How to be a musician and an entrepreneur is an interesting position to be in, and also a difficult one.
Of course, everyone knows that being a professional musician in any form is notoriously difficult. After all, if it was easy to make money from something you enjoy, then everyone would do it. Being a professional musician- and I use this term for someone who makes money from music in some form or another- requires planning, effort, and dedication.
In this blog I will talk a little about some key points if you are considering starting a music teaching business, as this is what I do. Although sometimes I am lucky enough to get paid to perform, realistically this is unlikely to sustain you. Using the skills and experiences I had already, it seemed a next step in life could be to try to teach music. For me, I think it was the right step to take.
Keep in mind these tips are from the experience I have had. Yours will be different. Part of how to be a musician and entrepreneur is working with who you are, and what you are capable of. If you are not honest with yourself, it will only increase frustration and negativity.
However, the positive bit!
By preparing, providing excellent service, and marketing effectively, you can create a sustainable and fulfilling music teaching business, where you are doing something worthwhile for yourself, and giving something worthwhile to others.
I am always learning and developing my business. I do not have all the answers, but before you entertain the idea further and try to find customers, consider these things:
- Do you have: a)the practical skills to do this? (teaching experience/qualifications etc) and b) the personality to do this? (being very self driven, passionate about what you do and organised).
- There are other avenues you can try without having to go it alone. You could work for a music school or substitute lessons. You could teach as a hobby with much lower stakes, the list goes on.
- Do you have the time,space and resources to get this off the ground? These are luxuries not everyone has and are necessary to try and start a business. Unless you have a lot of contacts (unfortunately this was not me) you will need to be prepared to put a lot of effort in for maybe six months or more, with very little pay back. Do not give up your day job expecting to be able to earn and live the same way, just with more time to do what you want. You won’t. If it’s not the right time now, that doesn’t mean that the stars won’t align in the future. Patience really is a virtue when it comes to starting a musical business.
- Clarify what instruments or lessons you will offer (piano, guitar, voice, workshops, groups lessons etc.)
- Decide on the type of business structure (sole proprietorship, a small company etc.) I am not naturally a business minded person. When I started, I had no clue that there were different options and why. Research research research. Study, learn, ask questions! Check with your local government to see if you need a business license or permits to operate a music lesson business. Here in Sweden I recommend you go to https://verksamt.se/en
- Online presence- social media- keep branding and be consistent- this is something I need to work more on for sure! Its 2024, you need to develop a website where potential students can learn more about your offerings, pricing, and booking.
A successful musician doesn’t just focus on artistic talent; they also recognize the importance of treating music as a business.
Why is musician entrepreneur different from another type of entrepreneur? It is because you are selling a skill, an experience and a feeling. You’re not giving a product to touch like shoes or a sandwich. How will you make your service feel like a product? This is what most people will want to feel they have. How will you sell the experience?
Once you have your first customer- congratulations! Here are some things to consider when you begin to interact with real paying customers:
- Providing excellent customer service will help build long-term relationships with students and their families.
- Communication: Be responsive to inquiries and maintain clear communication about scheduling, payment, and progress. Be punctual.
- Stay Passionate: Your enthusiasm for music will be contagious. Let your love for teaching and music shine through in every lesson.
- Mental Resilience: You may face disappointments and curve balls in your musical and entrepreneurial journey. It is not a 9-5 job. Personally I like routine and structure, and so this is a challenge for me. Many musicians face mental health challenges like performance anxiety, imposter syndrome, and isolation. Developing emotional resilience is an important part of maintaining a healthy musician mindset. It’s an important thing to consider when deciding if a business in music is for you.
Whether you’re just starting out or you’ve been in the industry for years, cultivating a positive and proactive mindset will help you not only become a better musician but also navigate the complexities of a music career with confidence and purpose.
I have learnt a lot of these things the hard way, and I hope my experiences can help others who would be interested in building a business in music but have no clue where to begin.
Remember: The reason people push through the hurdles is because to entrepreneurially pursue something you enjoy even if the payback is small, is incredibly rewarding.
In my Lunchtime Liz teaches piano course, I will cover a little more about musician mindset. Even if you have no intention of being a musician or an entrepreneur, it is worth keeping in mind. Sometimes you have to talk to yourself in a certain way to get the most enjoyment from learning music!
I think this is something which is not often covered in music lessons, but can really help people maximise their potential and minimise their disappointments in the journey to learning a musical instrument. I will also be providing an e-booklet as a resource to the people on the course, elaborating and adding to the entrepreneurial aspects and the musician mindset covered in this blog.
Who knows, I might even make another blog about how to be a musician and an entrepreneur…watch this space!
