On November 4, 2019, musician and YouTuber Jared Dines uploaded a video titled 7 reasons you have NOT made it in the music industry (video above).
Though it can often be uncomfortable to think about where we might be falling short in our attempts to build the music career of our dreams, constructive ideas can emerge if we’re willing to dig.
I have also observed that taking responsibility for where you are (and where you aren’t) is ultimately empowering – giving up victim mentality and embracing your personal power.
So, where does Mr. Dines prompt us to look?
Here are his seven reasons and an analysis of each:
You’re Not Prioritizing Your Art
Regardless of whether you’re a musician or creative, Dines encourages you to take an honest look at how much time you’re spending on your art every single week.
One technique I can recommend here is to spend an entire day tracking where your time is going.
It could look something like this:
- Email: 1:59 – 2:09
- Reading: 2:09 – 2:16
- Organizing: 2:16 – 2:26
- Practicing guitar: 2:26 – 4:46
- And so on.
I’ve done this myself and I can tell you it has made a difference in how I now spend my time.
More than ever, I’m able to recognize the work that energizes me and the work that leaves me feeling drained. Then, I can think strategically about the things that need to be automated, delegated or eliminated.
And, most importantly, I can look back on a given day and determine whether I’ve been putting my money where my mouth is.
Looking for additional insights into building a profitable and successful creative career? My bestselling book, The Essential Guide to Creative Entrepreneurship has plenty to offer. Will you be picking up a copy?
You’re Missing Deadlines
It’s easy to be lazy and to procrastinate.
We all do it from time to time and honestly in some regards I’m still trying to find my flow after living in overwhelm land most of 2019.
But if you say you’re going to deliver a specific product by a specific time and you fail, as Dines says, “you’re kind of blowing your chance.”
He also adds that when someone misses a deadline, he’s quick to move on to someone who is a person of their word.
Author and expert marketer Dan Kennedy also says he doesn’t take people seriously if they aren’t on time.
Successful people are in complete control of their time and they value everyone’s time, including their own.
Successful people are in complete control of their time and they value everyone’s time, including their own. Click To TweetYour Artistic Expression isn’t Unique
This one can be a real blow to the old heart – that moment when someone tells you your music isn’t all that unique.
But it stands to reason that if you sound like everyone else, you can’t cut through the noise.
Dines asks, “what would you give people that isn’t already oversaturated in the market?”
While it’s fine to take influence from your favorite artists, if you want to make it, you may want to begin thinking about how you can bring something new to the table.
You Aren’t Practicing Enough
I’ve known musicians who deluded themselves into thinking they could sing or play guitar.
But judging by the audition fails on American Idol, this is not an uncommon problem.
Look – maybe you don’t suck like those delusional people on TV.
But maybe you aren’t that great, either.
It would be easy to whittle this down to the trite advice you’ve heard a million times: “practice, practice, practice.”
But it is important to recognize you can always be better. Don’t stop – keep going.
You’re a Jerk
Everything you say – especially the things you say on the internet – are here to stay.
I’ve talked about this before, but it’s a point worth reinforcing: Don’t be a jerk.
It’s easy to get fixated on the well-publicized a-holes in the music industry without understanding how this can hurt your chances of achieving what you want to achieve in your career.
You Haven’t Achieved Anything
Are you feeling the sting yet?
If you haven’t made a splash on your own, you can’t expect anyone to come alongside you and make your dreams of fame and fortune a reality.
You need a real fan base – a thriving email list, a growing social media following, people coming to your gigs, revenue from various sources and more.
If you have nothing to bring to the table, no one wants to work with you, especially labels.
As Dines says:
Push and push and push until you have an audience that someone is interested in monetizing. Click To TweetPush and push and push until you have an audience that someone is interested in monetizing.
You Don’t Handle Negativity Well
Dines says how you handle negativity online and off is going to dictate how far you can take your career.
As a musician, you are in the public eye and not everyone is going to like your work – some will even be outspoken about this.
This is especially the case on platforms like YouTube and reddit.
But starting arguments and hating on your haters is pointless – it just goes to reinforce that you don’t handle negativity well.
I’ve shared about how to be liked and build a better reputation on the podcast. Have a listen to that episode if you aren’t sure how to handle negativity.
Final Thoughts on Jared Dines’ 7 Reasons
Dines raises a lot of good points – none of which I wish to poke any holes in.
If you are struggling with the above, however, I would encourage you to get on the waiting list for The Music Entrepreneur Code for free.
You’ll receive exclusive, valuable content and additional career-shifting resources leading up to the launch of the book and bundle.
I look forward to sharing more with you.
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