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So you want to be a rock star? Or perhaps you want to sell 5,000
copies of your CD? Or maybe you just want to pack the house for
your next gig. "How do I do that?" you ask. In this life, there
are no guarantees, but one way to become closer to your goals is
to study how other successful musicians and performers got where
they are. I'm not just talking about "Behind the Music,"
although those shows are an education of their own. I mean
studying the techniques that others have used to become
successful.
We live in a wonderful time where information is as close as our
fingertips, thanks to the Internet. A visit to the Google search
engine can lead you to new ideas to take you closer to your
dreams of success. Reality shows such as "American Idol" and
"Making the Band" give you a private (although biased) peek into
the world of the platinum plated music industry. If you've
decided that you want to reach the top, then you have to do your
research before you get there.
In Anthony Robbins' groundbreaking book, "Unlimited Power," he
writes, "Success leaves clues. It means that if I see anyone in
this world producing a result I desire, I can produce the same
results if I'm willing to pay the price of time and effort. If
you want to achieve success, all you need to do is find a way to
model those who have already succeeded." This is a brilliant
concept. Even if you tried, there is no way that you could
really be a clone of anyone else. However, you can still learn
skills from the best if you're willing to put in the time. Be
original, but you don't have to reinvent the wheel. Try these
strategies on for size:
Honestly Assess. Ask yourself, and possibly a trusted friend,
which areas are strongest and weakest for you. Do you need to
work on stage patter? Could your songs be better? Do you feel
that you don't move enough on stage? Do you wish you were more
business savvy? Which areas could use some help? To admit
weakness is the first step to becoming stronger.
Check it Out. Immerse yourself in all forms of media to find
heroes and muses who excel in those areas. Read books, surf the
net, watch movies that inspire you. For an extra punch, find
biographies of great people outside your industry. If you're a
producer, learning about great inventors and politicians, for
example, can lead to new ideas.
Do Your Homework. When you find one or two muses to inspire you,
pretend you are a reporter assigned to interview them for
Rolling Stone or Vanity Fair. To prepare, you'd study their body
of work, from the beginning to the present, and perhaps read
biographies and interviews. When you learn as much as you can
about them, you soon find that they were no more human than you
are. They just kept going when times got rough (and they always
do!), putting one foot in front of the other. Let their stories
inspire you but also let them teach you.
Visualize. Imagine, using all of your senses, what it must have
been like for your muse to create that masterpiece. What did he
do? How did she react? When you are ready, insert yourself as
the hero in this daydream. What does it feel like when you are
the one reaching that goal? Allow yourself to imagine many
wonderful things happening to you.
Work It. Don't be surprised when you start trying new habits in
real life that improve your skills. Have you learned to kick
around a mic stand from your rock idol? Are you trying a makeup
tip that your muse tried? Are you sending thank you notes
because your favorite band sends them? Good! These methods work
for a reason, and there's no law saying that you can't add on
techniques that work for others. Try them out, and take your
music to the next level.
About the author:
Carla Lynne Hall is a musician, music biz writer, and the author
of The DIY Guide to the Music Biz eBook which is available at
http://www.DIYGuide-MusicBiz.com. She is releasing Supernova,
the third release on her Moxie Entertainment record label.
Samples of Supernova can be heard on
www.http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/carlahall3
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