In the first part of this series, I wrote about a few ideas to keep in mind when starting out as a musician, like being careful about buying into music academia marketing, identifying what it is about music that brings you joy, and the importance of keeping your goals and your identity balanced while on your path. These concepts are generally introspective.
Today, we’ll head in a more outward direction. While the introspective process is an ongoing one, it’s only one side of our journey as artists. Discovering who we are as musicians is the foundation for our output. So, let’s talk about how to go about sharing that output! The main theme of today’s article will be around the concept of community.
It seems obvious, but often gets taken for granted: we can’t grow to our potential as individuals without being part of a community. And that definitely applies to our growth as musicians.
Having a community brings a wide range of benefits to a creator, and lacking one can bring some serious challenges to both the inner musician and the outward career. The state of your relationships will often define what opportunities open for you, and which ones pass by without a glance.
Since I’m a self-employed musician, my frame of reference will mainly be through that lens, although I believe the message still applies to musicians seeking jobs from employers or institutions. Whether you’re a music producer trying to get your name out there with collaborators and labels, a side player looking for bands to play with, a classical musician looking for an ensemble, or even an experienced musician trying to re-discover themselves, being an active member of the communities you will find yourself in is as crucial to self-growth as the inward-looking process.
If you’re an artist who writes your own music and performs live, you’ll need a team effort to make a meaningful impact. Yes, you can accomplish an awful lot on your own. You can write your own music, do your own branding, record/mix your own records, do your own press releases, load your own gear, promote your own shows, etc.. But there’s a limit to how much one person can do. Sooner rather than later, everyone needs help, and has weaknesses where other people excel. When there’s a well balanced collaborative effort, chances for success of each individual increases.
When building a team, be intentional. For any role you add, whether they be a manager, a co-writer, a publicist, booking agent etc., it helps to prioritize by asking “what can stand to be improved drastically, and for the most gain/growth? Are there any areas that I’m overlooking or don’t have time to do properly that could be a game changer if done right?”
Craft will be what initially gets people’s attention. But efforts to bolster a community over time will be what makes it hold you up in return. By treating everyone you meet with respect (musical collaborators, band mates, classmates, teachers, sound engineers, opening bands, bartenders, your fans, your neighbors, EVERYONE), you’ll attract that support around you in ways that can’t be predicted. The most random-seeming connections can turn into life changing opportunities. Creating and contributing to a culture of encouragement and basic human goodness is one of the most valuable things you can do for yourself, your career, and your community.
One of those unpredictable opportunities came for me when I got called to play with Vance Joy.
The story starts in New Orleans. I met my friend Trent Bower through a band he was playing drums with at the time called Loose Willis. We played together a handful of times over the years and hung out in the same circles and dug the same kinds of music.
At one point a few years later, Trent decided to move to LA. He started participating in the local scene there. After a while he got the opportunity to join Jaymes Young’s band. Then, Jaymes Young got a tour slot opening for Vance Joy.
On that tour, Trent got to know the Vance Joy team and became friends with Vance Joy's band.
Time passes.
Trent eventually got a call from someone on Vance Joy’s team asking if he knew any bass players that could step in for their next tour. As an Australian act, they were tapping Trent for connections in the US. Knowing their albums, Trent offered to audition. Since they had a rapport and he was a good hang, they let him.
Trent borrowed a bass, learned a song, and sent in a video. And, what do you know, he got the gig! That led to him performing with Vance Joy as he opened for Taylor Swift on her 1989 world Tour.
A year later, VJ’s manager was looking for a trumpet sub for the last leg of their North American Tour, and asked Trent for his recommendation. They needed someone who’d learn the parts in two days and also generally be professional and chill. Trent gave them my name, and two days later I was on a plane to meet the tour bus in Albany.
Talk about unpredictable! A drummer I met in New Orleans moved away, worked his way into a new local scene, got a gig, got another gig on a new instrument, and became a trusted source for musician connections in the US. I wouldn’t have gotten that call if I hadn’t been participating in the local New Orleans scene and been a supportive person, nor would I have if Trent hadn’t participated in the local LA scene or if he hadn’t been a supportive person.
There’s tons of stories like that. They all boil down to the same truth: a culture of respect and support breeds opportunity in unpredictable ways, whereas the opposite predictably yields a direct course towards failure.
Your overall community is a collection of smaller tribes that are united through YOU. How you treat people, along with how those people treat each other, creates a culture that affects everyone involved, for better or for worse.