In days of old, musicians were epic. Think Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Freddie Mercury! These were faces, and perhaps more importantly sounds, that changed music forever. Even in fifty years, their records will likely still receive plenty of airtime.
Nowadays, though, artists are far more liable to burn and then, in large part, disappear altogether. We have our big hitters, of course but, for the most part, modern music is for the here and now.
If money in the moment is your main priority, then there’s nothing wrong with that. But, if you have dreams of gracing people’s homes even when you’re long gone, it’s time to change your tune, and start thinking about how you can play the long game.
In some ways, continuing to make music is the best thing you can do here, and practical steps such as voice warm ups and earplugs for musicians are your best options to make that possible. But, we’re going to look not only at how you can keep making music but also how you can keep making waves.
Follow the road of change
Like all industries, music has seen some major changes of late. For now, at least, live gigs are out in place of streaming, and you need to stay on top to stay in-style. Admittedly, riding change in itself isn’t a guarantee, but it does ensure that you stay at the forefront. And, it’s this front running reputation that’s going to help you earn your spot in the music hall of fame.
Learn from the pros
While your music won’t stand the test of time with mere imitation, there’s a lot to be said for learning from past pros. Of course, turning to the music of the best is essential for helping you judge what exactly constitutes a ‘classic’ song, but that’s not all. After all, iconic musical figures are often remembered for more than their talents. Stage performance and charisma to rival that of Elvis can also go a long way towards helping people hold you in their hearts for many years to come.
Keep the love strong
Often, even seemingly promising new musical acts lose it after a few albums, and a loss of passion is often to blame. Sadly, while everyone gets into music for love to start with, that love doesn’t always stick around when making music becomes work and the pressure’s on to do more.
But, remember – the greats didn’t get where they are from going through the motions. In fact, the majority of them stuck to their guns and made the music that excited them regardless of advice. Think about it; if Queen had let the bland side of musical business get in the way then we might never have been blessed with Bohemian Rhapsody!
So, if you ever feel like you’re going through the motions, check yourself. Reassess what’s going wrong, remember to take time out to play just for fun, and then sit back to enjoy a musical career that spans decades.
