Are you preparing to take the plunge to fulfill your lifelong dream of making music your career?
But what if you’re not quite there yet?
You must be excited to quit your job and focus on music full-time, but it’s best to take one step at a time instead of going all-in.
Let’s tell you why.
5 Reasons to Avoid Going All in When Pursuing a Career in Music
1. A Stable Income Isn’t Guaranteed
While pursuing a career in music can be incredibly rewarding, it doesn’t guarantee a stable income right away. No matter how passionate and great you are, it doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll make a lot of money.
It’s best to start working on your music alongside your day job and wait until you make a name for yourself in the industry or have saved enough to support yourself through the journey.
2. You’ll Need to Invest Money before You Can Make Some
Another reason you should avoid going all in when pursuing a career in music is that you need money to invest in your craft. This could include taking lessons, buying equipment, and hiring professionals to help your career.
Additionally, recording demos, studio time, and marketing tools cost money. If you don’t have a source of income to finance your music career, you won’t be able to make it big.
3. Things Are Different When Creating Music Is Your Job
When you go all in on a music career, it may quickly start feeling like a job. This is not what most people want when they pursue a music career. They want to be able to do what they love and not have to worry about money.
However, if you don’t have another income source, your music career will turn into a job you must work to pay your bills. You might even have to sacrifice your personal life in order to succeed.
Many aspiring musicians start looking at things differently when this happens and ultimately regret their decision to go all in when pursuing their passion.
4. Succeeding as a Musician Requires Loads of Self-Motivation
If you’re not self-motivated, you’ll quickly lose interest in your music career because it’s hard work!
People who’re in it just for the money or who think the thrill of performing in front of big crowds will keep them going as a music artist are only fooling themselves.
There will be times when you want to give up, but only if you’re motivated will you eventually succeed. You need to be dedicated and passionate about your art and willing to put in the hard work if you want to make it far in the industry.
The Bottom Line
Making it in the music industry is no easy feat. A lot of time, effort, and money go into making this dream a reality.
Unfortunately, many people don’t realize this until it’s too late. They go all in when pursuing a career in music, only to find out that it’s not as lucrative and glamorous as they thought it would be.
To ensure you don’t fall into the same category, you should hold off on quitting your day job until you’re sure that music is really what you want to do and you can support yourself financially before the money starts rolling in.
Eric Dalius is The Executive Chairman of MuzicSwipe, a music and content discovery platform designed to maximize artist discovery and optimize fan relationships. Additionally, he runs the weekly podcast “FULLSPEED,” featuring interviews with cutting-edge entrepreneurs. As the founder of the “Eric Dalius Foundation,” he provides four scholarships for US students. Keep up with Eric on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, and Entrepreneur.com.