5 career-saving tips every music professional should know
Today, we're diving into a topic that could make or break your music career: internships. I'm about to share a personal story that taught me some hard lessons about maximizing opportunities in the music industry.
Fresh out of my first year of college, bright-eyed and eager to make beats, I landed what seemed like a dream internship with a producer who has gone on to produce for Kanye, Ed Sheeran, and even Diana Ross. While I didn't technically get fired, I made some crucial mistakes that cost me valuable opportunities.
Let me share what I learned so you don't repeat my missteps.
The Real Cost of Missed Opportunities
During my internship, I was the typical eager intern - bringing cases of Red Bull for the producer (I was too young to buy the vodka that he paired it with), cleaning up the studio, and running errands. But here's where things went wrong:
I was too focused on what I thought I needed (getting my beats heard) that I missed the bigger picture.
5 Career-Saving Tips for Music Interns
Map Your Career Skills: My biggest mistake? Failing to understand what a music producer actually does. Before your internship, create a skills map of your dream role. For music producers, this includes:
Songwriting
Vocal and music arranging
Audio recording
Mixing
Musicianship
Project management
Document Everything: I can't stress this enough - take notes! Today, I'm obsessed with documentation, but back then? I let countless gems of knowledge slip away. Keep a dedicated notebook or use your phone to record:
Technical workflows
Industry insights
Contact information
Random ideas that pop up
Focus on Learning, Not Just Doing: Don't be like me, sitting on the couch watching sessions and thinking, "I didn't come here for all that, I just want to make beats." Every aspect of the industry has value. When my production mentor tried teaching me ProTools, I should have embraced it instead of fixating on beat-making.
Network Intentionally: Here's a truth bomb - networking isn't just about meeting people - it's about building lasting relationships. As Lewis Howes says, "Effective networking isn't a result of luck - it requires hard work and persistence." Some of those interns I met are now industry leaders, but I failed to nurture those connections.
Embrace the Uncomfortable: Will Smith once said - "fail early, fail often, and fail forward" because "failure is where all of the lessons are." Your internship isn't just about avoiding mistakes - it's about growing from them.
🎯Challenge for the Week
Take a moment to evaluate your current situation:
List all the skills your dream role requires
Start a dedicated notebook for industry knowledge
Identify three people in your network you haven't connected with recently
Reach out to at least one of them this week
Remember: If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room.
🧠 Quotes of the week
"Every expert was once a beginner." - Jimmy Iovine
"Experience is what you get when you don't get what you want." - Rick Rubin
Enjoy your week,
Melvin Darrell
