Become a professional
Recently, I was asked what it’s like to do music professionally. The seemingly harmless question forced me to think hard. To tell the truth, I do not remember the moment when I crossed this “border” myself. Nevertheless, I am fully aware of what it contributed to. I will not give you a ready-made recipe, but I hope that it will inspire you to think about the right approach and work ethic.
RESPECT AND HUMILITY
You play music with and for people. End of period. Regardless of your personality type, self-esteem, advantages and disadvantages, it is certain that you will build your world on relationships with other people. Regardless of whether they will be bandmates or squeaking fans under the stage – each of them deserves respect and gratitude. This does not mean that you have to suck up and play “kissing the ring” straight from the Godfather. All you need to do is take care of a few basic factors in your relationship with another person.
Be prepared There is nothing worse than a rehearsal (or concert!) For which someone was not preparing. Stress for him, impatience for others, average atmosphere. Overall – not worth it. Lots of material? Take notes, you can do it.
Be punctual It doesn’t matter if it’s a cover band rehearsal or a concert with your own band for 20. the audience. You were supposed to be at 15 o’clock then you’re in five. There is no five or fifteen student hours, nor “the others are also late.” On time. If there is a breakdown, let me know.
Be verbal You made an appointment, keep your word and the deadline. There is no cancellation of rehearsals on the day they were scheduled for. Not showing up on them without information falls out even less.
A break is a break Don’t play uninvited. If a rehearsal break is ordered – do not play, and certainly not through the amplifier. When a sound engineer picks up your band, only speak up when asked to do so. If any of my teams is reading this now, I sincerely promise improvement in this area! 😉
Don’t talk The negative energy released into the world will come back to you in one way or another. Do not start with topics that comment on the actions of others, skip all discussions about it. And if you have to criticize something, be able to say it to the right person in the face.
APPROACH
I always adhered to the principle, when you do something, do it the best you can. No matter if it was a New Year’s Eve party at the age of 16 or a jam session in Earl Smith’s garden in Jamaica. Always honest, always one hundred percent.
My point is that you cannot qualify the ridge as better or worse. If you are on a deadline and suddenly get a better offer, you cannot stand out against colleagues who are counting on you. Of course, it all depends on the work policy you have adopted and in most cases everything can be arranged, but anyway remember – be fair. Most of the music is teamwork, and when one element fails, everyone suffers. That’s why you have to be prepared for every eventuality – from spare strings and cables to painkillers. You cannot predict everything, but you can prepare for some things, and the gratitude of your colleagues and, above all, the fans, who see that 38 degrees fever, equipment failure and a broken string did not stop you from playing a good concert, will be remembered for a long time.
YOU ARE NOT A MACHINE
Ultimately remember that we are all human and therefore we are not bound by binary rules. We have the right to make mistakes and weaknesses, sometimes we just forget each other. Know what you expect from people and do your best to meet your standards yourself. And when you do… Raise the bar.
What do you expect from the people you work with? What can you improve today? Feel free to comment.
