29 Tips for a Long and Successful Music Career

Рет қаралды 3,857

9 ай бұрын

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Do you want to be more successful as an artist? Do you aspire to a long music career?
Do you wish someone had put together a list of tips and advice to help you achieve your musical goals?
Well then, you’re in luck! In today’s video, Disc Makers CEO Tony van Veen gives you his 29 tips for music success and longevity. At 24 minutes, this video is longer than most, but it is so chock full of tips we couldn’t possibly make it shorter! (Trust us, if you pick up even one or two solid tips, it’ll be worth your time.)
Tony culled these tips from his personal experiences, plus from talking to many artists and industry professionals over the past couple of decades. Will they guarantee success? Of course not, but they will help you become more successful at music, and they’ll get you to your goals faster.
Check out the video, and let us know your thoughts (including which were your favorite tips, plus any additional tips you might have) in the comments below the video. Tony reads every comment and replies to the best ones.
Don't forget to download our accompanying guide:
www.discmakers.com/request/29...
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Пікірлер: 61

@ModusVivendiMedia 9 ай бұрын

0:00 Intro 1:56 #1 - Treat this like a job. 2:16 #2 Prepare for the long game - you may need a day job until you can make a living only from music. 2:50 #3 - You will need to invest money before you make any. 3:52 #4 - There's a lot of competition - good is not good enough. 4:24 #5 - Find a way to stand out from the crowd. 4:56 #6 - Realize you are in business (of building a fanbase). 5:30 #7 - You gain fans one at a time. 6:04 #8 - Everything starts local. 6:44 #9 - Build a network. 7:18 #10 - Be professional. (Be on time, be courteous, etc.) 7:28 #11 - Don't take the jerks personally. 8:14 #12 - Release music regularly. 8:46 #13 - The road to success is on the road. (You have to tour.) 9:25 #14 - Make cool physical products. 10:11 #15 - Enjoy the ride. 10:46 #16 - You're not rehearsing enough. Rehearse more than you think necessary. 11:37 #17 - Concerts are a visual experience, too. Practice engaging with the audience. Remind them to buy merch. 12:50 #18 - Build a marketing funnel. Social for show; email for dough. 14:07 #19 - Track your metrics. 14:38 #20 - Try different things to see what works best. 15:28 #21 - Celebrate the wins. 15:49 #22 - When you're knocked down, get back up. 16:25 #23 - Listen to advice and feedback, but know what to ignore. 17:20 #24 - Don't put up with toxic partners, fire and replace them. 18:13 #25 - Do most of it yourself early on. (Except legal advice.) 19:01 #26 - There are no guarantees. 19:43 #27 - YOU define what success is for you. 20:38 #28 - Don't give up too soon. 21:13 #29 - Ask for what you want. 22:18 #30 [bonus] - Be true to yourself.

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for doing this... 👍

@jamesdunlap 9 ай бұрын

I use to work in NYC as an entertainment consultant. I shared office space with Alan Jay Lerners business manager. One rainy afternoon day I had the privilege is sitting and talking with the man. I asked him this one question : looking back over your career what is the one piece of advice you would give to a young person becoming a composer? He thought for about a minute and then said this to me: Don’t concern yourself with trends, what’s hot or will be hot, don’t concern yourself with whose on top, just honestly as you can create the music you love that is authentic to you and hope somebody will like it as much as you do and buy it. Be true to yourself!

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Great one!

@xalliandix 9 ай бұрын

I've said this before - Thank you for advocating for the indie artists, and for always offering SOLUTIONS. So many people want to complain about the problems, without offering any solutions; and that's just not helping anyone. Thanks again, much love to ya, Tony. - Andrew

@rogerbourne4377 2 ай бұрын

I've been doing your 30 bonus tip for the last 8/9 years and I'm much happier. I found my true North and I like what I write or I don't write it. Thanks Tony.

@SherryAnne 9 ай бұрын

Excellent, Tony. Having been in this for over 20 years, and walking through every one of those steps, I can testify that this is true. Your list was great - a systematic a step by step for anyone starting out, or grinding their way through. Musicians and artists, take note! P.S. interaction is critical, everywhere and anywhere, ESPECIALLY social media.

@petermaggitti6520 2 ай бұрын

Tony, Thanks for the spot-on tips and inspiration.

