As you've now learned-we start by envisioning where we want to go or what we want to have, do, accomplish... We plant our flags as Independent Artists in the modern world, and then...

We separate who’s really serious about this. Let me share a story with you that demonstrates...

The Key To Becoming a Professional Musician In The Modern Music Business

Steven was a talented, good natured, Singer Songwriter with an incredibly soulful style of acoustic rock, with a bit of folk and Americana in there as well.

A seasoned coffee shop performer and regular at the local venues steven had built a good reputation in his town and drew a loyal crowd when he played a show. He had a couple hundred people on his mailing list, and almost all of them were local fans that he knew on a first name basis.

He had a wife and kid and a decent paying job, and was overall pretty happy and appreciative of the life he lived. The bills got paid, kept the fridge full and had the love and support of his family... But Steven knew that there was more. He knew that the encouraging words his wife would often tell him were true... “You could be making a full time career out of your music, honey”. She’d tell him in with encouragement.

He’d even told me he was thinking about auditioning for the Voice and American idol or the X factor! ...And he could do it too.

So why haven't you? I asked. It’s not that simple, he said. He then proceeded to explain how his wife and 4 year old needed him around...

“Does turning pro make you unable to be there for you family?” I asked with curiosity. “well not necessarily I suppose.” We went back and forth as I politely probed and prodded until we talked it through and finally had it pinned. There were quite a few emotions expressed and I was introduced to some of his particular Creative Growth Traps. I told him that the obstacles were not abnormal, but that I had a few concerns.

After a long discussion we had made a couple major breakthroughs, and had gotten to the heart of the matter. In essence, Steven had over complicated the heck out of what could have been a pretty standard, follow the yellow brick road path to a full time living writing, recording, producing, and performing his music. He was good at creating more work for himself! In total I diagnosed him with 4 of the Growth Traps.

He mainly suffered from a pretty heavy case of Starving Artist Syndrome.... “I’m not good at marketing...” I’m not a salesman,” were the theme of his remarks.

The solution to his ailments wasn't all that complicated but it was very very important for him to understand and come to on his own... Through a series of exercises and consulting, Steven had realized that to step his game up, it really just came down to one thing... ACTION.

Now, this sounds ridiculously simple... And it is. But Steven knew the steps he needed to take. He had said he was committed, he had the support system, and his talents were there... But you know, there is this tricky little thing that can cause all kinds of problems for us Humans.

It’s called Fear. And it’s impartial in it’s dealings.

Once he finally decided it was time to stop making excuses and it was time to fully take the actions that he needed to take, to develop the skills, habits, and mindsets he needed… He made STEP #3.

He took RESPONSIBILITY!

RULE #3: Modern Musicians Take Responsibility and Accountability for their success or failure. They Treat it like a business and develop the entrepreneurial skill­set.

He slowly started to make the shift from starving artist into a modern artist and the CEO of his very own content business. We drew up his own set of Career Blueprints and a GAME Plan to develop the entrepreneurial skill­​set as well as a Roadmap to work from weekly, and make adjustments to monthly.

He became ever more mindful of logistics and his ability to solve problems and look for solutions in as many places and situations as he could. The overwhelm and over complication was largely caused by a lack of not having a marketing plan, not knowing where to begin and how to use the tools ​dissipated as he homed in on the few key activities that were of greatest value, and ironically enough, most enjoyable to him as well.

We formulated a killer content strategy and a custom built roadmap for him to follow. This active blueprint kept things clear, simple, and gave him the easy ability to track his progress as well make modifications as things evolved.

We were able to pinpoint some of his hidden saboteurs and belief systems that caused some of his stagnation, complacency, and doubts. The transition was like watching someone trying to peddle a bike with the chain off, and then popped back into the socket and shifted into proper gear. We got him grounded and focused on the CORE. Each and every day making meaningful connections with people, using grassroots career development strategies and adding new people into his Music Marketing system.

