As you’re looking around for the right engineer or producer, it’s always a good idea to ask for a reel that accompanies their credits. Any good producer will have one handy, and it’s a great way to kick off conversation with them to see if they’d be a good working fit for your project.

My theory was to start and end with a bang, but to be honest now I think it’s best to just give people your best stuff in whatever order feels good on the day.

Writing a set list can be one of those little procrastination things that really suck time away from more important stuff.

From now on I’m going to set myself a 15 minute time limit and keep your points handy ;-)

- chris

Learning marketing basics and best practices is a great way for musicians to understand how to promote themselves. And, the more you learn, the better position you’re in to reach potential fans.

Great suggestion.

You make some good suggestions on other things a musician can do besides music to improve his/her odds at building a career with music. I think you left out one important one though (where 99% of musicians fall down): Marketing.

Marketing is all about getting your music out to the people who are most likely to appreciate it and potentially BUY it or attend a show. To me, marketing helps to make your art as a musician more meaningful since what good is even the greatest song in the world if there is nobody to listen to it?

In the perfect scenario, you’d divvy up these jobs around a band and have everyone doing something that they are somewhat talented at or interested in doing.

My one word of caution is that if there’s something that you need to do but can’t stand doing yourself or it just takes forever and you always put it off – just pay someone else to do it. You’ll be happier and what you’ll lose in money you’ll often more than get back in time and professionalism (hopefully).

Cheers!