@christopherkann9255 5 ай бұрын

I appreciate these videos, it's good to have someone that actually wants to help musicians no matter what stage in our musical journey were at

@user-yo9vt9zw2l 7 ай бұрын

Love this whole talk especially “enjoy the journey” and the bonus tip at the end. It’s so easy to get discouraged in any business endeavor, but especially in a potentially vulnerable place like in the public eye. So many nuggets of wisdom here. Thank you so much!

@YerPalSkipp 9 ай бұрын

Tony, this was great. And as a guy who works in music, books, movies (and occasional series TV), I gotta say that there are corollaries to every one of your tips in every other creative field. So much of it is tenacity. So much of it is strategy. But it always comes back to doing what you love, with all your heart. And then doing it and doing it till you're reeeeeeally fucking good at it. And then doing it some more. Refining, Experimenting. Working your way through the roster of inevitable mistakes, and learning from each of them. So you don't have to do them again. And in the process, scraping as close to greatness as you can possibly get. I love this so much I'm putting it on my "Star File" on inspirational clips. THANK YOU SO MUCH!!! You've done a lot of great ones. But I think this is the best.

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Thanks so much! Indeed, quite a few of my tips are just life lessons that apply for accountants, pharmacists, AND artists. But so many people don't do these little things that will lead to success in life regardless of the career path.

@TIMOWHITEBUFFALO 8 ай бұрын

Number 30 was the most important point for me...thank you...

@HelensWillowWind 2 ай бұрын

Thank you!!! My tips to add: Always watch your videos, put them in a file, over time, watch them again to retain the most info. I post quotes and notes in my studio space of the suggestions most germaine to where I am in the process at the time....

@tonyvv 2 ай бұрын

🥰🥰🥰

@AndyCarhart 2 ай бұрын

Thanks Tony. Always appreciate the inspiring words!

@zero-project 9 ай бұрын

I am grateful for your precious time to share your insights with us, Tony! It means a lot to me.

@MisterNewman 8 ай бұрын

Thanks Tony. These were solid tips. Always appreciate your videos.

@MrHillbilly49 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for the tips. There is a lot of good advice here and I am saving this video.

@davidmoskowitz1801 6 күн бұрын

Great stuff thanks for sharing

@markpulsipher5799 9 ай бұрын

Thank you for speaking the truth

@rudebone 2 ай бұрын

Thanks for sharing

@SuperBeatrice01 5 ай бұрын

I’m taking in your points and very good advice.Thank you !

@user-jx7ny6fv3b 13 күн бұрын

This is your new buddy Shawn Michael Valentine. I bet everything you are saying seems like common sense to you and your advice comes out of your mouth with very little effort. You are preaching every I've been preaching to others who wanted to be part of what I was doing. I would work hard at a crappy job and go home and play all night some times getting only 1 or 2 hours of sleep and go back to work. Now I'm diebetic with a lot of pain in my feet and and I'm getting close to loosing them I also have severe carpal tunnel in my hands. I can't hold a pick any more thank God I learned how to play Flamenco Guitar it's helping me now. They won't operate on my hands until I get my sugar under control and I'm not sure I want my hands operated on. The most important thing I heard you say was enjoy the journey, some many people don't start enjoying their day until it's about over. One of my sayings is, Is it better to be great or part of something great? SMV.

@Reidar5537 9 ай бұрын

Excellent points, they largely support my journey in the music biz. I have experienced that it takes 10 - 12 years to become "famous overnight"

@masonpm 8 ай бұрын

As usual, fantastic and uplifting information! Thank you SO MUCH Tony! x

@johndickson5665 2 ай бұрын

Tony, You are a very precious resource! Thank youso much. I will review your 29 + 1 bonus tips to provide me ther support and guidance any independent, older artist needs to keep moving forward happily in their own musical adventure! Gratefully, John Wesley Dickson. (Hey, I listened closely and i am "networking" with you! Thanks!

@Sukanthiradha 8 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this video, it was truly inspiring to hear your advice! I’ve been a closet music maker for a few years now and a bit shy in public plus where I currently live in India there are not that many opportunities, anyway I will keep going with my bedroom/roof top recordings and see where it takes me. At least I’m enjoying the creativity of it all and am fulfilled but would definitely like to make sone money one day so I will remember your tips!

@kareemkelgazzar 7 ай бұрын

Hey Tony, Thank you so much for making this video, it was really helpful...Tony if you can create the same video for songwriters only on how to survive and succeed in the music business...That would be great...Such as how to find and work with a publisher and how to gain money from their songs written, distributed, and published without being a performing artist...Thank you so much again.

