How to become a pro

Ten key components of a professional music career.

1) Excellent live performances and/or recorded music.
This may seem obvious, but it is the cornerstone of a successful music career. Do all that you can to improve your songwriting, live show, and recordings.

2) Find your music mission.
Make sure you know what it is that your music is giving to your core fans. Your music mission can inspire you, help you make decisions, keep a positive attitude, and generally keep you focused on your fans and what you have to offer. This, combined with #1, can make a huge difference in your career.

3) Website that is clear, interesting and useful.
Your website should make it easy for fans to learn more about you and buy CDs. It should also be an easy-t0-use tool for the media, with clear access to high-res photos, press kit, etc. You should update it often.

4) Professional photos.
You must have these. The photo editor will be the one who decides if your act gets featured in the calendar listings, and if you don't have professional photos, the music editor will not take you seriously either.

5) A clear one-sheet.
This is a mini-press kit that includes a photo, short bio, media quotes, and info about your latest album. This can also double as your press release, if you add info about the upcoming show. Have this available on your website as a downloadable pdf.

6) Keep in touch with your fans.
Maintain regular communication with your fans. Collect fan emails and addresses at shows and on your website. Don't just email tour dates and say "come to my show". Make your monthly email a newsletter with interesting thoughts and stories, so your fans will bother to open and read them.

7) Create a great tour poster.
Create or pay someone to design a professional tour poster using artwork or one of those professional photos of your band. Send them to venues at least a few weeks prior to the show.

8) Expand your online presence.
Besides your website, set up several social networking pages (MySpace, Facebook, Twitter, etc), and make sure your music is available on i-Tunes, Amazon, etc. The more your music is available and the more you update these pages, the more fans can keep connected and easily purchase your music.

9) Publicity. Do it.
Do not book a show if you are not going to do publicity for it. Create a press release and make sure you distribute it to key media outlets in the market, at least 2 weeks (preferably 4 to 6 weeks) prior to the show.

10) Cultivate gratitude.
Treat everyone with appreciation. No one owes you anything, and so you should respond with gratitude to everyone who is supporting independent music. This includes fans, venue owners, media folks, promoters, sound guys (and gals), agents, managers, and even other musicians.