Mentors
matter much! So what is a mentor and why would that matter in the music
business. Well, the answer to that is fairly simple. A mentor is simply defined as a person who
facilitates an individual’s personal and professional growth by sharing knowledge
and insights that they have learned through the years. Other
words associated with mentor are counselor, guide, tutor, teacher, guru,
supporter, and advisor. Mentors in the music industry can make your life
easier, better, and help you to have a much smoother transition into the
industry opposed to you trying to figure everything out on your own. There are
hundreds of thousands of people that are trying to make it in this business
everyday. They are spending hundreds of thousands of dollars hoping that they
may one day get a shot at making it this business. And making it in this
business may mean something different to everyone trying, just as much as it
may mean the same thing. The competition is fierce and some may say, only the
strong survive, while at the same time, this business is definitely not for the
faint at heart. This business is definitely not all about talent, but whom you
know can be just as valuable as what you can prove. When you’re new to this
business there is so much that you don’t know, but need to know in order to be
successful. Knowing in this business takes time. A mentor can help make the
time you spend learning more valuable and not as expensive because they can
save you time and money based on what they know, not just how they feel. A
mentor in this business can keep you encouraged when things get tough and can
help lead you down the right path before the wrong path has a chance to present
itself. A good mentor can give you an edge over many in an industry that’s
already full of people who are just like you. The difference a mentor would
make is that while they still don’t know what to do, you do!
Finding a mentor may not always be an easy task, but it’s possible upon making yourself
available. Sometimes this means doing work for free. It may mean volunteering
or trying to find some sort of an internship. Basically the more learning
opportunities you make yourself available for, the better your chances of
finding a viable mentor. You have to be willing to listen and you have to show
that you’re really serious about your craft and your career. Everybody won’t, but
more people than not will won’t to assist you if they see that their help can
be of some value to you. You’d be surprised at how big of a difference it could
make to have someone leading you to where you want to go and helping to guide
you career. It could be like a light leading you through a dark tunnel.
