I’ve met a lot of musicians along my journey and some of those I’ve gotten to know pretty well. All of them have a similar story as to how they started in the music business and it goes a bit like this.

I do not know how I started really, I just sort of fell into it and before I knew it I was in a band

Sound familiar? It does to me. That is how I got started.

I did not have a plan, did not have a clue and did not have any idea of what I was getting myself in for let alone what I wanted to get out of it.

I wanted to be a “rock star” so I may “meet girls”.

I has been only fifteen when I made that decision and thinking back on it I cringe and laugh at the same time but it does show me the importance of getting ready ahead.

It’s considerably easy to get swept up in the hype of it all and before you know you’re in the same place that you started but ten years have gone by and you’re left wondering ‘where did it go’.

Before going any further you need to ask yourself some questions. These questions may be (in no particular order of importance):

1. Am I going to write tunes or not?

2. Am I going to be a solo performer or play in a band?

3. Am I going to sing, play an instrument or both?

4. Am I prepared to practise, drill and rehearse my craft?

5. Am I going to find my own work or do I leave that up to an individual else?

I think you’re getting the idea of where I’m going with this.

You could be thinking that these questions could seem exceedingly simple and straightforward and in essence you’re right however, I’m unending ly surprised how a simple question such as “am I going to be a solo performer or play in a band” could distract someone from actually moving forward.

I have seen it happen to many artists and have experienced it myself.

Before you start have a evident knowledge of what you want to do and what you want to get out of it. Ask yourself these categories of really simple questions and from those answers a series of paths will be presented to you.

All you need to do then is to pick which path you take.

Working to a plan will make your journey a lot easier to undertake.