5 Reasons Why the Wide World Isn't for Every Musician

1. Hussle

In London, you fight for a gig every day. There's a vast array of the most talented people from all over the world (in my field, Italians rule, it feels like every other Italian plays the bass) and they all had the exact same idea as you did. I remember going to about 50 auditions for different bands in my first year. You have to go to jam sessions in clubs, say hello to all the musicians at gigs, be nice, energetic and always available.

Need a bassist for tomorrow's concert? No problem! Want me to learn 20 new songs for a single gig? No problem! A studio session for free but with the potential to impress a famous producer with your skills? No problem! A several-week tour of India? No problem! It's a wild world with an uncertain investment/profit ratio. You never know where you'll be taken or which contact might be the one that makes the difference in your career.

Personally, it took me eleven years to record three tracks on a Simply Red album, which is certainly something I would never even have dreamed of. But I can't say that my phone hasn't stopped ringing with offers since then. My personal "hussle" goes on. Unless you have an endless reservoir of energy, enthusiasm and faith in miracles, this path is not for you.

2. Struggle

In London (and other famous world capitals) life is extremely expensive. The biggest item in your budget is likely to be housing costs – they are astronomical. You pay for the address ( as you get closer to the centre and attractive locations, the price increases exponentially) and also for every extra square metre, as London saves centimetres even on the street and road dimensions.

If English is not your first language, communication is another challenge you might face. If you think you speak excellent English, try chatting on the phone with a native speaker. During my first months in London, phone calls about auditions were a nightmare because I would catch about every fifth word in a conversation. My initial "hi" was often followed by "Where are you from?" followed by a polite rejection – a pretty frustrating experience for your self-esteem.

The third horseman of the apocalypse is logistics. Everything is much further away than you think, public transport is constantly packed to the brim and also quite unreliable. On my first tour, when we travelled from London to Glasgow, I suffered a panic attack from lack of space and oxygen in the back seat after six hours of driving in a two-door Nissan.

When I went for an audition, I found that searching by street number didn't work in London. There are dozens of streets with the same name. You need to know the postcode, otherwise, you can end up at an address that's at the opposite end of town to where you originally intended to arrive. I should add that I didn't even have a smartphone at the time and was using a regular tourist map. Occasionally, some tears were shed. Remember that in many of these situations, you will be mostly on your own. It takes a resilient spirit and lots of friends on the phone.

3. ADHD

A symptom of our age (whether or not you have a clinical diagnosis). There is an insane amount of things going on in London every day. Lots of concerts, shows, events, parties. You don't know where to go first. But you can't do it all. If you want to find time to practice your instrument or just have some time for yourself, you have to be extremely disciplined and organised. Everything is a rush, you're running around, trying to get as much done as possible. Because if you don't go somewhere, someone else will be there and they might get the opportunity that should have been yours.

During this frantic process, you will also face many temptations that can lead you astray. You'll find a well-paying part-time job that you justify by the need to earn some extra cash for your music career. But then, you find that a steady income and a stable job suit you, you get promoted, and the part-time job becomes a full-time job. Yes, sure, just for a while, and then you will dive back into the world of music. Won't you? That might happen too. London can shake the strongest will, plans or convictions.

4. Stress

The above three points may have made your heart beat faster, you may feel difficulty breathing, and your temples may be throbbing slightly. These are symptoms of stress, which is an integral part of our lives. In the wide world of music, this is a major factor. If you're stressed by a life with no security, no regular income and an uncertain outcome, don't go anywhere. You have to swim in the river of stress like a fish in water. You are a ship sailing through this rough sea, and you must not let the water get to you. Otherwise, you're going down. As long as you don't have a hole in your keel, you're okay and you're sailing to your desired destination. The challenges of the "wide world" will test you in all aspects. Can you handle the stress? Do you have thick skin? A gold card? Then you have no problem!

5. PR

Have you noticed how many musicians are becoming TikTokers or YouTubers? Often it's not their choice, but a mere necessity. Being seen and heard is just as important in the online world as it is in the "offline" or real world. Are you prepared to send hundreds of emails that no one will respond to? Contact people in the music industry on social media? Build your online image and personal brand? Go to auditions? Wait hours at jam sessions for your turn to solo?

A musician in the wide world has to be seen all the time. You need to build a reputation as someone who is "cool", obviously always working on yourself and "hungry", i.e. always looking for new opportunities. It's hard to put it in words, but you can immediately see and feel who is serious about their music career and who is just kind of dabbling. If you're not convinced of your uniqueness or your journey and you don't believe in yourself, then cancel your tickets to L.A., New York or London.

To end on a positive note. I encourage all musicians to try out what it's like to be out of your domestic comfort zone. Try living and playing in the musical capitals of Europe, America or other continents for at least a few months if you feel the urge. You can make the journey easier by combining it with a study programme or getting in touch with family and friends who live in your dream city (that's called winning the lottery). You'll learn a lot about yourself and clarify your direction. However, there's a lovely saying in England: "Be careful what you wish for."

I wish you all the strength and success on your dream journey!