A no-nonsense handbook on how to establish value as a professional musician and create a sustainable career in the working world, written by an EMMY-award winning, veteran practitioner.

So, you’ve decided to become a professional musician—to turn your passion into a career. Now what? Unlike many professions, there is no clear-cut path to success in the music industry. Emmy-winning music producer, studio/session guitarist, and award-winning educator, Kris Hawkins explains some of the most basic and highly misunderstood concepts about what it takes to be a professional musician. Questions are answered like: “How do I find a gig?”; “How much do I get paid?”; “What is a copyright?”; “What’s a PRO?” With over two decades of experience in the industry, Hawkins shares some of the insights that he has gained—successes as well as failures—in the hopes that you will learn from his missteps and triumphs. The Working Musician's Handbook for Professional Success focuses on real-life situations, including: Asserting your value Dealing with clients Protecting your work Treating your music as a business Financial management Finding work and networking There are many twists and turns within the music industry, and it can seem like a daunting task to try to understand it all. This handbook is your navigator and will help you develop a workable and effective strategy to start your career off on the right foot.

Today, when artists are empowered to take greater control of their careers and earnings, the need for musicians to understand the business of music has never been greater. In a digital age overflowing with confusing and ever-changing information, musicians need trusted business advice from a veteran artist who can break down the basics in language they understand. Written by a professional musician for other musicians, Business Basics for Musicians is the laypersons guide to the music industry. In this must-have manual, music industry veteran Bobby Borg presents vital info in a conversational tone and an easy-to-scan format regarding five vital areas that musicians need to succeed: Career Execution, Business Relationships, Pro Teams, Deals and Dollars, and Future Predictions. Everything from copyrights to record deals, to managers, to merchandising, to doing it yourself is covered. With pro interviews, anecdotes, and review quizzes, Business Basics for Musicians is the complete handbook from start to success. Updates for this edition: Changes in copyright laws Summary of the Music Modernization Act Updates on record, merch, publishing, and live performance deals New trends in sponsorships and partnerships with product brands New interviews with industry professionals, including managers, producers, and agents New stories paralleling current events and industry happenings Updated business resources, industry contacts, and URLs

Creativity is a highly valued skill set that drives a significant portion of the global economy. It does not depend on a random stroke of genius, but instead on inspired hard work that creatives dive into, fueled by a sense of purpose and meaning with the potential for well-being and happiness--and a job that pays. This book lays out a three-part Creative Success Now Methodology consisting of the mindset, authenticity set, and skill sets that can empower you to pursue the creative life--both for your personal journey toward success and because the world needs your ideas. Ultimately, this book will help you to solve the many problems you encounter as a creative person so that you can live as a successful creative in the twenty-first century.

So you want to be a rock star. Or the next pop sensation. Or a country music artist. Or perhaps you're more intrigued by vital roles behind the scenes. The Realist's Guide to a Successful Music Career reveals all the ins and outs of building a viable career in today's ever-changing music business. With blunt honesty paired with expert insight and encouragement, this empathetic guide covers everything from building your brand and expanding outreach, to finding and playing gigs and smart touring, to critical marketing and developing your sound. Packed with practical, real-life guidance and avoidable missteps, the book vicariously takes you both onstage and backstage, into the recording studio, and on the road. And because experience is the best education, The Realist's Guide to a Successful Music Career contains exclusive interviews and wisdom from a wide range of all-stars and music insiders, including: Huey Lewis - Susan Tedeschi - Chuck Leavell - Victor Wooten - Taylor Hicks Ivan Neville - Jake Cinninger - Nikki Glaspie - Pete Shapiro - Alicia Karlin Vince Iwinski - Kevin Browning - Syd Schwartz - Chris Gelbuda - Robbie Williams Whether you're a seasoned pro looking to grow or an emerging talent looking to break out, The Realist's Guide to a Successful Music Career is the right note mentorship you need to take your gifts and passion to the next level.

"With its gentle affirmations, inspirational quotes, fill-in-the-blank lists and tasks — write yourself a thank-you letter, describe yourself at 80, for example — The Artist’s Way proposes an egalitarian view of creativity: Everyone’s got it."—The New York Times "Morning Pages have become a household name, a shorthand for unlocking your creative potential"—Vogue Over four million copies sold! Since its first publication, The Artist's Way phenomena has inspired the genius of Elizabeth Gilbert and millions of readers to embark on a creative journey and find a deeper connection to process and purpose. Julia Cameron's novel approach guides readers in uncovering problems areas and pressure points that may be restricting their creative flow and offers techniques to free up any areas where they might be stuck, opening up opportunities for self-growth and self-discovery. The program begins with Cameron’s most vital tools for creative recovery – The Morning Pages, a daily writing ritual of three pages of stream-of-conscious, and The Artist Date, a dedicated block of time to nurture your inner artist. From there, she shares hundreds of exercises, activities, and prompts to help readers thoroughly explore each chapter. She also offers guidance on starting a “Creative Cluster” of fellow artists who will support you in your creative endeavors. A revolutionary program for personal renewal, The Artist's Way will help get you back on track, rediscover your passions, and take the steps you need to change your life.

