How to Transition into a New Career [10 tips for Independent Artists]
Panic City at the Bill Graham Auditorium - San Francisco (photo: @daveram_)
Before I give you my 10 tips, let me give you some context into my background and why I wrote this piece. I produced music and DJ’ed professionally for 13 years. Like many of you, I’ve experienced the highest of highs, the lowest of lows, but it was absolutely worth it and I still maintain my love for creating and releasing music to this day. However, the music and nightlife industry was all I knew, and part of growing is wanting to try new things. I didn’t know where to start. I hope this can help some of you out there who want to continue with your creative endeavors by giving you a solid foundation to explore new opportunities. With that said, here are my 10 tips for Independent Artists transitioning outside of the Music Industry.
1. Start Networking, especially on Linkedin.
To some people this might be obvious, but at the peak of my music career, Linkedin was the last social media platform I was thinking about. All of my efforts were focused on growing my network on Instagram, Twitter, Soundcloud, etc. You might be one of those people too. If so, keep reading.
You can browse jobs to find opportunities that align with your strengths and passion. You can build a profile to give you a benchmark of your experience and where you stand compared to the competition. My favorite facet of Linkedin is the ability to follow thought leaders within industries you want to pursue. Unlike other platforms, you won’t have to see what someone is having for lunch. 📸 🥗
Instead, you’ll get status updates with insightful gems of information that will enrich you on your journey ahead. Add me on Linkedin: Nic Magbanua
2. Focus on your strengths and own them.
Cultivate the mindset of understanding the traits that make you successful. What are your current strengths that would be valuable in your next role? Are you an expert at playing the piano or mixing records? Perfect, you can start teaching to make side income and make a YouTube channel to promote your business. Are you an ambitious networker? Great, because not everyone has that skill, and you can leverage that in many ways (hint: like building your network on Linkedin). These are just some of the things you want to start thinking about when utilizing your creative talents in other fields.
Don’t be afraid to own your strengths. Rather understand how that experience can be beneficial to whoever is making the decisions. Emphasize how they translate, don’t assume they understand. Your strengths and experiences are unique and they give you a chance to stand out and be memorable. Remember, what Kanye said, “There’s a thousand you’s, there’s only one of me.” Keep that same energy.
3. Understand your weaknesses…and own them too.
In the book, Edge: Turning Adversity into Advantage by Laura Huang, she says it best, “Know your weaknesses so that your weaknesses never become a liability. That’s when your strengths have the opportunity to shine the brightest.” She goes on to say “When you’ve discovered and pinpointed your weaknesses as well as your strengths, you’ve figured out where you’ve got an edge. You know not only where you’re valuable, but where you’re invaluable.”
Knowing both sides of the coin is understanding who you are. Own it and you will fully understand how to play the cards you’ve been dealt.
4. Develop your Personal Brand.
In the increasingly competitive world we live in, do everything you can to showcase the value you hold. Create your own website or start a Youtube channel for your personal brand. Before you start, make sure to map out a strategy with a goal in mind. For example, if you’re looking into a career in marketing, what better way to show off how great you are at marketing yourself?
As an Independent Artist, crafting up a resume probably isn’t your biggest priority. However, it can be a great tool to understand your experience and accomplishments, which can be repurposed as an outline for building your website. Continue to refine it as you gain more experience, as it can always be improved.
If you’re looking for a free resume builder with some of the most beautifully designed templates I use myself, I highly recommend CANVA.
5. Learn new skills online. It practically costs nothing.
You can learn almost anything online nowadays. If you aren’t utilizing YouTube for that reason, you’re missing out. Create playlists and save videos that can be helpful in building your skillset. Watch them when you have downtime. Youtube isn’t the only place you can learn incredibly useful things for free either. Want to learn about Google Analytics? They have a free academy for that. Want to learn more about Marketing? Hubspot has free courses that come with certifications. There’s a wealth of knowledge out there and you can add these valuable certifications to your resume.
As an Independent Artist, learning about investing, taxes, retirement, or passive income opportunities may not top your list for priorities . However if you’re self-employed, the earlier you have an understanding of these concepts put you in a better position to make smart financial decisions. You want to stay creative, and worrying about money makes that much harder.
6. Read books that interest you & strengthen your skillset.
“Wait, so you can’t just watch Youtube videos?” Nah fam. “What about audio books? I don’t have time or patience to read.” Nope, it’s not the same.
There are many benefits to a good reading habit. It helps you articulate your
7. Stop wasting your time on social media.
Social media is junk food for your brain. Possibly worse. You could be creating content, but instead you're consuming it in increments that add up to an unhealthy habit. Use social media as a tool and when it’s necessary. Going on Twitter first thing in the morning is like getting an injection of anxiety to start your day. At this point, it’s a dumpster fire of conspiracy theories and opinions that are only hindering you from achieving your goals.
For social media apps that are taking too much of your time, make it easy on yourself and delete them off your phone. You can always capture things on your camera, and post your content using a social media scheduler on your desktop. That way, you have an opportunity to post with a strategy in mind.
8. You have to start somewhere.
If you’re changing careers or looking for a side gig, you’ll have to start somewhere. Do your best to find an industry or job you believe in, but if you can’t at first, have a plan to work towards it. These experiences are part of the journey and will help you grow. Nothing good comes easy. Sometimes you get lucky and an opportunity falls into your lap. But don’t wait for it to happen. Make it happen.
There’s absolutely no shame in having a job while pursuing your creative passion on the side. This is what this whole post is really about. If anything, you’ll be less likely to compromise your artistic vision because you won’t have the pressure to make something that you think will sell.
9. Keep a journal.
“Either you run the day, or the day runs you.”
If you want to manifest your goals into reality, there’s no better way than to write them down. It adds structure to our increasingly distracted lives and helps you understand what you need to get done. The benefits also include improving mindfulness, emotional intelligence, strengthening your memory, and sparking your creativity. It’s a no brainer.
10. Stop and smell the roses.
Time to get philosophical. We all have one life, make it count. Run to where it’s uncomfortable, that’s where the magic happens. Enjoy the process and avoid comparing your journey with anyone else’s. Change isn’t easy, but it’s part of being human. Take breaks when you need to and take care of your mental health. Play the long game, not the short one. Dream big and follow your heart.