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
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.
Hi, 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.
Speaker 1:So 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 1:All right, that'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 1:I'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 better.
Speaker 1:Keep 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 1:I'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 side 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.