by Sophie Coolbaugh

Created on: September 22, 2008

The UK music scene has a reputation for being the most innovative and exciting in the world, so no wonder it is tough to get a foot in the door be it as an artist or indeed at the business end of things. It is hard, but with the right skills and tenacity (think dog and bone!) it is not impossible. You will need to be in the country though as you may well get a phone call one day asking you to show up for a chat within the hour - and if you are not able to hop on the underground to make the meeting rest assured that they will have a dozen people ready to be there if you can't.

Once geography is sorted the first thing to think of is skills: if you have skills the industry needs, you stand a chance at least. In my days marketing and people skills were essentials, as was resilience. Your ability to withstand vast amounts of pressure and sometimes abuse is still key, but if you have specialist knowledge like intellectual property law or digital downloads you will be in demand. When I say digital downloads do note that I'm talking from a legal, technical or marketing standpoint - not your ability to navigate the murky peer-to-peer waters!

If you know you have what it takes, the second step is to shout it out from the rooftops: tell anyone and everyone that you're looking for a way in. You never know who's got a cousin who has a step-brother who's window cleaner's uncle is in the business. Don't be shy! If you are shy, then this is not the industry for you I'm afraid.

You also want to talk to the right people and look in the right place for vacant positions, though most get filled through word of mouth. The industry rag is called Music Week and their vacancies column is accessible on their website for free. Specialist agencies such as The Music Market, Handle and Career Moves all have great relationships with the record companies and can help you find your niche.

Lastly be prepared to start at the bottom: I was stuffing jiffy bags and making tea for a long time before I was given my first proper artist to work with! If you get a chance to temp as a receptionist or Girl Friday, take it: you'll meet people, and you'll see what it's really like. Be open minded about what department you end up in: I'm a rock chick at heart but started at in classical music. Not my cup of tea music wise, but a fantastic place to learn the ropes.

The music business is not a financially rewarding career choice as record companies know that they do not have to spend as much on wages to attract passionate and able candidates. The thing is if you have the music bug, it is the best place to be to feed your addiction. Be prepared for the long-haul: it can take time to get in, and you will not be bombarded VP shortly thereafter. If you are patient and completely commited, though, you can make it. I moved to London from continental Europe 16 years ago to do just that, and at the last count I was running my own label for one of the biggest independents in the country. So far, no regrets!

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