1) Understand what truly motivates you. Do you want to be rich? Do you want to be famous? Do you want to be both rich and famous (the two do not necessarily go hand in hand)? Are you pursuing a career in music to attract the opposite sex? To party? Or are you pursuing music for spiritual reasons: for the art and for the love of creating? To make a valid contribution to the world of music?

The answers to these questions are going to ultimately affect the career decisions you make. You need to be really honest as to what your goals truly are. With that said, it is also extremely important to interpret the goals of the people for which you may become professionally involved with. What motivates them? Do you really want to do business with these persons? Do you truly respect and like them, and equally, do they truly respect and like you?

2) Do not be disillusioned by media hype or glamour. Understand how the music industry works behind the scenes. Continue to read books about the music business, as well as books that feature the life stories of your favorite artists (check out the VH1 video series "Behind the Music"). Make sure that your are willing to make the major sacrifices and take the risks that are a necessary part of pursuing your goals. The life of a musician is not always an easy one.

3) Prepare for the long haul. There are many stories about people who move to the "big city" and give themselves six months to "make it." Needless to say, this is completely unrealistic. You’ll either end up returning home broke or living on your friends' couches. Be prepared, both mentally and financially, to spend several years pursuing your goals. Find ways in which to comfortably survive while working towards your dream. You’ll be in a better frame of mind to make the connections you need to make without appearing desperate or overzealous.

4) Attract the attention of those that can help you by first helping yourself. You're not going to find a gig or procure a record deal by simply sending a demo package through the mail. You need to take control and create your own destiny. Nobody is going to hand you success on a silver platter. If you're in a band that wants to get a record deal, record your own record first! Albums can be recorded more and more inexpensively these days. Sell your tapes or CDs at your live performances or over the internet: create a buzz! Build a following. You’ll be surprised on how many people in the industry you'll attract once you set the "wheels in motion." For example, Guns N' Roses was already the hot buzz on the streets before Geffen Records A&R man, Tom Zutaut, "discovered" and then signed the band. Guns N' Roses made the record companies come to them.

If you’re a musician that wants to be known as a great player, to perform with successful artists and play on several records, then get out there and be heard! Try starting your own band first. Find other musicians whose personalities and playing you admire and begin performing everywhere. Eventually more successful musicians and bands will begin noticing you and may even ask you to play on their records or tours, and so on and so fourth. Your reputation will build from there. For example, when Guns N' Roses was looking for a replacement drummer, GNR’s guitarist Slash happened to attend a concert in which drummer Matt Sorum was performing. Slash liked Sorum’s heavy/solid style, and without researching thousands of candidates, Slash offered Sorum the gig. Sorum worked hard at putting himself in situations where he could be seen doing what he did best. As a result, he got a great gig. At the time, Guns N' Roses was one of the greatest rock bands in the world.

5) Get to know as many people in the music business as you possibly can. Networking and making connections is an important part of establishing a career in the music industry. It really does depend on who you know! Put yourself in situations where you can meet others that are already doing what you desire to do or that are working towards similar goals as you. Whether it be a song writer’s work shop, a local jam session, or even another band that may be on the same bill you’re playing, you never know who will someday be in a position to help you. So be friendly and pleasant with everyone!

6) Drop the attitude! Being an artist (especially one that is experiencing success) does not give you a license to treat people with disrespect. Besides, as alluded to earlier, you never know which stage tech or opening act may eventually become a successful manager or the next successful band that may one day be in a position to help you. Just remember the old adage, the people you see on the way up are the same people you see on the way down. There are very few artists that stay on top forever. You get the point!

7) Do not burn bridges. If a relationship does not feel right from the start, know how to walk away before it inevitably gets worse. The music business consists of a very small community of people and you cannot afford to have negative energy circulating. This is important! Only fight the battles that are really worth fighting.

8) Do not take the music "business" too personally. For every door that shuts or for every rejection letter you receive, don’t get disappointed. Most successful artists have been "knocking on doors" for years before finally getting their big break. Even then, if a record company, for example, fails to promote your band and you’re suddenly dropped, keep in mind it’s strictly business. Companies are interested in one thing-- an immediate return on their investments. No matter how talented you think you are, the music business is all about Money!

9) When you make money in the music business, learn how to keep it and make it grow. There are far too many examples of musicians who sell millions of records, yet end up penniless. For example, in 1991, Forbes Magazine estimated rapper M.C. Hammer’s worth at $33 million. Today, as a result of living an extravagant lifestyle (he toured with 60 performers, employed an entourage of 100 friends, drove 17 exotic cars, and owned a mansion worth $14 million), he is faced with financial ruin. Invest your money wisely! It does not take much to get started, so even if you have very little funds, contact a successful financial planner. The money you invest today, could be the money you depend on tomorrow.

