5 Ways to Blow Your Music Career

5 Ways to Blow Your Music Career5 Ways to Blow Your Music CareerTrying to break into the music business or make a living as a musician requires hard work, dedication, patience and not a little bit of luck. In other words, its tough enough without shooting yourself in the foot by engaging in sure-fire career shorteners. If you want to build a sustainable music career - and yes, give up the day job - avoid these five music career killers. 01Chasing the Small PictureAnn Tornkvist / Staff/Getty ImagesAlthough the music industry is the one long, extended party you might see depicted in movies, as a musician or someone working in the industry, you will have more than ample opportunity to dabble in lifes little excesses.For some people, the availability of alcohol and drugs can become all-consuming, and it may even seem like fun at first. The end game is that you become unpredictable, unreliable, unprofessional and just downright difficult to deal with. Your band-mates may decide youre not worth risking their own reputations over, people may decide that youre not worth booking if youre going to show up late or not at all, your fans may decide that paying money to see you play an incoherent set is not worth it - and that is all before you even consider the risks to your own health and your personal relationships.Heres the fact You will absolutely always be able to find someone to tell you that your overindulgence is ok and to help you convince yourself that something about your behavior is what makes you interesting as a musician/inspires your creativity. These people are so easy to find, but make a point of surrounding yourself with people who really care about you enough to tell you the truth. If you dont think your music career can survive you not partying around the clock, then you arent cut out for this.