The music industry is one of the toughest and most competitive industries there is, and if you want to make it big, there are a lot of hurdles that you will have to overcome. From the number of musicians that you will be up against, to getting yourself noticed by the big bosses at record labels, it can feel like you are faced with a lot. Therefore, it is fair to say that only a certain type of individual can become a successful musician, and they need to have specific qualities about them to help them do well. If you are trying to make it big, here are six of the most common qualities every successful musician has.
They Are Confident
No matter how talented you think you are, it takes a lot of courage to stand up in front of a crowd and sing/play an instrument. It is one of the most daunting things you can do, and even the biggest stars today suffer from crippling stage fright. Therefore, one of the most essential qualities that every successful musician has is confidence. Yet, confidence is not usually something that you can get overnight and instead it is a quality that you have to work on. It requires a considerable amount of self-belief and determination that you are going to make it as a musician.
They are Prepared to Put the Hours In
Even though some of the best musicians have been born with natural skill and ability, this doesn’t mean that they haven’t had to put the hours in and spend a considerable amount of their time practicing. This is something that you should do yourself if you want to be a successful musician, and whether you are a solo artist or are part of a band, there is no limit on how much practice you can benefit from.
If you happen to be in Dallas, there is a popular Dallas rehearsal studio from Pirate that you can use, which is a great location for you to practice at. Pirate’s acoustically treated rehearsal studios have high-quality equipment and are the perfect Dallas studio space for your band. Pirate has rehearsal studios all over the world in locations such as the UK, Ireland, and Germany to make finding the right space for rehearsals even easier no matter where you are based.
They Don’t Shy Away from Hard Work
While it is important to be prepared to put the hours in when it comes to practicing, it is also important that you are prepared for the hard work you have ahead of you. Playing an instrument or singing as an amateur is very different from doing it professionally and so every successful musician needs to be hard-working. From long hours in the rehearsal studios to working tirelessly on a particular song or tune, being a successful musician doesn’t happen overnight and things won’t always go your way. So, you need to be prepared for the hard work ahead and be ready to give it your all, even when you are feeling tired and deflated.
They Have Inner Creativity
All successful musicians need to have endless creativity if they want to make it, and sadly, inner creativity is not something you can buy off the shelf. It is a quality that is often hard to practice or learn, so in a way, you either have it or you don’t.
When we talk about the necessity of inner creativity for successful musicians we don’t just mean musically. Often when you are trying to make it big, you don’t earn a lot of money, and while this may change once you hit the big time, there is no telling how long that could take. So, you also need to have creativity when it comes to the different ways that you can make a living. Whether you decide to perform in a local bar or take on work from another industry, you need to get creative if you want to make enough money while you try and make it in the music industry.
They Have Lots of Patience
They say that patience is a virtue, and this is a virtue every successful musician needs by the bucket load if they want to do well. It is impossible and unrealistic to expect your success to happen overnight, and many successful musicians can spend years trying to get noticed and get that elusive record deal. So, you are going to need plenty of patience while you wait for that to happen. However, that doesn’t just mean sitting around and waiting for the boss at Sony Music to come knocking on your door. Instead, it means remaining patient while still having all the determination and effort required to ensure you are always on top of your game.
They Remain True to Themselves
While waiting for your shot in the industry, it can be tempting to adjust who you are as a musician in the hope that it helps you to be more successful sooner. However, if there is one quality that all successful musicians have in common, it is their ability to remain true to themselves.
No matter how much easier it seems or what record labels or managers tell you along the way, be sure to always remain true to the type of musician you want to be as this will make all the difference to the type of music you make. Audiences can tell almost straight away if a musician has created work that isn’t true to who they are, and this will have a direct impact on how successful you are. So, no matter how tempting, don’t make music that you don’t believe in just because you think it will be a hit and make you famous – because it won’t last very long.
While so many individuals all over the world dream of being successful musicians, by following these tips and pieces of advice, and working on these qualities mentioned, you can improve your chances of being able to do what you love to make a living.