“Everything I need to know I learned from…” was a popular subject of posters and T-shirts in the 80’s and 90’s. And I’m going to exhume it for a moment.
Many lessons we learn as gigging musicians can be applied to life. This isn’t unique to music; any life’s passion can be a microcosm of life itself.
Here are some lessons I have learned as a musician that could apply elsewhere:
* People don’t remember when you’re early. They remember when you’re late.
* You cannot over-prepare.
* For every piece of equipment you carry, imagine a scenario where it fails. Are you prepared to handle it?
* Don’t telegraph your mistakes.
* Pretend that what you’re doing is easy, and it will become easy.
* Never turn down an opportunity to learn.
* It is rude to reject a compliment.
* Do not speak negatively of others; you never know who will call with a gig.
* Learn to strike a balance between playing the game and asserting yourself.
* You won’t find work if no one knows who you are.
* Whenever possible, work with people who challenge you.
* Learn to work around your limitations, and the limitations of your ensemble.
* Pace your learning so that it challenges you, but steadily yields results.
* The most difficult thing about writing is coming up with the first idea.
* What can you do beyond your core responsibilities?
* Your best ideas will come to you when it’s inconvenient.
* Details aside, the most important things you can do are simply listen to others and play as much as possible.
* Better to do a little every day than a lot every few days.
What might you add to the list?
