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35 Tips for Self-Management
as a Musician
by Christopher Knab - Fourfront
Media & Music - May
2003
Back to The Academy
Most musicians say they want to make a lot of money with their music, but when it comes down to it, few are willing
to do what it takes to have their music heard, promoted, and marketed. Self-management can be the cure-all for
many dedicated, passionate, and talented musicians who are willing to put their careers on the line by working
hard to carve out their own unique musical niche. The following tips are suggested for any musician who wants to
manage their careers as a business. You need to develop the skills of being a good business manager. Here are 35
tips to get you started.
1. Know what
you value most from making your music, and honor your values
2. Set up your
music career as a business, (sole proprietorship, partnership, or corporation?) and keep good records
3. Decide what
kind of career success you want, & evaluate your creative/business skills
4. Prepare an
overview, or draft of a career plan that address your goals
5. Outline specific
strategies to achieve your goals, and pick specific tasks to work on
6. Remember
that getting there IS the trip, and once you arrive somewhere...where next?
7. Don’t forget
that killing time also kills success
8. Don’t let
a day go by without doing something to keep you to your plan
9. Stay focused
on what you have planned to do, and don’t run away from it
10. Be sure
to get regular feedback on your music from the music business contacts you have made
11. Stay informed:
read books and articles on the business of music regularly
12. Organize
your office space, and keep it organized
13. Practice
your communication skills in person, as well as on the phone
14. Be sure
to follow-up on any promises you have made to anyone in the business
15. Create a
Webpage, and promote it aggressively.
16. Join and
support music/musician associations; participate in membership activities
17. Remember
that you are not alone as a musician, find unique networking opportunities
18. Don’t stay
frozen in one belief system; be willing to let go and learn
19. When something
doesn’t work…stop doing it, and don’t do it again
20. Be sure
to give yourself time to stop and do nothing. i.e. Rest!
21. Keep your
physical self in good shape, and eat a reasonably healthy diet
22. Identify
who your most important friends and supporters are, and don’t forget them
23. At least
once a year, study some topic you would not normally consider studying
24. Go out!
Wherever your office is, take regular breaks, and pace yourself accordingly
25. Seek inspiration
from unlikely sources
26. Don’t let
any kind of success you create get to your head. Be grateful, and move on
27. Don’t blame
other people for your struggles
28. Take advice
only from those who have earned it
29. If you can’t
or don’t want to do some particular task...don’t; hire out intelligently
30. Find out
what your personal work rhythms are, and honor them
31. Nurture
your relationship with fans, and communicate with them regularly
32. Only use
attorneys, booking agents, and publicists with music business backgrounds
33. Realize
that the unexpected may show up at any moment, and be able to react to it
34. Don’t follow
trends, observe them and learn from them
35. Realize
that performing, promoting, and marketing in non-traditional ways are much easier to do than trying to act like
a superstar.
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Christopher Knab is an independent music business consultant based in Seattle, Washington. He
is available for private consultations on promoting and marketing independent music, and can be reached by email at: chris@chrisknab.net
Chris Knab's new book, 'Music Is Your Business'
is available NOW from the Music Biz Academy bookstore.
Visit the FourFront Media and
Music website for more information on the business of music from
Christopher Knab. |
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