[guitargeek6298]

I've been seriously thinking about careers lately, after ditzing around for six years out of high school. My only real passion is music, but I'm also capable of pursuing other careers, such as something with computers. But deep down, I want to do something with music, and I was curious if anybody here is a professional in the industry.

Mostly, I'm wondering what options there are within the industry, and the steps that I would have to take to get there. I'm not limiting my thinking to just performing, but possibly other aspects as well. What would I have to focus on? What sort of schooling would I need, those sorts of things.

Does anybody have any insight?

Thanks in advance.

[Gods*Armygirl]

My brothers are trying to form a band, and go to collage to study music. I wouldn't know exactly what to say as to what steps to take, but if you really have a passion for music then go for it. The best sort of schooling would probly be college, but there are music schools.
p.s. I'm thinking about the same thing, and am not sure exactly what to do

[telecasting]

Old thread, but thought I'd pitch in, as its only 3am in England. I've posted a couple of times on the Music Business and Tech thread.

Try and get an internship with a record label. Any record label (that actually has a day to day operation) and see if you like it. Obviously, this is focused on the offstage part of the business, but it's a bit more stable a job.

As for the performing part, there is sessioning, which is notoriously hard to get into but if you do then its mostly reputation that can put food on the table. There is a lot of semi pro potential in the business which can allow you to have the fun of the music without the cold cans of baked beans on tour part.

If you are serious about the band side of performing as a "christian band", then approach churches and organisations such as the Salvation army about sponsorship. Put together a media pack in the same way that you would if you wanted to get signed (think a well produced demo, good quality pics (although you won't need to look the same as you would for a record label), a press release about yourself (a well written news style account of yourselves written in the third person) and as it would be for churches and organisations; a written account of why you feel called to serve God through the music, what you intend to do/achieve, why you feel that sponsorship would be beneficial to you and them, what you can add to the church/organisation). There are a bunch of bands that do this in England who are relatively successful.

Songwriting is about as steady as any other kind of writing as it demands two things that a lot of people don't have:
A) A talent for writing quality songs
B) A persistence for writing and re-writing until a song/poem/article is as good as it can be.
Hard to get into, and like sessioning, is reliant on reputation.

Sound recording is a possible line that includes the whole computer liking. The best way to do that is to simply do a course in it at college or community college or somewhere like that. Get an internship at a recording studio as a lackey and observe. Diversify. Try and get some work in a radio studio. Produce some music of your own using whatever software and hardware you can buy or borrow and create a portfolio of recordings. Sound engineering and recording can be very popular as well. Most churches I've been to could do with a sound guy who really knows what they're doing.

I'm not a professional musician and not a 'professional' in the music industry but I am doing an internship with a Christian record label which I am hoping and praying will open doors. I have been writing for a student magazine for a year and a half and have interviewed some professional, semi-pro and amateur bands. I have led worship and been in bands with varying degrees of ambition for 4 years. I have played live sessions (for free) for friends and brothers and sisters in Christ which have always been fun.

If you are really serious about performing, master your instrument even if you play the easiest music in the world. That includes your voice. Write songs all the time. Get into a discipline about writing. Review old songs and don't be afriad to rip up old songs. Get a four track or even better a computer recorder and record your songs, and get used to hearing yourself sing, even if you hate the sound of your own voice. There is nothing funnier than a singer who hears themselves sing and say "is that what I sound like?"