' exhibit to be at Orphic Gallery
"Record Breaker," featuring the work of Greg Frederick, will open Saturday at the Orphic Gallery in Roxubry.
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Local programs help children's creativity grow
I am not a stage mom. But, the other day I ended up in the middle of a discussion with a stage dad who, for many years, has designated a great deal of his time and resources to support his teenage son’s performing career. The cry of the stage parent: chauffeuring from one rehearsal to the next, scouting costumes, building sets, selling tickets and program ads, and, of course, sitting in the audience for the entire production run. Then, without a breath, off to the next one!
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An artist label can be placed on many types of people
"You are such an artist."
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Dip your toe in the art world through Pinterest
I am a magazine ripper. I always have been. I have shoesboxes and file folders filled with decorating ideas, recipes and other miscellaneous projects. No matter how hard I've tried, I can never seem to organize or tame the scraps of inspiration floating around my house.
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Art found in the foods at local road stands, markets
- Music Beat
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Music Industry Tips About Professional Musicians
Musicians know that every performance they play is an audition for their next engagement.
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Practice really does make perfect for professionals
Shortly after I was hired at the age of 25 to work in the Music Department at State University College at Oneonta, I played a concert for members of this community. At the end of the concert, a young audience member said to me, “How many years have you been playing the cello and do you still have to practice?�
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Stepping on the flag, and other memories
If we are to be defined all our lives by our high school mascots, then I suppose I am a Viking. But I'm also a Panther, having transferred schools after my freshman year.
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From SUNY Oneonta to CBS Sports
Some people say the music business is failing, but I don’t agree with that point of view. Neither does Joseph Miller.
Continued ... - 12 Music Industry Tips from Joseph Miller
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Music Industry Tips About Professional Musicians
- Parenting Imperfect
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I'm relieved it's not just me
For the last few years, I've been convinced that I'm just harder on things than other people are.
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A tactical error in the handoff
My kids are lucky enough to have half of their grandparents within a three-hour drive.
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A potentially quiet afternoon interrupted by a dog and a balloon
The kids spent most of Martin Luther King Jr. Day bickering.
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The dog is a getting to be an expert at training
This sentence took 20 minutes to type.
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Bad things can happen when trends are no longer trendy
When I was a kid, it used to drive me bonkers that my mom didn't know anything about the most important things in my world. She had no idea what a friendship pin was or how you'd make one. She couldn't name any good band, i.e., the ones a pre-teen would listen to like Duran Duran or Wham. And she didn't find Robert Downey Jr. nearly as dreamy as I did.
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I'm relieved it's not just me
- Senior scene
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Looking Back: It's always important to express your graditude
There has been so many times in life that someone, somewhere, has done a kindness for another. Again, I can look back and be reminded that I, too, have been remiss at times with a thank you to express my gratitude for that kindness.
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Social Security: Dads, don't get hooked by 'phishing' scams
This month, in honor of fathers everywhere, I want to share this article written by a fellow Social Security employee:
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As Time Goes By: Looking at retirement options (FOR MEN ONLY)
This is the time of year when decisions are made concerning retirement.
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From the Office: Unleash the power of age by volunteering
This year marks the 50th anniversary of May as Older Americans Month. "Unleash the Power of Age" has been selected as the theme emphasizing the important role of older adults.
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Looking Back: A sad ending for adorable, sweet Taffy-toes
Another unwanted drop-off? Yes and so I must write this.
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Looking Back: It's always important to express your graditude
- Tech, GP
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Thankful hard-disk shortage is about over, and counting my blessings
Well, I'm almost ready to let out a cheer.
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Businesses need backups for their computer people, systems
In the interest of full disclosure, I want to let you know that I have taken a new position, professionally. I recently joined Eastman Associates, a local general contractor, to do its IT work, as well as taking care of some other functions of the business.
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Windows 8 seems to be made for the good of Microsoft, not the user
By Bruce Endries The software company everybody loves to hate, Microsoft, recently released what it calls a "consumer preview" of their next operating system, Windows 8.
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The Granite State got it right on software purchases
Believe it or not, I have found a bright spot in the political landscape, amid all the vitriolic partisan fighting.
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Visit a construction site and you'll probably find an iPad
It was just about two years ago now, that the iPad came out, and I wrote a column about it. At that time, I went out on a limb and said that thought it was a product which would fill certain niches very well, but that it wasn't very likely to fill in for what is normally considered a computer.
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Thankful hard-disk shortage is about over, and counting my blessings
- Teen Talk
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On the Go: We can't let age define us
I hate the concept of age. I understand wanting to quantify your existence, but age is blown way out of proportion.
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Weekend Reviews: British TV show works in the U.S.
Up until this year, my first year at college, the only time I'd heard the words "Doctor Who" mentioned were in passing by my friends who had a passion for science fiction. I, for the most part, do not.
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Teenhood Today: Bob, the Houdini hamster
My family is not pet-oriented, but that doesn't mean we haven't had pets.
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A Word of Advice: How to become an 'alpha' male
This one’s for the lads and gents, maybe the ladies, too, if they’d care to eavesdrop on this man-to-man I’m about to lay down on the male readership.
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On the Go: Patriotism doesn't mean keeping status quo
I've been labeled many things, but when anti-American and unpatriotic came into the picture recently I was surprised. I know I have some controversial opinions, but since when does that equate to not loving America? I'm a born and raised American kid, and I love America.
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On the Go: We can't let age define us
