Up and Coming Artists: Do You Have What It Takes to Be a Professional Musician?


May 13, 2021

Denver musicians who use professional band rehearsal space might have plenty of confidence in their ability to play music, but the truth is that there is more to becoming a professional musician than having talent or skill. 

The good news is that the elements you need to become a professional musician are totally learnable. Let’s take a look at what some of these important and often overlooked aspects are to becoming a professional—and successful—musician.

#1—Be On Time

Some musicians believe that their creative position gives them the license to be late. But all that does is make you look like someone who doesn’t find others’ time as valuable as yours. Think about how you might have felt when people have been late, making you wait. It’s not a great feeling. And when you apply that to a professional setting, such as a gig, it’s all that much worse.

#2—Be a Decent Human

You can be the most talented musician in the world, but if you don’t treat others well, people are not going to want to stick around. This goes for your bandmates as well as professionals within the music industry. If a bad reputation precedes you, those gigs might just start going to bands other than yours, and you could find yourself gig-less and possibly band-less.

#3—Be a Good Team Member

When you are in a team setting, you need to be a good team member who communicates and collaborates well with others. Make sure you know how to take criticism without getting defensive, and make sure you are inclusive of others. These skills will serve you well not only in your music career but in life in general.

#4—Be Prepared

Practice is one of the most important aspects of being a musician. Before you go out on that stage, you want to feel confident in your ability because you know you are prepared. Knowing you are prepared can alleviate nervousness before performances—and you’ll have a better performance because you are not too worried about things going wrong.

#5—Be Skilled in the Business of Music

There is more to the business of music than just being a member of a band. Part of being in a band is marketing—to get gigs and to get your name out into the world. Do your fair share of helping to get noticed and to find opportunities. This will make you a valuable member of your band.

#6—Be Well-Practiced

This is about more than just practicing. This means practicing sensibly—so you don’t end up with a repetitive injury. Many professional musicians, at some point in their career, find themselves side-lined because of some type of music-related injury. Practice efficiently so this doesn’t happen to you. Sidelined musicians miss opportunities.

In Summary

You can learn all of these things to help further your music career. Being a punctual, professional, decent person is not difficult. Keep your eye on the little things—and big things might start to happen.

If you are a musician seeking a high-quality rehearsal space in Denver, contact Soundstructure Studios. You’ll get 24-hour access to your rehearsal space 365 days a year.  
Go Back