So a while ago I went to a networking night in Manchester with a charity that I admire a lot for its work to support kids of all walks of life and their journeys with music. They do a lot from funding to educational and political campaigns for kids in the UK. Now, if you’re interested in the music industry, you know that’s it all about who you know – but networking can be hard and I’ve not heard anyone talk about it, so here’s a note on just one event I’ve been to, and what I would say to anyone looking to build their network.
Going alone to events like these can always be intimidating, especially if you’re not based in the area, but as I was affirmed by a panelist later in the night – it’s about taking risks. Look, I get it, getting on the train for an hour to a place were you don’t know anyone sounds like the least best thing to be doing on a Wednesday night, but these kind of things surprise you, and yourself.
As an introvert I’ve found that when you get in, it’s best to open your mouth as soon as you make eye contact with anyone – I mean just say hi. You can gauge who’s up for a chat by their reaction, and if you ask the right questions, you can be chatting in no time. The best advice I could give is to not put pressure on an outcome. If nothing else, you’ll get an alternative perspective…These are a few of the perspectives I got from going on this specific night..
Musicians are struggling more than ever, and deserve more respect
Following on from the pandemic, closure of venues, pressure of constant social media coverage, scarily increasing use of AI, and diminishing income, musicians have a lot on their plate. Earning enough from their craft to even paying hiking rent prices is an almost impossible task, especially in this day and age.
It’s easy to see how even session musicians can be frustrated, and so now more than ever, it’s more important to stick together. From the #LetTheMusicMove campaign to the Misogyny in Music inquiry, music industry members and fans are encouraged to show their support in any way they can. You can find more about causes like these at plenty of organisations, including Amplify Her Voice, Musicians Union, UK Music, the FAC and more.
Your best bet into progressing in the music industry is community
After hearing the panel of music industry professionals, one main thing stood out: Supporting each other and opening the gate for others should lie at the heart of the music industry. There’s no place for gatekeeping, or silencing others, and opening up is the only way forward.
Professionals shouldn’t be afraid to share opportunities with others if they want to see that come back to them too. On the other side, if you’re not seeing equal give and take – don’t be afraid to set boundaries. While it’s obvious in theory, it’s still important to take into day-to-day life.
Another thing that stood out was risks, “Get comfortable with being uncomfortable”, they said. Music as an industry is asking all of us to take risks everyday. When I put myself out there, I like to look at it like proving to myself that I can do it, but even I struggle at times.
Supporting and opening the gate for each other should lie at the heart of the music industry.
Go in for the long haul, nurture your connections
At the end of the night and for a few days to come, you might realise that the new people you met could easily end up as just an extra follower, not ideal. If you want to make lasting connections, go out of your way for a follow up message, engage with their posts etc- this breaks the ice and opens the door for them to speak to you in future.
Much of what I heard that night was the fact that Manchester was unique in the way of London for one big thing: community. They mentioned that in London, it’s easy to meet someone and never see them again. They even touched on the fact that London should be doing more to support its national counterparts, whether it’s creating major labels up in Manchester or Leeds etc, or even just putting on more events in these spaces.
The point is that the north of the UK is a great place to build lasting connections, and you know what else is? Social media. Yes, dreaded social media could be the difference between an acquaintance and a like-minded friend in music. So reach out to them, you have nothing to lose.
I guess to summarise, the main point is that it’s much less daunting when you try, and I’m glad I went to this event. What do they say? If you find a path with no obstacles, it probably doesn’t lead anywhere.
That’s all from me, hope it helped, until next time.
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