Having a career in music is not all sunshine and rainbows, and I’m sure you already know that, especially during the pandemic.
To start a career in the music industry, you need to not only release good music but you have to be willing to learn the trade, to advertise yourself, get to know the right people, and many more. It’s too tedious! But still worth it.
Let’s head on and enumerate the 25 reasons why being a musician today is awesome.
Table of Contents
#1 It feels good to be doing what you are passionate about
You are thinking of being a musician so it’s clear that you have a passion for music. If the passion in your heart is burning bright and hot, then do it or it won’t ever let you rest.
#2 You can have fun while getting paid
Since this is something you are passionate about, I am sure as hell you will be enjoying it. A plus to it is the fact that you get paid. This is true if you get bookings or gigs, so start finding people who need you now.
#3 You get to perfect your craft
Music, like most forms of art, needs its creators to be exposed and practiced. Being a musician will help you perfect your skills in creating music, playing your instrument, and/or singing since you’ll have more time for it.
#4 You can express yourself creatively
Humans are beings that possess creativity, and one of its mediums is music. With music, you can express and let out all the creative ideas you have with your composition, lyrics and even your album covers.
#5 You got a flexible schedule
If you’re a night owl who can’t even open their eyes in the day then, this career path is definitely for you.
Your body won’t need to adjust to the mundane schedule of things, because you can choose to work on your music at night, when your nocturnal self is enthusiastically active.
It’d be a different story if you’re under a record label though, unless you’re under your own label.
#6 You can have a day job or two
Since your schedule is flexible as a musician you can have a second job. This second job will either be your main job, if your music is just a sideline at night or in the morning.
Or it can be your sideline job, if you decide to focus on music or are already a well established musician and just want to have a fall back when things fail.
#7 Goodbye redundant routines, goodbye boring life
Life can be boring sometimes, thanks to the redundant routines we have. When you choose to be a musician, you need not to work.
There are a variety of things to be done when creating music and producing it so you won’t really have time to complain about anything.
#8 Being on the road, in the air, or aboard a ship
To be a musician means to travel around and spread music to every corner of the world they can reach. Traveling on the road, in the air, or aboard a ship is just a great experience every musician should experience. Doing tours, big or small, is a must-have experience.
#9 You can see and visit places you’ve never been to
Most musicians travel around to get people to listen to their music. A great bonus to doing these travels is the idea that they get to see and visit a place they’ve never been to and experience their climate, culture and the people.
#10 You get to experience new things everyday
A musician’s everyday life is unpredictable. There are a lot of things that happen unexpectedly since they travel, find inspiration in the most unexpected places, meet various people with different backgrounds to create music with and more.
#11 You always learn or improve skills you might need in the future
There are tons of skills you learn when you become a musician and the best among this is your communication skills. Being able to converse with others is one thing but being able to communicate your message effectively is on a whole new level.
Since you get to meet tons of people with different personalities you will be able to improve your skills and even practice the virtue of temperament, another skill essential for dealing with people.
#12 Money managing will become an easy peasy task (well, at least let’s hope!)
At the start of your music career, you surely won’t be a big household name. You will be a musician struggling to make ends meet as you finance your career and personal needs so you won’t have any other choice but to manage and budget your money.
#13 You’re actually learning a new language
Music is a language. To practice and create one is learning it. It is a language that transcends any social or economical barriers and is understood by many people.
#14 You automatically belong to a community
Musicians have this community that welcomes every musician. No matter if you have never met them before or have just passed by them once, you are all part of a community you can talk to.
They understand each other because of the struggles they have gone through in their journey.
#15 You’ll meet and collaborate with fellow musicians
You can meet, bond, and even collaborate with other fellow musicians. It’s another incentive on why musicians want to be musicians, because they meet people they click with and can make music with.
#16 You’ll be challenged all the time
Collaborations will not always be the style or genre you’re comfortable with and that’s the awesome thing about it.
You can improve your musical skills, learn a new music style, and challenge yourself with a genre you’ve never tried before, which will definitely increase your creativity.
#17 Sharing your experiences and getting messages across
Music is another way to share your experiences or send your message to people. Just like how Olivia Rodrigo shared her experience (a break up) and got her message (about self-love) across with her single “All I Want”.
#18 Making music that make people feel
Another amazing thing about being a musician is the way you can make people feel things they have or haven’t felt before.
A great example of this is Taylor Swift’s “All Too Well 10 Minute Version” which gained millions of fans with how the song made listeners feel the emotions Taylor felt even if they never experienced going through the same thing.
#19 Touching a person’s life with your music
Music is another way to touch the lives of people. It can be inspiring, comforting, and life saving. One song or music can change a person’s life for the better, some even literally saved lives, and to be its creator is such a gratifying feeling.
#20 Meeting casual listeners and fans
Meeting your casual listeners and fans can be exhilarating and it would definitely be one of the best experiences as a musician. To meet your fans, the people who don’t really know you deeply but still wish for your success and give their full support for anything you put out is a moment to be cherished.
#21 The satisfaction and recognition you get
Knowing that people listen to your music and recognize you as a good musician will bring you so much satisfaction. This kind of recognition is even more satisfying compared to having a corporate boss’ recognition.
#22 Receiving people’s support
Receiving support from people close to you is very overwhelming and it surely is a beautiful feeling. But to know that people you haven’t even met before supports you that just something else, that’s another kind of love and respect they have given you, so you better cherish it.
#23 A space you can run to or lock yourself in
Music can be a space you can run to when the world seems too much. You can lock yourself in your room and drown yourself in music and create them.
#24 Give contributions to the ever evolving musical community
The music industry has been there since before we were born and to be a part of this beautiful art’s history would be an honor. It would be even better to have your songs or albums recognized as one of the best in this decade or something.
#25 The money can be quite astounding (but we know you’re not there for the money)
If you’re already an established musician, with popular songs under your belt then you will surely have a high salary. Even if you’re not, the salary is still great, because you will just be doing what you love doing and get paid for it.
In conclusion, being a musician is awesome, just prepare yourself for the struggles and obstacles that will come your way. If you encounter them, remember these 25 silver linings and keep faith.
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James Hill is a veteran of the music industry. He first worked at Warner Reprise Records then later joined Interscope/ Geffen Records where he managed producers and songwriters and got his first platinum record for Keyshia Cole’s The Way It Is. He is now helping indie artists with branding and manufacturing through his company Unified Manufacturing, a CD/DVD, custom vinyl records and merch company in LA
