Why Gigging is Killing Your Career

1988

I wish I had known me in 1988.

I was 26 years old at the time, had a touring gig with a top selling artist, as well as with several other artists too. I was also recording a bunch and playing in clubs around Nashville – pretty good for a guy who had only moved to town only 2 years earlier.

The reason I wish I had know me then is that I was making bad career choices and would continue to make many more. But here’s the thing: if I had known me, I would’ve ignored me.

I would’ve never read Why I FAILED in the Music Business and How NOT to Follow in My Footsteps. I would’ve never attended workshops entitled 5 Steps to Your Career in Music and the Creative Arts, 5 Things You Have to Do to Succeed in Music or 4 Simple Rules of Musician Marketing. I also wouldn’t have read this blog.

Just like you.

I Was Working

I would’ve ignored me for the simple reason that I was working.

• My talent and network of fellow musicians kept me very busy. Every gig I did led to another gig and it seemed like that would go on forever.
• Everyone I knew was doing the same thing and having the same results. We were all talented, networking with each other, and very, very busy.

And because I, and all my friends, were very, very busy, I had the false impression that I was building a career.

The Dangers of Gigging

The problem with the “every gig I did led to another gig” lifestyle is that it works. Until it doesn’t.

• Based on numbers alone, your circle of friends and potential gigs is limited. Without a plan for expanding this circle, your current path of “success” is doomed to fail sooner or later.
• Your circle of friends and potential gigs are limiting and misleading you too. Because there is simply no way that everyone you know and all the gigs you are offered represent exactly what you want and should be playing musically, a good portion of your work is work you shouldn’t be doing.

So as long as you’re busy gigging, you are on a path that is both doomed and wrong for you. This is why I say gigging is killing your career.

If the 1988 Steve had been told this by the 2011 Steve, I would’ve listened and I would’ve worked on building a career instead of gigging all the time. How ’bout you? Will you devote the time to working ON your career too?