During the webinar, you will learn about...
- How to Overcome the Major Challenge You Face in the Current Music Industry
- How to Deal With the Classical Guitarist’s Biggest Struggle
- The Importance of Being an Authentic “Artist!”
- The Six Stages of Career Development for Classical Guitarists
- The Value of Building Your Fanbase
It is time you invest in yourself and take some serious action in building your music career!
During the webinar you will pinpoint where you are at in your music career and then we will determine what you need to do next to begin to build your music career and business.
If you would like to have more direction, gain clarity and laser-like focus in developing your career and setting up your music business (and ditch the overwhelm), fill out the information below, press the submit button, and I will be in touch to arrange a day and time for your free consultation.
I am looking forward to hearing from you!
I endeavour to give all my clients the personal attention they deserve. I respond to each inquiry personally (no automated replies here) and endeavour to reply within 24-48 hours. On rare occasion, it sometimes takes me a bit longer. Thanks for your patience.
Your Music Career Will Not Build Itself...
Most classical guitarists have developed their art to an incredibly high level, but that doesn't mean a successful career will necessarily follow. You need more than talent and luck to have a fulfilling and meaningful music career.
Having a success career in the music industry requires both musical know-how and some business savvy. It is balancing your passion for music with an ability to connect with fans and audiences. But art and business are not polar opposites, as often assumed or believed, but partners in helping you and your music make a positive impact on the world around you.
Unfortunately, the business side of your music career is not glamorous or sexy. It doesn't give you that high you get when performing or the satisfaction when you help that student overcome a particular challenge. But, the business side of your music career will be the rock on which you can build your career, keep you standing during difficult times, and guide you in that next stage of growth.
Sign up for a personal consultation and discover what steps you need to take that will transition you from being a music student (or amateur) into a professional musician.
Click on the button to schedule your free consultation now!
How Do You Turn Your Dream Into A Reality?
Perhaps you are about to graduate from music school, leave the safety and comfort of the classroom, and enter a new phase of your life but you are a bit uncertain as to how to begin to earn money and make a living from your music. It’s kinda scary! Maybe you have a few vague ideas as to what you should do but you don’t know where to start and you don’t want to spend all of your time trying to “make money” when your passion is creating music.
Or maybe you have been out in the “real” world for a while and finding it tough playing the music you want to play and earn a decent living. You’ve been given a bit of advice but what you thought should work doesn’t. While you have done a few things to support your music career, such as write your bio, set up a website, post a few videos on YouTube, you aren’t gaining the traction that you anticipated and you are feeling you have to compromise who you are just to earn enough to pay the bills.
In this very crowded market, how do you stand out as an artist? How do you rise above the noise so that your music is heard?
Obviously, your music is critical. It is a major key in your success. However, it takes more than musical prowess to establish a fulfilling and financially stable music career.
“Making music is an art. Making a living from your music is a business.”
Don Hlus
Imagine just for a moment . . .
Imagine building a well-designed high performance sports car, such as a Porsche or Ferrari.
Now imagine that car without tires and being placed on stands.
Doesn’t make sense does it?
The tires are a critical component of the car. The tires are the car’s only contact point with the road and without them, it’s not going anywhere—no matter how powerful the engine or how sleek the design is.
Similarly, your music career not only requires talent, knowledge, skill, and purpose, it also requires an understanding of how the music industry works and some well-honed business skills and ingenuity.
Without some practical business skills and a clear-sighted understanding of how to develop your career — your music business —, you will have a tough time realising your potential.
Often times, many artists believe that business side of the industry is somehow working against them, and it takes them away from their art.
However, nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, having some business savvy is what propels your music career forward. With just a bit of knowledge and understanding of some basic business skills, you can transition from being an amateur or a music student into a working professional musician.
Just like a good set of the tires on a hand-crafted sports car allows you to grip and handle a winding road, some business savvy can help you build and navigate a professional music career.
A classical guitarist entering the professional world will have an extremely tough time advancing their career without the appropriate business tools to support the development and growth of his or her career.
This is a long game. It is not about instant success, even though that happens from time to time. This is about establishing a foundation on which you can launch your career and realise success, however you define it.
“If you are not willing to risk the usual,you will have to settle for the ordinary.”
Jim Rohn
Live Your Unique Purpose
Knowing your passion and living your purpose are intricately intertwined, but finding meaning and fulfillment in ways that your gifts serve others and, at the same time, provide a living for yourself are not always obvious or intuitive. Many wanna-be professional musicians never realise their dreams of a career in music because they didn't truly understand the business side of their music career.
No one goes into music thinking they will be establishing a business but that is in fact what you do if you want a professional career as a classical guitarist. It takes a lot of hard work to establish a business. It is not easy. If it were, everyone would do it. However, you can be smart about it and save yourself a lot of missteps, disappointment, and frustration! Working with someone who has already been through the many challenges of building and establishing a career as a professional musician can save you from repeating numerous mistakes that many young musicians make in trying to establish a music career.
My Mission
I help developing and emerging artists set up the foundation of their music career in an efficient and effective way so that they can continue to make music, develop their music career that is authentic, financially rewarding, and personally satisfying.
The Time Is Now!
Establish a solid foundation for your music career by building your music business.
If you are struggling with getting your music career off the ground or simply wondering what you need to do to establish yourself as a professional classical guitarist, you are in good company. Let me share with you a secret: it is not just about how well you play, who you have studied with, or what competitions you have won—although all are extremely helpful—, it is about learning how to build your music business in order to live your purpose and make a living doing what you love.
“You have the power to achieve greatness and create anything you want in life, but you must take action.”
Jack Canfield
PROGRAMS
Phase 1 - Career Build
If you are a developing classical guitarist and want to build the essential pieces needed to enter the professional world and grow your music career/business, start here!
Phase 2 - Career Launch
If you have all the basic pieces for your music business in place and ready to launch your professional music career, this is your next step!
Career Tune-up
If you are an established guitarist and need to fine tune one or two specific areas of your music business in order to take your career to that next level, you can receive specialised help, here!
TESTIMONIALS
“Oh wow, Don! What a treasure trove of information!
Thank you so much for your incredibly useful (and to the point) feedback. I cannot begin to tell you how much this means to me.
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you!"
Nina Fourie-Gouws
Classical Guitarist - Cape Town, South Africa
“I was struggling to articulate a clear artistic vision and plan of action. For many years, I was focused solely on technique, learning new pieces, and finding opportunities to perform. As a result, I was working very hard, but experiencing minimal success from a business perspective. Don gave me some highly effective strategies which helped organize my thinking about what I want to accomplish artistically, how to leverage social media, create a brand, and expand my audience. Ultimately, working with Don has helped me create a clearer artistic identity and communicate more effectively with a growing audience.”
Derek Brown
Classical & Flamenco Guitarist - Portland, Oregon, U.S.A.
Get Started!
"The only impossible journey is the one you never begin."
CGCM BLOG
Career Development
This is Part Seven (Mental Health) in a seven-part series that addresses the essential pieces a classical guitarist needs in place in order to build the business side of a...
Career Development
This is Part Six (Money Matters) in a seven-part series that addresses the essential pieces a classical guitarist needs in place in order to build the business side of a...
Career Development
This is Part Five (Community Building) in a seven-part series that addresses the essential pieces a classical guitarist needs in place in order to build the business side of a...
"Shoutout to @donhlusmusic for the guidance and mentorship all those years ago! I walked away with a strong foundation for my career as a guitarist and recording artist." ~ Adrian Talens
Classical Guitar Career Masterclass
If you have any questions, need more information, or would just like to say "Hello" and introduce yourself, please click on the link below.