Highly Effective Habits of Successful Artists

They invest in themselves

It is important to give yourself the love and attention you deserve to propel your musical endeavors. Here are some things successful artists do to invest in themselves:

• Prioritizing your health, eat wholesome foods and exercise regularly

• Take holidays to offer rejuvenation and inspiration

• Go to education seminars to carve new paths of discovery in the musical world

Always be prepared and responsive

Making good first impressions are important for gaining essential connections with music professionals that can propel your career. This means being prepared with materials, prompt to events, and having full transparency. Having a highly responsive track record also demonstrates to agencies and potential collaborators, how serious you are about making a career out of music. 

• Come to meetings with prepared questions and answers about your musical journey and future career outlook

• Always respond to client emails with gratitude for their time and consideration, even if they are unable to help you along your journey. 

Keep distractions to a minimum

In the digital age we live in today, it's easy to get distracted by our phones throughout the day. However, successful artists abstain from reaching for their phones for unnecessary distractions, such as social media browsing.  

• Place your phone on airplane mode while you are working

• Keep your phone in another room from work/studio space

Be self-accountable 

As music-making is often a solo act, unless collaborating with other artists, you need to set yourself up for success. To ensure productivity and completing deadlines on time, you must create some structure to your workflow.

• Set deadlines for project completions to keep you on track

• Set weekly goals and rewards 

Embrace Odd Hours

Everyone has different times of the day where they feel the most creatively productive. Embrace these moments!

• Compensate for late hours of creation with ample sleep the following day

• Exercise a routine sleep pattern that embraces odd hours of creation, while familiarizing your body’s internal clock.

SOURCES:

“12 Habits of Highly Effective Artists, From Creative Exercise to Living in Airplane Mode,” artnet.com

“The 7 Habits of Successful Artists,” Virtual Art Academy