by Brandon Marcel

Created on: May 24, 2007

Your Music Careers Incremental Planning

Increase, increase, increase! That's all anyone seems to want to see today right? I mean in your 9-5 they're always pushing you to increase this, increase that, and increase that certain big thing...Income! Yeah, that's a good focal point, but, what about the steps to getting there? It is my belief that too often musicians and touring bands are looking for that instant success or 'miracle moment'. That one brief meeting with an industry top-cat that magically and beautifully springboards their career into huge international successes.

Though I have to admit I do believe in such miracles, upon further review you usually can see the step-by-step orderings which led to those individuals "miracle moments". Usually the only miracles involved from this viewpoint ends up being the miracle that these individuals didn't quit, throwing their hands up in defeat before their breakthroughs hit them. No, there probably won't be the day that P. Diddy arrives at your doorstep, rings the doorbell and whisks you away to New York to instantly start you down that road to superstardom (okay maybe barring those individuals that make the band next season), but there are things you as an indie can start doing right now as an indie artist to set yourself up for such 'miracles' like these.

You see, you must design a plan of incremental career increases. This in essence is the snowball affect. Looking at it from this point of view should manage to help you get over your own ego trips and actually start where you are, rather than trying to walk before you can even crawl too. This too then should also spare you the frustrations of reaching too far too fast, which can also lead to an early burnout. The key to incremental increases is becoming an opportunity chaser and not just a wage chaser as society has probably conditioned you to be. Think about it, buying that blue chip stock in its prime (at the highest rates usually) instead of that little noticed new start-up isn't always what's going to make you the most ROI. Those sure things are considered just that, but think of the investors of Google, Amazon, Ebay, etc., these individuals noticed the potential early and managed to come up big in the end and did so not by chasing money, but by chasing opportunity.

So as an artist what does this all mean? It means if basement mixed and mastered tracks are all you can afford right now-Do Them, if open mic nights are the only offers you're receiving as a new face in your town's scene-Take 'em, if creating a Myspace page for your bands all you can afford or are comfortable in creating online at this time-Do It! The most important things with this tactic is that you're getting started, and also that each step you are taking is a step forward toward your desired destination. Take the little steps today and I'm guessing you'll see the bigger opportunities beginning to pour in as you begin more and more to notice these incremental career advancement opportunities.

Until Next Time, Get Out There And Manifest Your Career's Success!

Learn more about this author, Brandon Marcel.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.