Make sure you absolutely kick ass at what you do, whether it's singing or playing an
instrument.
- Show up.
In the words of legendary jazz bassist Charles Mingus, ‘Be on the scene.’ My good
friend, guitarist Tony Pulizzi took a big chance and moved his whole family to LA with
no job prospects. He was pounding the pavement every night, going to every jam session
he could find, making sure he was heard as much as possible, just being physically
present on a regular basis. When you don't have a gig, your regular job should be looking
for a gig. He did this persistently for two years before becoming the guitarist on Ameri-
can idol. It also helps that he's an amazing musician.
- Honor the music.
Unless you already are a hugely successful musician and can get away with saying
whatever you want, artists who are overly opinionated and refuse to open themselves to
new styles and ideas rarely make it, and are usually pretty boring musicians. Be open to
new influences. The more diversified you are, the more employable you'll be. I work a lot
because I can play swing, metal, classical, bluegrass, hip-hop. Those who specialize in
one genre and put all their eggs in one basket who manage to make a living are a small
minority. - Have a good attitude and make the best of every situation
Even if you are doing a crappy wedding gig with a bandleader who is a schmuck,
playing music you don't care for, be professional and play it like it's the greatest piece of
music ever written. No matter what you do, try to have fun and respect the people you are