The Opportunist: The Artist

The first time I told someone I wanted to be a musician, they told me that I wouldn’t make any money. “Maybe you should be a doctor or a lawyer,” they would say. Anyone who actually knows me wouldn’t let me anywhere near a white coat or even think about trusting me with a court case. If I had a penny for every time someone said I wasn’t going to make money in this business, I’d already be rich. After this week of class, I was once again reassured that these people were wrong.

Tony Rackley and Angela Easterling are living testaments of this. It is absolutely possible to make money in this business and still love what you do. As a class, we had a chance to speak with Tony and Angela, and the advice they gave us was just brilliant.

Before you can be paid for being a musician, you have to have songs, hundreds of them. How do you write the perfect song though? Tony and Angela both agreed that there is no such thing as the perfect song. You have to write songs that resonate with you first and foremost, then they will resonate with your audience. When you stop writing for yourself, you stop writing good, genuine songs.

Angela spoke about different revenue streams you can take advantage of as an artist. You must be a member of a PRO, either BMI or ASCAP to ensure that you are being compensated for the music you write. After that, there are endless means of making money. Whether it be from royalties, gigs, selling CD’s and merch, having your music in commercials and ads, or licensing your music, there’s not a shortage of opportunities. You just have to be willing to take them.

Tony and Angela were just the inspiration I needed this week. I have my doubts, as a singer/songwriter, about the future, but they are living, breathing proof that it is possible to be successful in the music business and love what you do. I learned that you absolutely have to be pushy in this industry. Take every opportunity, push your music on people. If you believe you’re good enough, then others will believe it too. It’s about having the confidence and determination to pursue what you want. Opportunities don’t just fall in your lap. You have to bring them upon yourself. Keep sincerity and genuineness close at hand when making any decision in the music industry and when writing songs. You’ll always have your sincerity to come home to when you get lost.

“Keep a good heart. That’s the most important thing in life. It’s not how much money you make or what you can acquire. The art of it is to keep a good heart.” – Joni Mitchell