Stop Thinking Like A Musician!!!
Obviously, there are many reasons why you should think and behave like a musician. Practicing, composing, interpreting, and effectively relating to other performers all require a musical mindset.
But here are some arguments for doing things differently. At least if your goal is to maximize professional success:
1. Competitive field. Many music markets are extremely competitive. To get noticed, it’s imperative to differentiate your work, which requires thinking differently!
2. Financial concerns. Musicians are not traditionally great business people or masters of finance. Yet the vast majority are self-employed (at least part-time), and all must deal with money issues on a daily basis. Dispel the “starving artist” mentality, and prioritize business/financial issues.
3. Lack of serious career focus. Musicians are infamous for devoting incredible resources and energy to their art form, and almost nothing to career aspects. They read music books but not marketing books; engage musical mentors but not career mentors; network with musicians but not entrepreneurs. Is it any wonder that so many wind up struggling? Building a successful career requires education and effort, just like any other activity.
4. Limited vision. Many musicians suffer from a lack of imagination and vision. For example, they believe that only three career options exist for classical musicians: 1) playing in an orchestra, 2) teaching college, 3) Starbucks. The truth—there is SO MUCH WORK for us to do, and important work. But in order to discover it, you must first expand your perspective.
5. Incorrect assumptions. Worse yet, musicians often live—and die—by (often incorrect) conventional wisdom. For example, many musicians are convinced that audiences demand performance perfection, and they spend all their time focusing on this aspect. In reality, listeners are much more likely to seek moving and engaging experiences, which requires a whole other set of considerations. (And then these musicians shocked and disappointed when audiences aren’t bigger or don’t react as well.)
6. Focused on wrong issues. Sometimes as musicians, we create our own value system which has little to do with what’s important to the rest of society. (Reminds you of politicians, no?) For example, we spend weeks researching the performance practice of Pergolesi, yet completely neglect the notion of solving real problems of our society. There is a danger that musicians become so focused and siloed that they have trouble seeing the big picture.
7. Short term thinkers. Musicians can be short term thinkers, more concerned with finding the next gig than “building an empire” that leads to long-term success and prosperity.
8. Networking too small. Many musicians have a narrow network, consisting largely of people who play their instrument or other musicians. By enlarging your circle, it is possible to increase advocacy, impact, perspective and opportunity.
9. Selfish viewpoints. Some musicians become so focused on themselves, they forget about their fans/clients/employers. They program literature they love, without considering the audience. Their website is all about ME (bio, schedule, awards, photos), and has nothing to do with YOU (the experienced offered, how I help solve your problems). No other industry would consider this self-absorbed approach. Prioritize your audience and reap the rewards.
10. The curse of knowledge. As an educated and expert musician, we sometimes forget that not everyone has our background. As a result, we talk or play over their heads, rather than providing an entry point and meeting them on their terrain. The curse of knowledge affects experts from just about every field, and it is certainly an issue among musicians.
4 Responses to “Stop Thinking Like A Musician!!!”
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DAVID CUTLER balances a varied career as a jazz and classical composer, pianist, educator, arranger, conductor, collaborator, concert producer, author, consultant, speaker and advocate. Dr. Cutler teaches at Duquesne University, where he also serves as Coordinator of Music Entrepreneurship Studies.
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Great article! As much as I know these things for myself and have preached about them to my musicians, it’s something I struggle with everytime I play. It’s easy to get caught up in trying to please everyone in the audience even though I know it’s fruitless. Tommy Dorsey used to say, two for them and one for us, balancing what he had to play and what he wanted to play. “Thing Long Term” was what I learned by booking jobs, contracting musicians and serving clients. It’s something musicians struggle with waiting for the phone to ring and wanting to know what gig I’ve got this week. Networking is hard after you spend years alone in a practice room refining your playing. The difficult part was and is going to the rehearsals, meeting new people, hanging out, schmoozing, going outside the music world, talking to club owners, finding out what general managers and caterers look for in a band, learning that clients buy with their eyes and on and on. Thanks for the advice. Now how do change who we are?
Thanks for your comments, Gerard. We don’t have to change who we are, but how we think. The easiest way to do this is by instilling different value systems in young musicians. But at any phase of life, we can always evolve and re-program if the will is there.
Howdy cheers for this post. That was super interesting.
Thank you for this article! It’s true! I am a Vocalist/Keyboardist/Composer and Communications major in college. I wholeheartedly agree with your article. Audiences do seek engaging and moving experiences. We have to consider the audience and not be caught up in being show offs on stage!
Rhonda