A Career in Music...

This information is drawn from a discussion with Lawrence English, a composer, critic, media artist and curator of the label ROOM40.

What Lawrence does is quite fragmented; he works with visual art, sound culture, and arts administration - specifically curatorial administration.

He started with zines and tape trading. Then, at 17, he had his own label and by 18, his first record. He also started working as a critic in local street press, a job he still holds today.

Lawrence did an undergraduate degree in Business Management. Being at uni was a great time to focus on his music and cultivate his first label. He also worked part time, writing predominantly. However, he went through periods of having limited income in order to spend the time on music-based projects.

He returned to uni to do a Masters in Music and in 2000 he began his still current label ROOM40. When we spoke, he was working as a critic, a university lecturer, the acting CEO of Qmusic and he was producing work through his label - including publishing records, curating exhibitions nationally and internationally, and bringing artists to Australia in order to encourage an Australian sound culture. As well as all this, he made time to carry out his own personal music practice.

Fast Facts

'Yes' is an important word
Learn it, know it, and love it. Don't be afraid to try things out and test new ways of creating work and income streams for yourself.

Don't limit your options
Multitasking provides multiple income streams, and gets you to your specialty quicker.

Administration is part of the process
If kept in check, admin can be a great way to stay focused and organised.

Be aware of the wider issues surrounding your field
Understand arts funding, policy and how to interact in industry. This information can be found through mentors, other musicians and others in the community; people are generally happy to help.

Be clear about your goals
Short and long term; have a 1, 5, 10 year plan.

DIY: do it yourself
DIY is rewarding, gives you experience and makes new contacts.

Be patient, flexible and willing to work
Making something happen takes time and effort. Support those around you, there is room for everyone's work, it's a big world (a small one at the same time).

Skills/Experience Required

  • time management skills (axioms: at a point, any piece of art does not get better, it just gets different; no piece of art is ever finished, it is just abandoned)
  • seeing yourself as a micro business
  • maybe working as an independent entity (touring, selling CDs for full price and putting the money back into band)
  • patience (it takes time; things grow slowly; you may need to play a 'rustic' venue or two along the way)
  • business savvy (simple things like doing tax for a band)
  • ability to multi-task

Extras

Answer important questions for yourself. How is your work seen? What message are you trying to put out? Is your music image saying what you want it to say? This thinking should happen earlier in the piece. Don't fake hype, but don't undersell yourself either.

Be honest about why you're getting into the industry. If it is sex, drug and rock 'n' roll, then that can work: a friend once said when he headed towards his thirties that being in a band was the best way to spend his twenties. If you're looking for super stardom, that is harder to create. You need to be really talented, work really hard and be in the right place at the right time - that package can be hard to create and maintain for long periods of time while you wait.

Don't take things too personally. Criticism is based on opinion and therefore will vary. Take what you want and then let the rest slide. On reflecting on some of your work in five years you may see the bits that didn't work as well.

Look at life in 5-year lots. What needs to develop next? Practice? Skills? Networks? Work it out then plan to make these things happen. (This can be supported by Transit Lounge or Qmusic.)

Network. Use everything - MySpace, Facebook, overseas connections, trade CDs. Build personal relationships with everyone - like-minded, complimentary and contrasting artists and their work.

Reality Check

Ups...

  • you do what you love for a job
  • flexible hours and lifestyle
  • a world of opportunity - music is everywhere so there are so many different avenues for expression, job opportunities and income

Downs...

  • building a career takes time
  • maybe a slow start to money (maybe lots of baked beans)
  • time spent traveling can impact lifestyle and relationships

Education Options: more general information

University can be a good place to start as it helps you to grow your 'critical analysis' ability. Understanding music theory correctly, being able to notate music, and understanding structures of music are invaluable tools.

Queensland University of Technology (QUT) offers

  • Music and Sound (covers technical production, compositional development and continuing musical skills development)
  • Interdisciplinary Creative Industries (not dedicated to music as such, but the diverse themes and issues can give you a broader base to build you skills on)

Griffith University offers

TAFE

For base level introductions/courses this is a good place to start. The courses are short in length, which has its pros and cons.

Alternative Pathways

Network NOW: Find motivated networks, strategic alliances. Go to gigs; find out what other musicians are out there - the ones like you, and those not like you; this helps you understand the industry and where you fit.

Find a volunteer position: this can be the best way to hardwire yourself into a community of musicians, an organisation, and into peoples' minds. Your time is a very valuable commodity for some people and if you're dedicated and competent, good word will spread and you'll find opportunities just open up for you.

Do-It-Yourself opportunities abound. The music and sound culture are littered with stories of successful DIY folk so do your best to be one of them!

Get connected with these organisations:

  • Q Music - Queensland Music Network Inc,
  • Anat - Australian Network for Art and Technology,
  • Experimenta - where creativity and technology meet

What do you want to be?

Occupations music can lead to:
musician, sound artist, reviewer/critic, teacher, sound technician/recordist, composer, DJ, sound landscape designer, conductor, music company exec, conductor, orchestra manager, music therapist, repetiteur, backing artist, soloist.

You've got to have a line in the ocean to catch a fish. So start fishing folks!

Make sure to check out the more artist profiles section to find out how other music artists and creative industries practitioners established a career in the industry.

DISCLAIMER
Please note that the information is provided in good will only. Youth Arts Queensland and the contributors do not warrant that any of the information provided is free from errors or omission. Youth Arts Queensland and the contributor disclaim all responsibility and all liability (including without limitation, liability in negligence) for all expenses, losses, damages and costs you might incur as a result of the information being inaccurate or incomplete in any way, and for any reason.