Greg Ward – saxophonist and bandleader – joins me to discuss “networking” for musicians, moving to New York, knowing what you want, and having a positive outlook on life.
“Every opportunity I’ve ever had, EVER, in music has just been from hanging out, knowing people, and making friends.”
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Actionable Advice
- Stop “networking”, and just make friends! People can tell if you’re trying to get something out of them in a social situation. If you consistently offer appreciation and support towards the musicians you value, and do so expecting nothing in return, it’s likely they’ll appreciate and support you in the future.
- Eventually you have to figure out who you are and what you want to get out of the information that’s shared with you. Music schools only have a few semesters to give you your moneys worth. YOU’RE GOING TO BE OVERWHELMED. That’s the school’s job. Luckily this doesn’t have to be a bad experience. If you have the perspective that you are just sampling many decades of art, and you don’t need to master each one, you can enjoy the process of gradually uncovering elements you love. You’ll be presented many topics that don’t spark your interest. In these cases do your best to appreciate them for their impact on music, and move on.
- Letting go of the feeling of being great at everything is important. It’s okay that my sound isn’t like this. It’s fine. Just because you enjoy a certain artist’s style doesn’t mean you should feel pressured to sound that way yourself. You can appreciate something without judging whether or not you can do it yourself. Celebrate it for the beauty and inspiration it brings you! If you really identify with it then dive in head first and adapt it to best suit your own sound.
- Understand how a scene works so that in your journey you aren’t frustrated when things don’t add up. Who are the gate keepers? Which musicians hang at which venues? Are there regular working-class musician opportunities (Chicago, New Orleans), or is it a “main stage” scene (New York)?
- Know what you want to get out of a scene so that you are affected by the hardships of the process. Having your goals in mind will give you detachment from the negative effects you may experience from this lifestyle.
- Talk with people. Find opportunities to hash things out with people who uplift you. Talk about art, what you’re working on and listening to. Talk about what you want out of life: what’s happening now, what’s not happening. As adults we don’t talk anymore.
Coda Questions
- What’s your go to feel good album? Today I’m gonna say Bird With Strings
- What’s some great advice about happiness you’ve received? Sometimes you’re not happy. It comes in moments. The idea of constantly being happy will make you depressed. It’s good to accept the place that you are in if you’re unhappy, and then question why you’re not happy.
- Who’s a musician in your life living a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life? Makaya McCraven
- What’s one bit advice you’d give to young musicians just starting their career? Always work on fundamentals, keep your goals clear to yourself, and be happy with the overall journey.
- What do you think your purpose as a musician is? I feel it’s an opportunity to bring people together in the community that I’m a part of.