Three tips to make it in the music industry

1. Girlfriends

Fans (especially young girls) have a fairy tale dream, which is that their Prince Charming (the rocker) will see them in the crowd at a gig, fall madly in love with them and then shack up happily ever after behind a white picket fence.

This dream is just that.

However, these groupies hang on to that tiny glimmer of hope, showing incredible loyalty and dedication to the rock star and attending every gig without fail. The biggest fail for such a rock star’s career is if his girlfriend hangs on to him like a rash, with over-the-top public displays of affection at shows and threatening any girl who comes near her man.

The solution: No one is saying you should hide your girlfriend and pretend she doesn’t exist. Girlfriends can and should show their support at gigs, but they need to understand that this is work for the artist and that until such time as they leave the venue, the artist is doing his job. The artist has to be seen to be accessible.

2. Mom-agers

The stereotypical “mom-ager” is usually an over-possessive housewife who has gleaned her industry knowledge from Google and self-help books. She flaps around like a mother hen, igniting unnecessary fires and generally hindering her little darling’s career. She cannot understand that success takes smart, strategic work and an incredibly thick skin.

The solution: Unless the “mom-ager” has a strategic business mind and an above average understanding of the music business, the best thing that she could ever do for her child’s career is to leave. There are some successful “mom-agers”. They are good at what they do because they understand the nature of the music business and are able to share a holistic vision that goes beyond having a famous daughter.

3. The Green-Eyed Monster

Jealousy is a regular problem. It can happen among artists at the end of their careers when they see a newbie gaining attention, popularity and success. It happens among peers in the business that have started out on a level playing field before one shoots ahead.

The solution: Celebrate the success of your peers, but do it authentically. Learn from them and attempt to gain insights to their success. And keep your opinions to yourself.