@tonyvv 6 ай бұрын

Unfortunately, it's much harder for songwriters who do not perform their music live. More networking to find the right publisher or partner to push your tracks to labels, studios, etc.

@MCJimmieeeOfficial 9 ай бұрын

Thanks for alot of tips

@ljmounteney4131 8 ай бұрын

I'm glad I'm subbed to your newsletter. This helped me feel better today as I'm def hitting that wall and struggling with the 'long game' ❤

@DiscMakers 8 ай бұрын

Glad we could help, and don't forget to tell your friends! We release fresh content, full of tips and advice, regularly. 👍

@tonyvv 8 ай бұрын

Yeah, you’re gonna run into stretches that are difficult, even discouraging. Sometimes it’s best to push right through, but occasionally taking a break for a week can be reinvigorating.

@DanHarrisonMusic 9 ай бұрын

Great reminders and perspective; I need this printed out and framed as the "30 commandments" to read every morning when I wake up!

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

With a picture of my face next to it! 😂😂😂

@DanHarrisonMusic 9 ай бұрын

@@tonyvv of course!! 😆

@rogerbourne4377 9 ай бұрын

WOW! I've got a headache now. Thanks Tony!

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Sorry bout that... 😇

@davidstone5094 9 ай бұрын

Number #1 should be: ... learn to write radio friendly hit songs that are 3-3.5 minutes long..(live you extend them by a minute or more) If for example you like or enjoy the "Rolling Stones" then listen to their hits songs over and over again. Take notes on every detail of hit songs. Good examples are "Honkey Tonk Women" and "Jumping Jack Flash".... One last tip is to keep your songs up-tempo. (120 bpm -all the way up to 160 bpm) Your songs and live shows should be like a cardio class. If you can get them moving their bodies and dancing, especially the women then that is a very good sign. ...If women do not dance then the men will not dance. No hit songs ? Then your most likely going to starve...

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Just like success is not singularly definable, neither are hit songs. Yes, your formula is key for mainstream artist success, and I agree with it. But writing "great songs," which I've included in my tip #4, can really encompass any genre.

@bryanslepicka3541 9 ай бұрын

Consider joining your local American Federation of Musicians union.

@iancoulls Ай бұрын

Hi Tony. Could you please tell whoever is responsible that to send an identification code overseas, if they put the country code on front, (for most countries) they need to drop the zero off the front of the local number. Otherwise we don't get the code. Sorry, but if we can't get in, this is the fastest way to tell anyone.

@marcinpapke9390 5 ай бұрын

I am surprised that you didn't include among that 29 tips one of the very important one that may be pivotal for one's career (in a positive or more likely, in a negative way): do not fall for major label's slavery contract or any exploitative contracts / agents / labels that would squeeze you and spit you out. All that glitters is not gold. Educate yourself on legal matter of things around music biz. Lawyer up if needed before signing anything. Most of the famous artists from 15-30 years ago started to make money after they passed their 30s or even around their 40s when they were able to set themselves free from those exploitative contracts. Many artists didn't survive that period of being chained to a major record company and ended their careers broke financially and emotionally - once they were ditched by those companies.

@tonyvv 3 ай бұрын

True. I figure, the odds that most artists are unlikely to be in a position to even consider a major contract…

@david_jack_skinner 8 ай бұрын

Great info! Gave you a thumbs up after ACCIDENTALLY hitting thumbs down! So, cancel that one out please!

@DiscMakers 8 ай бұрын

👍

@cherylgreen3482 9 ай бұрын

What about an instrumentalist? I'm a pianist who wŕites, records, mixes, and produces music alone. Is it possible to make a living doing this?

@willmcmillan1430 9 ай бұрын

Yes. My friend Doug Hammer does it. Lots of his pianist/composer friends do it. And it took him (and them) many years of releasing music and building relationships and performing to make a living doing it...

@cherylgreen3482 9 ай бұрын

Is there any different suggestions for us than a "band"? I've only done 2 benefit concerts and the only merch was a single CD album. It was a small venue and I wouldn't even be able to feed myself on those profits.

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

Well, as I said in the videoe, it all depends on how you define success. If you're hoping to top the Billboard or Spotify charts, being an instrumentalist is generally not the way. But that doesn't mean you can't have success -- or make a living -- as an instrumentalist. Many of my tips still apply, but more of it will be about networking and playing with others to get a regular thing going.

@tonyvv 9 ай бұрын

@@cherylgreen3482 My tips apply whether you're a band or solo artist.