Why to be ready for opportunity before you think you need to
Imagine you’re back in your first apartment.
(Or, just look around, if that’s where you’re living now.)
Do you ever dust? Are there holes in the couch? Empty pizza boxes? Unmade bed? Have you done anything at all to decorate?
What if your dream date called you and wanted to swing by in a half hour to pick you up for a night out?
Would you have time to make the place look presentable?
Or would you wish that you had kept it looking at least decent all this time?
You could have bought a poster or painting, or a cheap rug for the living room. You could have kept up with the dust bunnies in the corners, and not let the pile of unused sports gear languish in the living room. Maybe you could have bought a piece or two of real furniture – even just from Ikea or a flea market – rather than putting the TV on top of a door laid across a couple of cinder blocks. (For the record: I’ve done that. Well, not the TV, but the door on cinder blocks as a desk.)
You never know when opportunity is going to knock. You gotta be ready before you think you need to.
Last week, in Week 7 of the Mar/Apr Pro Track cycle, students started recording vocal demo tracks in a recording studio.
So now, when they find a band they want to audition for, they have a demo track or two… and a huge leg up on other candidates who don’t.
Now, they can create MySpace pages and web sites showing off their demo tracks.
Now, they can hold an intelligent conversation about their recording experience.
Now, they can respond immediately to any openings they find on Craigslist or anywhere else.
If you wait until the moment you need a demo track, it’s too late.
Either you’ll have to throw something together unprepared and rushed, or the opportunity is going to just pass you by.
And what about a web site? Photos? A bio? The day you suddenly need these things for a potential opportunity, it is too late. You missed it.
What else might you need in order to be ready for opportunity?
It depends on your current level and your goals, but here are some ideas:
- Professional or semi-pro headshot (photo) of yourself
- Additional photos of yourself, either from a location photo shoot or a live performance setting. Not photos of you at a Fourth of July picnic or out on the town last year with your girlfriends.
- Your own MySpace page, Facebook page, and/or web site
- At least some experience singing on stage with a live band
- At least some experience recording in a studio
- A bio showing your education and experience in singing and performing
- A video or two of your best performances
- Several songs in different styles, ready to audition tomorrow
- Ability to read music
- Ability to play an instrument
- Understanding of how to start a band… that has the *right* people in it
- Understanding of music business basics
- Know basic stage skills
How can YOU be ready for opportunity, should it knock tomorrow?
…..
If you are a rock singer and truly serious about creating a successful music career, I highly encourage you to check out Rockstar Mindset, an artist development company for rock singers and bands. I know the people at Rockstar Mindset personally, and they really know what they’re doing – plus, they are very cool people.
At a minimum, you should peruse the knowledge vault on their site for many excellent, in-depth articles on topics such as:
- Building an Army of Fans Every Time You Perform
- So, You Want to Be a Rock Star? (part 1)
- What is Artist and Product Development?
- 10 Essential Tips for Making a Living with Your Music
Now get your *ss in gear, and get ready for opportunity to find you!
(c) 2010 Adrienne Osborn
Adrienne Osborn is a vocalist and performance coach based in Colorado. For more free articles and tips, visit https://PerformanceHigh.net.
