Does Where You Live Determine How Far You’ll Go In Music?
There are certain opportunities available to you as a musician where you live right now, though there are probably both upsides and downsides to being where you are.
However, maybe you can't help but wonder if the grass isn't greener just over the hill.
And, maybe, you're a little scared too. Now that you're getting more serious about your love of music and pursuit of a music career, you're beginning to wonder what it will actually require of you.
Location isn't everything, but it could end up being important in the grand scheme of things. It might play into the kinds of pursuits you can engage in, and the types of things you'll need to do to reach your goals.
If you aren't sure whether or not you need to move location to succeed in music, here are several questions you should be asking yourself.
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Contents
How Serious Are You About Building A Music Career?
When it comes to building a music career, there's something far more important than what part of the world you live in, and it can be summed up very simply as this: a willingness to do whatever it takes to get what you want.
If your music career required you to move, would you? If making progress meant taking a leap of faith and living where you've never lived before, would you go?
There probably isn't anything wrong with the town or city you live in. However, depending on what your goals are, there could be a bit of a conflict.
For instance, if your goal is to play live and grow a large fan base, and there are no venues worth playing in your small town, you're either going to have to tour out a lot, or move to a bigger place with easier access to good venues.
Sacrifices must be made if you want to see your dreams become a reality, and that's true no matter where you live. Musicians from small towns might have to drive more miles. Musicians from big cities might have to work harder at standing out from the crowd.
So, how serious are you about building a music career? If music is just a hobby to you, then there's never any need to move or to do things any differently than you are right now. Conversely, if you want to achieve massive success, you're going to have to take some big risks, whether it involves moving or not.
What Opportunities Are Available To You Where You Live Right Now?
Thanks to the internet, the global network is far easier to tap into than it ever was, which means you always have the ability to make new connections, reach out to media people, or contact venues in faraway places.
However, in your own hometown, there are going to be some limitations in terms of gigs and venues, connections you could make, music stores you could teach at, jobs or earning opportunities, and so on.
This doesn't mean that you can't make the most of the environment you now find yourself in (I certainly have). However, you should take a good look at your home town, what opportunities there are, and how good they are too.
Would you find it limiting to stay where you are right now? Would you find it difficult to balance a variety of offline and online activities? Are you willing to problem-solve, and how good are you at beginning new ventures where potentially none exist?
If you aren't terribly good at thinking outside-the-box, then maybe moving is the best thing you could do.
The fewer things there are to pursue in your hometown, the more time you would presumably be spending online or traveling and touring. You would have to mix things up to really make a go at a career in the music industry.
How Well Do You Know Yourself & What You Want Out Of Music?
The truth of the matter is that there is no point in moving to a place like Nashville unless you know exactly what you want to do with your music.
In Music City, USA, they have specific terms to define certain career paths, and you better know which one you're after, because people aren't going to know how to help you (and won't) otherwise.
Many people, even after arriving in a place like Nashville, spend many years working as a waiter at a restaurant or a barista at a coffee shop. Is that something you're willing to do?
If you're sure about what you want, and you're determined to get it, nothing will stop you. You won't sweat a few years in obscurity while you're working on your next demo that's going to blow people away.
Some people, however, probably aren't ready for this step. Their dream would easily fizzle out, because they wouldn't see their ship coming in for months or even years on end.
You have to think about your goals. You have to think hard about what you really want out of music, and what you're willing to do to get it.
Big success will require big risks, but you have to know for sure that you're ready to take whatever steps you're thinking about taking before you make any rash decisions.
Final Thoughts
Ultimately, where you live will not determine how far you'll go in music. However, how far you'll go for music will determine what you achieve.
There are advantages and disadvantages to every locality. Some are certainly more conducive and supportive of music than others, but that doesn't mean you won't have to work hard to get what you want.
The bigger consideration is always the size of your dream. Moving won't feel like a sacrifice if you know that it's a necessary part of accomplishing your goals, but if you're unsure of yourself, moving in and of itself will feel like a big challenge, let alone building new connections in new places.
Your location may dictate what you can do on a local level, but your creativity will determine the possibilities you see and whether you make the most of where you live or not.
P.S. Remember though, none of what you've learned will matter if you don't know how to get your music out there and earn from it. Want to learn how to do that? Then get our free ‘5 Steps To Profitable Youtube Music Career' ebook emailed directly to you!