A Music Career Story
… to give you perspective—something I wish I’d had as a younger musician to help me better understand how to navigate the long arc of a musical career.
One Process For Everything
My parents asked me, “What do you want to do?”
Table of Contents
I thought I would apply for a construction job because I needed an apartment.
I was 24, and it was 1996- a moment of transition following a difficult 4-year period.
Them: “Don’t you want to be a violinist?”
I said, sure, it’s my dream (to pursue jazz), but I had no idea how. It’s not like I could apply for that job.
Them: “You can move in with us, and we’ll show you how.”
I said yes. I was willing to follow instructions and try.
Marching Orders
My dad laid out what to do:
Step One: Call or visit the managers of 15 restaurants or hotels with one question: “Would they permit me to schedule a free 30-minute performance to seek a weekly paid gig if they and their customers like it?”
Step Two: Ask a musician to accompany me to the audition, understanding that if we get the gig, they’ll be first call.
Step Three: Perform the audition and be professional.
The Result
- I called 15 managers.
- I got eight auditions.
- After the auditions, I got five weekly gigs, paying me approximately $600 weekly.
- Each gig included a free meal and typically involved three sets of 50 minutes followed by a 10-minute break.
I have used this one process since 1996—including in this post—and I credit it (and teach it to my career coaching clients) to best control the odds of success.
Mom
Before I explain my mom’s role, here’s some context.
My parents dropped out of college, where they were vocal performance majors, to have me when they were 20.
Mom ran her typing business to put Dad through school so he could become an insurance salesman—commission only—and raise four kids. She also supported his business.
- He sold.
- She marketed.
The one promise my parents made to each other when they dropped out of music school was to enroll their children in Suzuki violin lessons, which they did despite not having much money.
Dad showed me the one process. Mom showed me how to make the most of opportunities that process generated.
- dress well, look clean
- be on time
- get email addresses and follow up
- make signage and advertise
- deliver on my promises
How it applies to you
As I said, that same process ( much like the “free sample” approach that you can find at a food court in a mall ) carried over into every career shift over 28 years:
- moving to NYC and becoming a “first call” violinist
- touring as a side player for heroes like Les Paul and Bill Evans.
- touring as a bandleader, producing 19 of my albums, recording on hundreds more
- running festivals, founding an organization, becoming a publisher and educator
- despite many lows amidst the highs
There are many lessons in this, but the one I’ll spell out is this:
Everyone, including you, has something you want to give and something you wish to receive.
Offering what we have to give and asking for what we want to receive is something many struggle with—no matter how successful.
Therefore, it’s worthwhile to revisit these questions regularly and answer them:
- What do you want to receive?
- What do you want to contribute (and to whom)?
- What is your Strategy?
- What is your Action plan?
- What simple assets do you have or need to amplify and support your strategy and action plan?
Learn more about my framework here: music business minus luck
Join our upcoming class (live and/or recorded) if you’d like to answer these questions and move forward in your career—whether that looks like gaining more money or time or aligning your work with your values and artistic goals.