10) Broaden your career opportunities and increase your earning potential and "staying power" in the business. Work on song and lyric-writing, singing, playing multiple instruments and production and engineering. David Grohl, the drummer for the grunge rock sensation Nirvana, was able to transform his career after Kurt Cobain (Nirvana’s singer/songwriter) took his life in 1994. Grohl formed his own band, The Foo Fighters and assumed the role of vocalist, guitarist and songwriter. The Foo Fighters entered the Billboard Charts at number 24 and are currently enjoying a very successful career. If Dave had not been prepared, it could have easily been the end of his musical career.

11) Investigate "business" opportunities in the music industry that interest you, such as artist relations, management, and internet-related careers (to name a few). You may not think that you will need something to fall back on, but you never know. Very few musicians and bands are able to sustain long term careers as performers. The group Korn, with two platinum records to their credits and no sign of their careers slowing down, started their own record label in 1997 called Elementree Records, distributed by Reprise/Warner. The majority of the group had families to support and could not risk relying completely on the success of their next CD. In addition, they did not want to spend as much time as they had in the past out on the road and away from their families. The band Orgy, Elementree’s first signing, sold over 500,000 copies with their release "Candyass.' Needless to say, Korn made a smart move!

12) Understand as much as possible about the World Wide Web. The Internet is providing new opportunities for the way music is experienced. Business models and laws are rapidly changing to adapt. It is very important to stay up to date on the latest news and information so that you do not get left behind.

When someone downloads your song from the Internet on an "MP3" file or some other format, will this be classified as a mechanical royalty or a performance royalty? The Harry Fox Agency, ASCAP and BMI say it’s both, yet the specifics are still unclear at the time of this writing. Again, you must stay informed!

The web will likely transform the music business into a "singles" business. Rather than waiting years for complete albums to be released, record companies may make single tracks available on the World Wide Web. This could greatly effect publishing royalties. When someone purchases a full-length CD from a record store because they like one of the songs, there are still nine or more songs on the recording that will earn a mechanical royalty. If singles can be downloaded at the buyer’s discretion, this may decrease the amount payable to the copyright owner because the buyer would only purchase his/her song of choice. This, of course, will also decrease the record royalty payable to the artist.

Since the Internet essentially provides for a global market, the practice of different record and publishing royalties in foreign territories will likely change. Will there be a world-wide system for calculating royalties? Moreover, do the various deductions (e.g. packaging cost, free goods and CD technology) used in calculating record royalties make sense when digital downloads of music are available? Are these deductions appropriate when the record companies are not dealing with physical product and old distribution methods? Absolutely not! A new system will eventually be devised.

The Internet is continually growing in popularity and more and more fans are visiting artist’s sites for news and information. For this reason, record companies are already insisting that a band must sign over their "domain" names when contracting a recording deal. The record companies feel that a substantial amount of time and energy is put forth to develop an artist’s web site, and therefore they should rightfully have control. On the other hand, the artist may feel that they should be able to own their domain name, allowing them to control the content of their sites and better communicate with their fans. Nevertheless, the record company will usually prevail when insisting to own a band’s domain name, especially for new groups that are negotiating their recording agreements.

Bands may eventually try to bypass record companies altogether and start selling their own records via the web. Why "work for the man" when you can do it yourself? For established bands that already have a following, this may be the wave of the future. Newer bands, however, may still need the marketing muscle of the major record companies to gain popularity. After all, a new band can have the greatest web site in the world, but they still have to get fans to visit it.

Where the future of music and the Internet will end up is not entirely predictable, though there is one thing that’s for sure: There will be many changes in the way music is experienced as well as the associated laws and business models. It’s all happening very quickly so don’t get left too far behind. These changes will greatly effect both your creative voice as an artist and the way you make money. Stay informed!

13) Most of all: stay healthy! Drugs and alcohol are a big part of the music culture and the downfall of many successful artists and bands. Steven Adler of Guns N' Roses was fired for his problems with drug abuse. Mike McCready of Pearl Jam was nearly fired at the apex of the group’s career due to his bouts with drinking. Nikki Sixx of Motley Crue actually died from a heroin overdose, only to be revived by paramedics soon after -- he was one of the lucky ones. Among the artists who've lost their lives to drugs and/or alcohol are: guitarist Jimi Hendrix, saxophonist Charlie Parker, bassist Jaco Pastorious, and vocalist Janis Joplin. Also: John Bonham of Led Zeppelin, Brian Jones of The Rolling Stones, Keith Moon of The Who, Kurt Cobain of Nirvana, Andrew Wood of Mother Love Bone, Shannon Hoon of Blind Melon, Jonathan Melvoin of The Smashing Pumpkins, Brad Nowell of Sublime, Bon Scott of ACDC, Hillel Slovak of The Chili Peppers, Jim Morrison of The Doors, and many more. Be sensible! There are advantages and disadvantages to every course of action.