So you would like to start a career within the music industry, possibly artist management or an A&R role within a record company. What steps would you advise me to take? Although I haven’t got formal qualifications, I have had a lot of experience within the industry.

AnswerThis area of work can be really competitive, but don’t let that put you off. Those who get in are usually the persistent ones. Producers and others in the Artists and Repertoire (A & R) Department often have a degree in music and an in-depth knowledge of the record industry. Experience in any related work such as a recording studio or publishing helps. Employers say the best way in is through personal contact and networking. Try ringing companies and asking for advice and information rather than just sending a speculative CV.
Web resources that can help you research this further are the Information Sheets on The Incorporated Society of Musicians website, and there’s a whole lot of useful stuff on the British Phonographic Industry Ltd (BPI) website. BPI publish various guides to careers in the music industry that can be ordered from the site.
There are degree and HND courses in Music Industry Management at your local college & University.
Networking works. Put yourself in the right place at the right time
Networking is making contacts and giving people the chance to help you in a way that's mutually beneficial. You do it all the time without realising - when you get a friend to suggest a good car mechanic, join a school lift-sharing scheme or ask a neighbour to feed your cat or go to a party. It's what makes the world work smoothly and applies to career development as much as any other aspect of life.
Around half of all vacancies are filled through different forms of networking. Who you know and how you get on with them can have a more
Building a network for job hunting
So how do you get yourself into the situation of having an effective network? Many people find the idea of approaching friends or strangers with requests for help in their working lives daunting or unappealing.

* The first hurdle to overcome is your worry that you will appear to be a nuisance. People like sharing their experience and giving advice.
* Start with people you know such as friends, relatives, colleagues and previous employers. Try to think of five people who could help you with the task you currently want to accomplish.
* Arrange meetings with them that have a specific purpose, such as finding out more about a particular career area. Don't ask contacts for a job, ask for guidance on getting into their industry, advice on your CV or a period of work shadowing.
* Do this by phone if you know them, by letter or email if they're a contact that's been suggested to you.
* Aim to interest people in who you are and what you can do rather than blatantly trying to sell yourself.
* Follow up meetings with a letter of thanks.


Keep going
Once you're in work maintaining and enhancing your network is just as important but quite a bit easier to do.

* Links may become broken or obsolete. Check them regularly and repair or renew areas that need attention.
* Reciprocity is essential. This is a give-and-take situation. If you're doing all the giving it's not an effective network. If you're doing all the taking, you'll use up the goodwill on offer with surprising speed.
* Develop a public presence. This can be done by joining a professional organisation or business group, writing for a journal read by those doing your sort of work, or getting involved in community activities.