Brother Musician Podcast
This channel was developed to give musicians guidance and proven solutions to help them navigate in the music arena. Full-time or part-time musicians can benefit from the knowledge given in this channel. Interviews and perspectives from other professionals will also be included.
Brother Musician Podcast
Making Music Your Full-Time Career Without Looking Back
Use Left/Right to seek, Home/End to jump to start or end. Hold shift to jump forward or backward.
Rico Anthony shares insights from his 20-year journey as a full-time musician, offering practical advice for sustainable music careers without needing a "day job." Drawing from personal experience since 2003, he outlines key strategies for longevity in the competitive music industry.
• Create multiple music-related income streams including church gigs, studio work, instrument repairs, lessons, and funeral performances
• Maintain a humble, generous attitude and be willing to share knowledge with others
• Repair any broken relationships as the industry is small and connections matter long-term
• Continuously grow your skills by learning from younger musicians and staying current with technology
• Invest in ongoing education through workshops, classes, and practice
• Trust that a music career alone can provide sufficient income to support yourself and family
Like, subscribe, share, and drop comments if this content added value to you. If you're looking to become a full-time musician, let me know what you're thinking so I can help you through this journey.
Introduction to Musician Longevity
Speaker 1Hi , I'm Rico Anthony . Thank you for listening to the Brother Musician Podcast . Today we're going to be talking about longevity , how to do this thing full time without having to go back and get a job . We've been working in this music industry , whether you're a singer , you're a musician , whether you're a sound engineer , whatever it is that you do . How do you do this without having to go back and go grab something else to go along with this ? Like , what are the steps to do that ? I want to walk you through that . I've been a full-time musician for the last ah since 2003 . So I want to kind of walk you through some of the steps or some of the things that I did to make sure that I was able to continue to do this .
Multiple Income Streams
Speaker 1So the first thing is don't be greedy . Have multiple things that you're working on at the same time , something like you play for a church . You also do studio work . You also do instrument repairs because you've learned your instrument . Instrument repairs because you've learned your instrument . You also do lessons , whether they're vocal lessons or whatever . Or maybe you you go down to the funeral home and say , hey , my name is Rico Anthony and listen , I'm a local musician , if you guys ever need me to do a funeral , I am here . I'm here to sing , I'm here to play , I can , I'm a sound engineer , things and things like that . Because here's the truth , you're likely not going to get it all in one place , so you want to make sure that you have multiple streams of income coming in in the same field that you are already working in .
Speaker 1All right ,
Maintaining Good Relationships
Speaker 1that's number one . Number two you want to have a good attitude . Don't be arrogant . Don't be the musician that won't show anybody anything . You know the Bible talks about him giving . See God giving seed to the sower . You want to make sure that you're sowing good so that you can reap good . I'm a living witness that God will take care of you on this journey if you put your trust in him . So of course , I mean that goes without saying trust in God . But don't be arrogant . You know , be willing to show anybody anything . You never know who you're talking to .
Speaker 1I'm at an age now to where I'm seeing younger musicians that I used to mentor Now I mean they're killing at this point , and I always remember like I wanted to make sure that I used to mentor . Now that I mean they're killing at this point and I always remember like I wanted to make sure that I treated them well when they were younger so they wouldn't get when they do get older , we're still OK , all right . So definitely you want to keep a good attitude , fixing broken bridges . If you ever do make a mistake or you ever do anything wrong , make sure you go back and repair that relationship , because it's a long journey it's going to be . We're talking about longevity . This is a long journey and the last day keep growing , keep progressing , keep getting
Continuous Growth and Learning
Speaker 1better .
Speaker 1Keep yourself around younger musicians , because they they got an edge , they got you to . When I was coming up , we didn't have you to , we didn't have anything to get us to the next level . So keep your ear in tune to what even some of the younger musicians are doing . There's things that you can offer them , but there are also things that they can offer you . Go back and get more education . If it's another class , a new logic class that comes out , or if it's a new method to teach in vocals or whatever it is that you do , make sure you stay current in that actual field . Go back and get more education . Go back and go back and learn Ableton , whatever . Whatever is current . Make sure you stay current . That could be attending workshops . That could just be as simple as you practice it . Make sure you're staying fluent and current in your craft and whatever that is .
Speaker 1I'm a witness that you can do this full time and you don't have to go back and get another job , a side job , a
Final Encouragement and Call-to-Action
Speaker 1side hustle . This is whatever your gifting is . This is your hustle . If you're in music , I promise you this is enough , like it's enough to say , hey , what do you do for a living ? I'm a full time musician and you don't have to say anything else to go along with it . You can take care of your family . You can provide yourself a great lifestyle . I believe that you can do all these things if you follow these steps Listen , like , subscribe , share . If this content has added any value to you , if you're looking to be a full time musician , or if you're looking to be in music full time , drop me some some , some comments . Let me know what you're thinking . Let me help you walk through this journey . I've been doing it for a minute so I can help . I know some . I know a little bit about a little bit . No-transcript .