How To Make a Successful Living in Music

This is part 1 of 7 factors that I feel you need to have or do to make a success in music. I’ve been asked the question countless times by aspiring musicians and students and will add further parts weekly.

My Circle of Musicians used as inspiration for the ‘How To Make a Successful Living in Music’ feature are as follows:

Cassell ‘the Beatmaker’ (Producer/Drummer) – co-writer on No.1 and BRIT nominated album, ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ by Plan B. Drummer with The Streets, Plan B, Keziah Jones and many more. Composed with Bassistry Music for television ITV & BBC, multimedia. Premier drums and Zildjian endorsed. www.thebeatmakers.com

Sam Blue Agard (Drummer) – Drummer with Paloma Faith, Plan B, Professor Green, Corinne Bailey Rae, Bassistry. Yamaha drums and Promark sticks endorsed.

Josh Breslaw (Drummer/Producer) – founder member of hugely successfully Oi Va Voi www.myspace.com/oivavoi Also manages pop/rock band Dallas Guild. 

Katy Seath – Vocals with Bassistry. Manager/Musical Director of West London Rock Choir www.rockchoir.com

Eric Apapoulay (Producer/Multi Instrumentalist) – Producer of No 1. Album ‘The Defamation of Strickland Banks’ by Plan B. Guitarist for Yusuf Islam, Plan B, Craig David, Nitin Sawhney, Natasha and Daniel Beddingfields www.thesantuarystudio.co.uk

Philippe d’Amonville (Drummer) – drummer with Bollywood Brass Band, Natasha Atlas Emperors New Clothes, Laika and Bassistry.

Marcel Pusey (Song-writer, bass player, educator) Manager of Bassistry Music and Director of O-Music. Co-creator of O-Generator Music Software. Composer for children’s television BBC, ITV, and Channel 4. Composer/producer for Bassistry and education programmes. www.bassistry.com and www.o-music.tv

Part 1. Obsession & Professionalism - Healthy and sometimes an unhealthy obsession of playing, creating, practising and listening is a common trait. Now, I’ve pretty much always been an employer of musicians. The one thing I can definitely spot when I meet a musician is that look of obsession. You realise very quickly that some people are in for the long haul. You are merely a vehicle that helps them go the way they want to go. Having their talent in your orbit is good for you, and hopefully good for them. The other thing is the professionalism from the word go. Being professional no matter what the job, no matter what the money (or lack of), it then becomes a habit.

A drummers story - Mr Sam Blue - ‘Sam is one of the hottest drummers in the UK. He has toured with Corinne Bailey Rae, Paloma Faith, and is currently touring with Plan B and Professor Green. The interesting thing is in the early days when I met Sam there was no doubt he was going to do well. We met at a jam night. You know when you meet a fellow obsessive. His timing was perfect (not just drumming-wise). He stepped up when the night was starting to heat up and some killer players were on stage. This is a man who carries his own snare drum on his back. What a statement! We all looked at him with total fascination. He looked like he was 15 years old - "You choose the groove" - and could the boy groove. That was it. I started working with him, and to this day he’s maintained the same standard of obsession and professionalism.


The next part to Making a Success in Music is 'Taking A Chance'