out, landing a major record deal next month isn’t likely to happen. Playing a fund-raiser
with a big crowd including some industry movers and shakers just might.
Set goals that will challenge you and then chop them up into smaller, quantifiable ob-
jectives that are attainable. Each objective brings you closer to your bigger goals. It will
help you’ll stay motivated and focused as you complete each step.
It’s also important to remember that goals should not be so firmly set that they trap
you in a box. They need to be adaptable and malleable. That was a factor for Brian Do-
herty. Doherty is a drummer and music teacher based in New York City. On the topic of
goals, he shared the following with me. “My goals have changed and evolved throughout
my career. When I first moved to NYC at the age of 18, my only goal was to get work as
a musician. A bit later, my wish was granted and I got loads of work, most of which were
crappy gigs with lousy pay. So much for reaching my goal!
Later, my goals evolved to reflect my wiser, more business-oriented mindset. They
became more about me only taking high paying work as a drummer and producer. What
happened? I stopped getting work altogether. Now, I’ve refined my goals to:
- Maintain a strong presence in the [music] business for as long as possible.
- Develop and nurture a network from every corner and crevice of the biz.
- Like a slow burning candle, maintain a steady, even hand in the business as a drum-
mer-for-hire, while diversifying my skill set (i.e., teaching, writing, songwriting, produc-
ing and drumming).