After 110 days making roughly ten connections per day, Steven had a database with over 1000 subscribers. Of that, a Whopping 30% converted into Backstage Pass members, paying fans and customers now receiving new content 2­​4 times a month. With over 300 members now at $30 each month, Steven was now earning north of $6,000 each month to develop his music, his skills, and do what he loved full time. Steven started finding and pitching his music to licensing and placement opportunities, and eventually hired someone to do that as well as some other administrative tasks that took up time, unnecessarily spent on things he didn’t need or want to do.

We started turning his shows into events, throwing contests and raffles and drawing larger and larger crowds each time. He began to treasure and nurture the relationships with his fans and share stories told to him by his backstage pass members, through his newsletters and at shows.

He sold T​­-shirts, virtual concert tickets, coffee mugs, dinner with Steven coupons and more at his merch table.

He had been well trained and now collected every last Email address and a​ll the contact info he could scoop up​ at his gigs and when he made new connections. He recently reported a 4 figure placement with a nice sync fee for one of his old tracks as well.

Steven now Has control. His wife couldn’t be more proud. He doesn’t need to be apart from his family, and he didn’t need to compromise. He just needed to make a few breakthroughs. He needed to embrace what it means to be a modern artist. Steven now controls his fate. He’s become a Modern Musician.

With an accurately identified diagnosis, a clear strategy, and a blueprint that was now his to customize, he was able to alter the road ahead ​to merge with whatever goals he chose. Steven now experiences the freedom and fulfillment doing what he loves for those that love what he does.

He was very recently someone who just kept stumbling with a number of the debilitating Creative Growth Traps. Perfectionism, over​complication, and subtle little beliefs that were sabotaging his progress. Again, while it is a simple sounding solution, just take Responsibility and execute the actions you know you need to take consistently, that does not mean that it is easy. To develop the modern musician skill​­set, to treat his music career as the multi­faceted content business that it is.

Instead of confusing or over complicating all the digital technology and media choices, figuring out a lot of tech stuff, and spending hours frustrated in front of a computer screen. Steven got back to focusing on the CORE, back to basics, the fundamentals, and trusting in the process as well not giving into his doubts. Grassroots Career Development. He went out and made meaningful connections with real human beings on the street every single week day!

He kept me up to date through logged and tracked progress which i kept him accountable for as his coach & consultant.

He then made them a promise for some new music for free and handed them his Guest Pass Invite. (Essentially a download card and business card combined) This was a great start to several new relationships at a time. He’d sparked some interest, and then generated a new subscriber and potential fan right into his system.

We leveraged the best of both worlds, and used the local, offline aspect that many overlook to his advantage. Combined with the automation and convenience of digital technology he had built a system that generated new customers for him. These backstage pass members were on their way to becoming super fans and he was on his way to five figure monthly income with plenty of potential to expand. Add new access levels, products, merch, the choice was his. He was quite pleased with how things had turned out. It took committed and effective effort, he had to take responsibility, but it wasn’t all that complicated.

He didn’t know anything about business really, and had a handful of afflictions that were hindering his career.

"It has to be perfect." "I don’t know where or what to do next!"

Subtle little Growth Traps like the Starving Artist Syndrome – the silent career crusher.

Many Artists still have a sort of a “​union​” mentality. It is a big part of the Starving Artist epidemic.

We live in the greatest time to be alive as an artist or musician​­i gently probed as a somewhat rhetorical question...

Well how come a buddy of mine recently signed up to 10 email newsletter lists for 10 different performing bands over the last two months and has so far yet to hear from ONE of them yet?

How come 93% of all albums released by independent artists in a year sell less than 1,000 copies?

How come hundreds of the struggling artists i've personally worked with come to me because they aren't growing their career and living the lifestyle they have the capacity and resources to?

How come, Reverbnation and Digital Music News concluded that 75% of unsigned artists still list getting a major label deal as being their goal?”

Lack of responsibility­ for developing the skills and being accountable for the added roles required to be a modern musician.

Does any of this resonate with you, in what ways do you think (if any) you could be taking more responsibility and/or being more accountable in hitting your targets and taking things to the next level?