Quality over quantity
Ed Sheeran said, “Run your tap ’til dirty water runs clean!” This means that you must produce a lot of music before the good stuff can flow. This is similar to Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule. It takes 10,000 hours to become an expert in something. While there are some ways to reduce this time (mentorship and course-taking being two examples), the overall idea rings true.
You’ll also be able to increase your practice in creating each element of the song if you can start and finish music faster than if you spend 6 months obsessing about one song. 6 songs finished means 6 bass lines written, 6 drum patterns written, 6 melodies written, etc.)
Get started today with high output habits (my Ultimate Speedwriting Cheat Sheet will assist you in this endeavor).
You should only listen to music you enjoy, not what other people like
This is a trap that’s easy to fall into. You want to be popular and famous, but you don’t have to follow your heart when it comes to music production. It’s possible to produce music you love or at least try to like, and it will be a win-win situation. It can be difficult to make music that is liked by others, but it’s still something you enjoyed and you have expressed your feelings. You won’t like the trend if you don’t try to follow it.
Music production can be a time-consuming endeavor so it is important to take the time to enjoy your time.
Be consistent! Consistency is key!
It takes consistency to gain any kind of traction in the music business. You’ll lose any momentum or following if you only release a few tracks and then nothing for the next year. It is important to keep showing up and putting in the work. You should also have at least three songs completed for a release schedule. This will give you a few months of breathing room to continue releasing music if necessary.
It’s important to set goals but also to create systems that will allow you to form good writing habits
As guilty as anyone of setting ambitious goals, I am! Although I believe in the power and effectiveness of goal-setting, goals that aren’t managed can be a painful reminder about what you haven’t done.
Good habits are key to reaching your goals. Systems that support good habits will help you develop them.
Set a daily alarm at 5:45 am and notify anyone who is interested that you are not available between 6-8 am Monday through Friday. You will need to be in your studio for 2 hours each day. Leave your phone at home so that it doesn’t distract you.
You can reward yourself on Friday with a pizza, a beer, or any other treat.
For more information on how to create insane music productivity, read my book.
Instead of spending money on plugins, spend your time creating
Sometimes, a new plugin can be a source of inspiration. But more often than not, we purchase them in the hope that it will “fix” our music. It won’t. You’ll be amazed at how amazing sound quality you can achieve if you know the stock plugins that come with your DAW. You’ll also learn the limitations of stock plugins so that you can invest in a premium 3rd-party plugin.
Transform your social media followers to email subscribers
A few years back, I learned a difficult lesson: I had more than 20,000 Soundcloud followers and uploaded a remix (that was allowed by the original artist). Soundcloud reported it as a breach of copyright and canceled my account. I lost all my followers overnight.
The lesson? The lesson? It is yours and no one can take it.
The email list can be used to inform your fans about your music, sell merchandise and let them know about upcoming gigs.
Even if your business is just beginning, you should start building an email list immediately. You won’t regret it.
Contribute to the music-production community
Music is all about relationships! Music production can be lonely. It is worth reaching out to other musicians online to make connections.
Instead of asking for and receiving, you can give back. Someone might be grateful. These are some places where you can make connections.
Yes, you can ask questions. People love to help. But remember to answer your questions or link to resources that other producers might find helpful.
Bold!
Fear of being criticized shouldn’t stop you from putting your music out there. It’s normal to be criticized at times.
There are three types:
Constructive. You get constructive feedback from people who are knowledgeable about your music. This is crucial for improvement and well worth listening to.
You are misleading. Here is where you ask your Gran whether she likes your filthy, Xrated, industrial drum ‘n’ bass track. She doesn’t, surprise! Similar to the above, ask someone who is only into Norwegian Death Metal if they like Deep House. Chances are, they won’t. It’s not bad – it’s just not their favorite. Get feedback from the right people.
Trolls and haters. Destructive. It hurts but it is not personal. Move on, delete, block. It is usually from strangers. They are either jealous of your efforts or frustrated by their own lives.
Accepting that you cannot achieve anything without criticism makes it easier to accept it when it happens.
Look after yourself
This is an easy one to forget, even though it’s obvious. Keep healthy, be well, and do not push yourself too hard. If you aren’t constantly tired, it’s easier to create music. While a few drinks and some big nights out can be very inspiring, you will not have the energy or motivation to create your own music.
High-quality earplugs for loud gigs should be a given! Tinnitus will never be your friend in music production.