HOW TO START YOUR MUSIC CAREER WITH LITTLE OR NO MONEY

I'm going to be really honest; This is going to be tough. It's going to be very difficult. You'll consider giving up an awful lot. You'll cry yourself to sleep a lot. But you can do it. I assure you.

Starting your music career with nothing is going to teach you a lot about budgeting and management. You're going to learn how to manage your time, money, resources, relationships, etc. You're going to learn an extra skill besides music. You're going to need to be focused. It'll make you a better person in the end and when your success eventually comes, you're going to stand a better chance at maintaining and growing your success.

So I'm going to share with you the little but effective things you can do to help grow your career no matter how broke you are.

NO SHAME IN SUCCESS

The number one thing you're going to do away with is shame. You must tell yourself and believe it that this phase of your life won't last forever. You're not the first going through it and you won't be the last. You're just doing what you can to survive without compromising your faith and morals.



GET THE ESSENTIAL CLOTHING

You'll need to cut your coat according to your cloth. Buy basic pieces and keep them clean.

1. A pair of black trousers
2. A pair of blue jeans
3. A white shirt
4. A black shirt
5. A pair of black suit
6. A pair of black shoes
7. A pair of converse
8. A black handbag (For the ladies)
9. A little black dress (LBD). Minimum of Knee length please, except you don't want to perform in a church. Lol.
10. A native attire.
11. A few tops/tshirts

If you can't afford any, kindly go to the welfare department of any church around you. If you're in Lagos, go to Daystar Christian Centre, plot A3C, Ikosi road, Oregun, Ikeja - Lagos. Like I said earlier, get rid of shame. This phase of your life doesn't define you. It's not like you're going to announce to everybody that you got your clothes from welfare.

BE NEAT

Once your wardrobe is set, maintain good personal hygiene. Manage what you have but stay clean. You can buy natural coconut oil, it's good for the skin. You can even make it yourself. Send me an email if you're interested in learning how to make coconut oil.
Keep your hair clean and neat. For the ladies, natural hair can be cheap and easy to maintain if you're determined, so you don't spend too much money trying to maintain your hair.


GET A PART-TIME JOB

Once you've taken care of your appearance, which is very important, get a part-time job. You can look for an artiste to back up for. If you're truly talented, you'll find one. The little rehearsal and performance fees they pay you can go a long way in taking care of your basic needs. Find something to do that won't take much of your time. The pay is most likely going to be meagre but think of it as just a means to an end. That something is most likely going to be a hand-work /vocational job or a marketing job. Whatever it is, it should be very flexible so you're in control of your time.


TRADE BY BARTER

 

 

 

You must have something valuable to give. If it were material we wouldn't be having this conversation, would we? So, you must have some intangible value to offer. It could be your ability to use your brain. Your ability to hear from God. One of the gifts of the spirit. Anything intangible but valuable. Search deep within and find it 'cause you're going to need it. You're going to trade with it for favours. For example, you can offer to do a producer's laundry for one month so he can produce a song for you. Like I said, it's not going to be easy, you must swallow your pride. You'll basically have to trade by barter.

USE YOUR GOODWILL

 

 

 

You'll need relationships. Goodwill is when people do things for you for free because of your relationship with them. Truth is, you're going to be disappointed and frustrated by the people you love and trust but, at least, 1 out of 10 of your relationships will favour you, hopefully. So, be pleasant and build as many good relationships as possible. Vibrate positive energy and you'll attract the right people. Remember to open your mouth and ask for help. A problem shared is a problem half-solved.


LIVE ON A BUDGET

 

 

Remember to spend your money on the necessary things like mobile data. Yes, you're going to have to be active on social media. Also, there are loads of free valuable materials as well as opportunities on websites like spintamgt.com (coming soon) and on social media. Avoid impulse buying. Trek when you can; it'll help you keep fit and save you some money. The whole point of this is to know how to manage your resources and spend only on the necessary.


BE FOCUSED AND CONSISTENT

Be focused and consistent. You don't know who's watching. Be very faithful and dedicated in your choir. Doors will open with time, trust me. Know when to leave the choir though. When you're focused, you won't fall into the temptation of selling yourself short. Never negotiate hungry. Remember the story of Esau.
You're going to have to trust and rely on God completely through this process. It's going to be really tough and rough, which is why you must be sure you're made for this, but as you go on, things will get better. Stay focused.



Photo credit: Google.com


Best wishes
Jesam.