I want to preface this article with the following cautionary statement: There is no direct path to success in this industry. It's a rough walk sometimes; sometimes it's a dead sprint. But if you stick it out, you're in for the journey of a lifetime. Here are my tips for surviving and thriving as a student in the music industry.
Carry a calendar– I really hate to be the kind of person who lives life behind a calendar because outside of work, I thrive on spontaneity. However, because a large portion of what I am responsible for requires me to be in the loop on schedules and events, I have a calendar on me at all times. While your iPhone works perfectly fine for most things, I'm a "paper person" so I carry a physical calendar whenever I can. Also, get in the habit of sitting down at the beginning of the week and looking at the week's events as a whole. This is called "planning ahead"- I never did that in college. If you're a "techy," there's no shame in telling "Siri" to remind you of things. I often have her send me reminders randomly throughout the week like, "Take a deep breath- you're doing fine" or "Don't forget to eat today."
Keep a running list of “Coffee Dates”– I actually inherited this idea from an internship advisor I had my third year of college. Make a list of people in the industry that you’ve come in contact with and ask them out to coffee. You’d be surprised how many people will say “yes” to giving students a little insider knowledge into the industry. We are, after all, their future employees and co-workers. As an intern, I would "google" the names of people who would call on the main line just so I knew what their position in the industry was. Don't ever underestimate the power of a handshake and always do your best to make connections whenever possible.
Get an internship – These are easy ways to make connections in the industry. My first real industry internship was in a public relations office where I came in contact with songwriters, TV personalities, radio personnel, and celebrities from all walks of life. I was lucky enough to have an incredible supervisor who treated me more like a colleague than an intern and gave me a number of opportunities to be involved in industry events. Don't just GO to your internship- try to get something out of it every day. Clean something. Organize something. Talk to a new person in the company every day. You will only get out of the experience what you put into it. I can attest to that because my second internship turned into a job right out of college.
Connect with your teachers- My professors within the music business program were incredible assets to my success after graduation. Many of them (if not all) have worked in the industry in some capacity and have great connections to opportunities. Talk to your professors and get to know them! If you’re looking for a particular opportunity or want to work for a particular company, they can generally hook you up with the right people.
Get involved in an organization– I was lucky enough to be involved in industry-related organizations while attending school. As a member of Grammy U, I was able to attend the Grammy nominations concert and see some really great sound checks of my favorite artists. As the president of the CMA Edu chapter at my university, I made incredible connections, new friends, and met some great industry personnel. Get involved! If nothing else, you’ll meet students who have the same interests. No connection is a bad connection.
Stay humble- So often I meet students who are just getting their feet wet in the industry and feel that they already have it all figured out. Nobody wants to work with someone who thinks they have nothing to gain from the experience. Try to learn something from every person and opportunity you encounter and ALWAYS let your employers know that you’re thankful for the chance to build your knowledge.
Network, network, network– I cannot express how important networking is in the entertainment industry. This industry isn’t ALL about who you know- you have to be able to back that up with some experience and knowledge- but the connections you make could be the difference between getting a job or being overlooked for a position. Always keep in contact with people you meet from the industry. This goes back to the “coffee dates” list. You never know when that person might be looking to hire!
Say “Yes”– Say “yes” to every opportunity you have to get involved. Whether it’s volunteering at a festival for summer or punching tickets at a box-office event, every experience is experience. Seek out opportunities to volunteer and get involved even before someone says they’re looking.
Be professional- This is my last point but also one of the most important. There's a term in the music industry that I think every student needs to learn- "Gherm." We live in a very digital/social media-driven society. I cannot stress to you enough how important it is to be professional in an industry where we honestly do so many cool things that we just want to share with the world- but shouldn't. Because at the end of the day, this is a job and not an opportunity to snap photos with artists. Instead of pulling your camera out when you meet someone famous, shake their hand and introduce yourself as you would a normal human being- I promise you'll get a lot further in this industry that way.
