WANT A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

Transcription

1 WANT A CAREER IN THE MUSIC INDUSTRY? 6 THINGS YOU SHOULD CONSIDER

2 What is the music industry really like? Start now, it s worth it Plan for your dream job and know your career options Studying with the experts is essential It s constantly changing It takes passion 2

3 YOUR PATH STARTS HERE If you re currently approaching high school graduation and the idea of working in the music industry has always intrigued you, this ebook was made for you. Whether you re interested in becoming a music producer, artist or businessperson, it s important for you to know how the industry functions, what to look for in a college and what opportunities await you. As the staff behind one of the top colleges in the country for contemporary music, we talk to high school students (and their parents) all the time about their musical aspirations and these job options. And in the pages ahead, you ll find the six things we encourage all of them to consider about the music industry. Once you read through and think about these, you ll be ready to set yourself on a path to success. 3

4 1 WHAT IS THE MUSIC INDUSTRY REALLY LIKE? The music industry is one of the most exhilarating fields to study and offers many opportunities to those with a diverse set of skills. It s important to understand what you ll need to be a successful musician and what the music industry can be to you. We asked the faculty at Musicians Institute what it means to them. THE MUSIC INDUSTRY IS... MAURICE VERLOOP Bass Program Chair STEWART JEAN Drum Program Chair An ever-changing landscape. Yours to conquer. Limited only by yourself. STIG MATHISEN Guitar Program Chair DEBRA BYRD Vocal Program Chair RACHEL YOON Dean of the School of Performance Studies & Keyboard Program Chair JONATHAN NEWKIRK Audio Engineering Program Chair CHARLES CHEMERY Independent Artist Program Chair STACY A. TURNER Music Business Program Chair PAUL ROBERTS Guitar Craft Program Chair Difficult but challenging and rewarding. Collaborative, innovative and inspiring. Seeking talented technicians like you. Recreated and reshaped by you. Exciting, dynamic and rewarding. Challenging, changing and inspiring. 4

5 2 START NOW, IT S WORTH IT. The music industry offers the most creative landscapes to pursue a career in. Stand out in this competitive field by getting a head start. NETWORK, NETWORK, NETWORK! The entertainment industry is a small community. Meet as many people as you can and try to identify who the key players are. Making them aware you exist is an important beginning step. KNOW YOUR MARKET Understanding trends, fads and hypes are crucial to a successful career, let alone to major companies/management. Learn to identify what is in and take advantage of the opportunities they present. BUILD YOUR BRAND ONLINE Facebook, Twitter and Instagram are great, but a personal account is not the optimal choice for a professional appearance. Create and maintain a personal and professional account. Having accounts with sites such as LinkedIn and AngelList will also help show you in a professional manner as well as make online networking easy. CONSISTENCY IS KEY Keep an open mind and work with as many people who show potential for greatness as possible. Being a part of great projects can have great return. Success breeds success. INTERN We all had to start some somewhere. Try to get an internship at a company that can offer you experience and let you interact with their projects and not their coffee runs. 5

6 3 PLAN FOR YOUR DREAM JOB AND KNOW YOUR CAREER OPTIONS Whatever it is you aspire to be audio engineer, guitar designer, solo artist knowing your dream job will help you better research companies and colleges. At the same time, it s essential to know about all your options. Why? In this industry, there are plenty of revenue sources, and one job often leads to another. Being prepared for a variety of roles will give you a better chance to move around and move up throughout your career. Conductor Orchestrator Music Producer Music Lawyer Music Publishing Manager Performing Musician Recording Artist Music Director Sound Engineer Studio Musician Recording Engineer Dialogue Editor Composer Songwriter Post Production Engineer Here s a list of CAREER OPTIONS you may want to explore... Film Mixer Tour Technician Tour Manager Band Manager DJ Music Educators Stage Manager Guitar Builder Venue Manager Artist Relations Manager 6

7 REAL-LIFE EXAMPLES Want to see just how diverse your path could be, and how one starting point can lead to many different opportunities? Graduated from two programs at MI: Audio Engineering & the Independent Artist Program TROY LAURETA Freelanced as keyboardist with artists from Disney, American Idol & The Voice Was mentored by Grammy-winning producer/songwriter David Foster Produced #1 record in Asia for teen singer Charice Founded his own production company, The Assembly Entertainment Worked with artists including Deborah Cox, Melanie Fiona & Iggy Azalea Became Musical Director & touring keyboardist for #1-selling artist Ariana Grande DONNY GRUENDLER Became freelance musician Went on tour as hired gun for multiple artists Finished touring and began teaching Discovered love of designing curriculum Moved into executive academic position, VP of Academic Affairs at MI 7

8 4 STUDYING WITH THE EXPERTS IS ESSENTIAL This is important! As you begin the college application process, you have to really consider where you can best receive the knowledge and skills you need to lead a successful music career. Need help narrowing down your list? Talk to your parents, visit schools and refer to these tips on what to look for: CAMPUS Should have hi-tech recording studios, stages and practice labs. LOCATION Should be in the center of the music industry, with opportunities to network and get gigs. STUDENTS Should be like-minded peers who you can learn from and collaborate with. CURRICULUM Should offer programs and degrees that cover performance, business and technology. FACULTY Should have real-world experience working in the music industry. 8

9 5 IT S CONSTANTLY CHANGING The music industry is an ever-changing entity that is always redefining itself. To stay current, you have to be able and willing to keep up with the latest technology, trends, bands, businesses and news. 8-TRACK VINYL DIGITAL DOWNLOADS A FEW WAYS YOU CAN KEEP UP: R Go to concerts and other industry-related events R Meet and network with other musicians R Maintain an active social media presence R Stay up to date with the latest technologies R Read current music blogs and magazines CASSETTE CD 9

10 6 IT TAKES PASSION This may sound obvious, but to lead a career in the music industry, you have to be a fan of it. That alone won t help you break in (remember: hard work, a college degree, intern), but employers want professionals who love what they do. WHAT DOES YOUR PASSION LOOK LIKE? Confidently, yet humbly, advertise yourself. Be open to constructive criticism. Demonstrate a willingness to express yourself honestly and creatively. Your best work will be authentic and inventive. Quickly and professionally respond to s, phone calls and text messages. Always be professional, polite and punctual. Your business is your reputation, and it will determine exactly who you continue to work with, and who continues working with you. 10

11 ABOUT MUSICIANS INSTITUTE Now that you know more about the music industry and the career options ahead of you, it s time to start applying to college. We encourage you to consider Musicians Institute, a place where dreams are welcomed, where relentless passion for a precise outcome is honored, and where ambition to create and design a life of your choosing is our goal. MUSICIANS INSTITUTE is dedicated to preparing graduates for creative and professional careers in the contemporary music industry. We re all music, all the time. OUR FACULTY is made up of professors who own postproduction houses, win Grammy awards, tour with Santana, coach contestants on The Voice you get the idea. They practice what they teach, and their connections are invaluable. WE RE LOCATED in Hollywood, California, the center of the music industry. (Here are seven reasons why Hollywood is the best place to go to college for music.) AND WE OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF MUSIC DEGREES within two main programs: Performance and Entertainment Industry. Not sure what you want to do? Our dedicated staff can help you figure it out. REQUEST MORE INFORMATION ABOUT MI NOW.

12 REQUEST MORE INFORMATION NOW E: T: While Musicians Institute provides no guarantee that employment will result from attending or completing any program offered by the institution, we are dedicated to assisting students in finding professional opportunities. For comprehensive career and financial information, please visit our website at and