In The Musician's Way, veteran performer and educator Gerald Klickstein combines the latest research with his 30 years of professional experience to provide aspiring musicians with a roadmap to artistic excellence. Part I, Artful Practice, describes strategies to interpret and memorize compositions, fuel motivation, collaborate, and more. Part II, Fearless Performance, lifts the lid on the hidden causes of nervousness and shows how musicians can become confident performers. Part III, Lifelong Creativity, surveys tactics to prevent music-related injuries and equips musicians to tap their own innate creativity. Written in a conversational style, The Musician's Way presents an inclusive system for all instrumentalists and vocalists to advance their musical abilities and succeed as performing artists.

The music industry and you - Your band: working with other musicians - Defining and refining your sound - Managing, performing, and booking gigs - Solo or band touring - The music business plan - In the recording studio - Fundraising and investors - Your band is the brand - Music marketing and promotions - Your career in the music business of today.

Want to have an exciting, custom-built career? The Working Woman’s Handbook can help you create it. It’s the ultimate guide to job satisfaction, filled with practical advice on developing and driving a working life you love. Bursting with actionable tips, this book outlines an agenda for making and managing money, setting goals, and establishing success-oriented routines, with worksheets, exercises, and fool-proof "how-to" sections to help chart your course. From the lowdown on launching your own venture to a bullet-point checklist for an essential self-care regime, it will teach you to manage any dilemmas that crop up, and take the stress out of setting a budget. This no-nonsense manual comes packed with author Phoebe Lovatt’s personal insights from her own career as a successful freelance journalist, moderator, and founder of The WW Club, the leading digital resource and global community for working women worldwide. It also includes words of wisdom from various creatives and industry leaders, such as Teen Vogue editor Elaine Welteroth, WAH Nails founder Sharmadean Reid, The Gentlewoman's Editor-in-Chief Penny Martin, and rising fashion designer Sandy Liang. Whether a first-time freelancer, budding businesswoman, or dedicated professional looking to enhance your prospects, The Working Woman’s Handbook is a go-to career and lifestyle guide for ambitious young women everywhere.

More than 150 inspired—and inspiring—novelists, poets, playwrights, painters, philosophers, scientists, and mathematicians on how they subtly maneuver the many (self-inflicted) obstacles and (self-imposed) daily rituals to get done the work they love to do. Franz Kafka, frustrated with his living quarters and day job, wrote in a letter to Felice Bauer in 1912, “time is short, my strength is limited, the office is a horror, the apartment is noisy, and if a pleasant, straightforward life is not possible then one must try to wriggle through by subtle maneuvers.” Kafka is one of 161 minds who describe their daily rituals to get their work done, whether by waking early or staying up late; whether by self-medicating with doughnuts or bathing, drinking vast quantities of coffee, or taking long daily walks. Thomas Wolfe wrote standing up in the kitchen, the top of the refrigerator as his desk, dreamily fondling his “male configurations”.... Jean-Paul Sartre chewed on Corydrane tablets (a mix of amphetamine and aspirin), ingesting ten times the recommended dose each day ... Descartes liked to linger in bed, his mind wandering in sleep through woods, gardens, and enchanted palaces where he experienced “every pleasure imaginable.” Here are: Anthony Trollope, who demanded of himself that each morning he write three thousand words (250 words every fifteen minutes for three hours) before going off to his job at the postal service, which he kept for thirty-three years during the writing of more than two dozen books ... Karl Marx ... Woody Allen ... Agatha Christie ... George Balanchine, who did most of his work while ironing ... Leo Tolstoy ... Charles Dickens ... Pablo Picasso ... George Gershwin, who, said his brother Ira, worked for twelve hours a day from late morning to midnight, composing at the piano in pajamas, bathrobe, and slippers.... Here also are the daily rituals of Charles Darwin, Andy Warhol, John Updike, Twyla Tharp, Benjamin Franklin, William Faulkner, Jane Austen, Anne Rice, and Igor Stravinsky (he was never able to compose unless he was sure no one could hear him and, when blocked, stood on his head to “clear the brain”).