Musicians often get stereotyped as being “flaky.” Unreliable musicians not only drive other musicians crazy, they hurt the relationships with venues, booking agents, and everyone else musicians rely on to get their music heard. But despite what stereotypes say, you CAN be a “creative type” and also know your way around a spreadsheet. So rather than hold yourself back, embrace the calendar and push you and your product forward. Here are three reasons it’s important to be an organized musician.
You will get your music out there and heard.
As musicians, we want people to hear our music and we want them to want it. If you’re not already an established band or performer, it can be extremely difficult to get your music to the right ears. The only way your music is going to be heard by anyone, however, is if you make sure it’s heard. Organized musicians take time every day to email and promote their music. It is also important to keep track of who you’ve spoken to and what you’ve said so you can strategically follow up. Make sure to book shows that make sense for your act. Research venues and abide by their rules. Venues will most likely disregard your ask if you haven’t researched them and know what to expect when playing there.
Here’s a video all about what research and organization around booking can do for your band:
Everyone will want to work with you.
Venues, bandmates, producers, basically everyone will definitely not want to work with someone who is constantly late, unprepared, tired, or unable to work for whatever reason. Excuses will only get you so far, so it is important to stay organized when planning rehearsals, shows, and recording time. If you are constantly on time and prepared, people will want to work with you and will recommend you in the future. This will also be important for getting your music out there, because the more efficiently you work, the more time you can spend on promotion and reaching out.
There are many business jobs out there.
Many musicians forget that there are tons of stable jobs out there in music that don’t require you to become the next Beatles. If you are an organized musician, there are plenty of music business and education jobs out there that are looking for people like you. If writing and performance has you frustrated, try your hand at teaching, booking, management, the list is endless. The same promotional skills you’ve learned with your band can translate into sales, booking into event production, band leadership into project management, and so much more. And by putting both your music and organizational skills to good use, you might be able to land the most coveted of them all: the day job that’s supportive of you taking time off to gig and tour.
Get more out of the time you put into your band with our free music business courses, Touring on a Shoestring and Building a Better Band.
