Five tips to help you get started in your music performance career

Starting out in music can feel daunting. Discover practical, simple and free tips that you can implement in your music career today.

Timekeeping

Strive to be on time. Life can throw unexpected delays, but if you can make it a habit to be 5-10 minutes early to your next meeting or rehearsal, you'll never look back and feel that time was wasted.?

Not only does it show respect to the person you are meeting, but you can also use that time to compose yourself, prepare your instrument or equipment, or take a mindful moment to think about what you want to achieve from this experience.

Giving yourself the space to be early will also help prepare you for those unexpected delays, allowing you to walk in feeling confident and composed.

Be organised and ask questions

When you arrive at a rehearsal, make sure you have understood the brief, have all the kit that you need, and have made time for any preparation you need to do beforehand, such as listening to a reference track.

There is never any harm in asking questions - by doing so, you show that you care about the work you put into the rehearsal and performance. If working with singers, for example, ask what key they prefer the piece to be in to save you time in practice and rehearsal. If they don't know the key, ask for a reference track so that you can figure the key out.

You will notice a trend in the set lists you receive for gigs. By keeping a collection of all your charts/sheet music neatly organised, you will not have to do the work over again, and you will find practice much faster every time you go back to that song.

Ensure that your chart/sheet music matches the reference track (if one is provided). Sometimes, there are changes in break-out sections or unexpected drop-outs. This is particularly prevalent in live performance versions of songs.?

Network - by going to the gigs you love!

Finding your community in music is extremely valuable, and there is no better way to do this than by attending gigs, jam nights, sessions, open mics or improvisation nights in local venues.

If you don't feel ready to get up and play yet, that is fine! Just being there and becoming a familiar face is brilliant. You will begin to understand which musicians reference performers you admire. Eventually, you will build the confidence to join in or speak to the performers, and your network of musicians will grow. This is invaluable for your career; when you begin to play, people will begin to make a mental note of you and contact you to dep or suggest you for suitable projects. Think of these nights as relaxed auditions, playing the music you love with people who love it too!

Stay creative

Being a portfolio musician can be challenging sometimes, but remember,? you have joined a community of professional musicians who are all in it for the same reason. You are creating something impactful and meaningful through sound and expression. So continue to produce, perform, and make music. It is scientifically proven to improve mental health, increase productivity, and support social skills.?

It is always good to remind yourself why you chose to pursue this career in the first place, so why not practice your favourite piece as a reminder? Think about how it makes you feel and share that with your community.

Lastly, join a support organisation to represent your needs

It is important to have all the necessary insurance and contracts in place when you want to start performing. The ISM provides all of these benefits in our membership package. We have a team of in-house lawyers available to you should something go wrong (let's hope not!). The package also includes hundreds of resources for managing your finances, contracts, international touring and visa advice, networking and marketing opportunities, and wellbeing and mental health support.

This isn't all we do, though. We also campaign and lobby to ensure that your voice is heard at the highest level. The rights of musicians and creating a sustainable economy for music to thrive are at the heart of everything we do.

Read more about our membership benefits and become an ISM member today.