Professional status in any industry is an indication that a person has reached certain heights in his business. On the way to that he must have faced a list of difficulties, but he successfully overcame them, which allowed him to become a professional.

It's the same in music - you have to keep improving and learning and that's the only way you're going to get recognition. The term "professional" to a certain extent means that the person constantly strives for perfection, making high demands not only on himself, but also on those around him.

If you, too, want to reach the heights in music, you need to be aware of the things that a true cool professional just won't do. We've put together a kind of TOP, so study this list carefully if you don't want to waste yourself.

 

Spending money to play.

Of course, when you're just starting out in your music career, it goes without saying that you have to spend money. It may be contributions of some kind, buying necessary equipment, all of which can be considered an investment in your future.

It's all good when we are talking about a young band or a budding musician who can play for free at a festival or a support gig just to be seen and noticed. But once you have your own audience, you need to accept that playing gigs where everyone else but you will make money is an absolute mauvais ton.

Remember that by participating in any concert you have to earn money in the first place. Of course, there are exceptions, and if you decide to take part in a charity event, there is nothing catastrophic about it. It's people you need to help, not other people's pockets. In any other cases, immediately declare their minimum price - let the organizers themselves decide whether to invite you or not.

To be dispersed on projects which do not give the necessary effect.

From time to time any musician is offered various projects, the very essence of which raises a lot of questions. Often they do not promise any result at all: neither moral satisfaction, nor the slightest financial enrichment. It could be anything: writing a song for a wedding for a friend, playing the drums at a performance of a band from the distant 1980s, etc.

No, if the upcoming event promises you a lot of positive emotions and fun, even if you don't earn anything from it, it's definitely worth participating. But if there is no moral satisfaction from what's going on, there must be at least a financial interest. And if there is neither, then just don't waste your time. By the way, to say the word "No" should also be able and periodically practiced.

Trust untrustworthy people.

Any person is surrounded by a huge number of people with different personalities, different professional qualities, etc. Many of them sincerely wish you every prosperity, but not all of them can manage any processes effectively enough, which naturally affects you if you plan to cooperate with them.

You can recognize such people after only a few attempts to interact with them professionally:

They periodically disappear somewhere, they don't respond to messages or calls. Remember that even if the person is fatally busy, they still have at least a couple of minutes of free time to call back or at least leave a voice message.

They turn out to be unprepared from a purely professional point of view, providing incorrect information about the hotel where you plan to stay, the conditions of the concert, etc.

They are not punctual, often late for meetings, or don't show up at all, even though you agreed to it in advance.

If you feel that such professional cooperation begins to drag you down, it is better to stop such contacts right away. Even if in theory the project in which you planned to participate will be profitable for you. It is quite possible that by doing this project, putting up with unprofessionalism in your direction, you will miss out on an offer from other people who are responsible for the business they are doing.