Every musician should consider putting together a musician's survival kit of some sort. This kit should include things like extra audio equipment accessories, tools like pliars, wire cutters, tuning keys, etc., first aid (band aids, etc.), and miscellaneous items necessary for musical emergencies.

Music Gifts
Gifts for Musicians: T-shirts, Hats, Stickers, Mugs, Figurines, Ties,
Mousepads, Keychains, Posters, Clocks, and Jewelry.

Get in the habit of keeping two of everything on hand at your studio or rehearsal studio. It helps to have a couple of keyboards, two guitars, two drums, etc. Keep all good and heavy equipment at the rehearsal site, while having a smaller, lighter instrument offsite for additional rehearsal time inbetween band or group rehearsals. This saves on time for setting up as well as wear and tear on the good equipment.

Be on time to band rehearsals and gigs! If you're late, it can cause a stressful situation. Remember, you play an important role in your band. They are counting on you to be responsible enough to show up on time and do your job. After all; that's why they're paying you. Be on

PRACTICE! PRACTICE! PRACTICE! Be sure to know the song you're learning almost to the point you have it memorized. This way, you are not holding up everyone else by trying to learn your parts at the last minute. Do your part to be prepared. It makes it easier on everyone.

Leaders, be open to suggestions from fellow band members. It never hurts to try something new. Some musicians are very schooled and/or very experienced... or maybe simply very creative. Listen to their input and consider their musical ideas. That's why you hired them. They're not just robots that want to be told what to do.

Have weekly or monthy meetings with your band. Lay everything out on the table such as the rules and the expectations for your band. If you have this understanding from the beginning, it should eliminate much confusion down the road.

If there is money involved (which most of the time there is), be sure everyone is clear on what their slice of the pie will be. Draw up contracts if you have to. Take the necessary measure to make sure everyone understands the money. Many great bands have broken up over money issues.

To promote your band, make a professional looking business card, flyer, and website. The more professional you look, the more your chances of being hired. A strong presence can boost your group's reputation.

If you ever mess up than don't try to go back and fix what you messed up on, just go off from where you messed up and maybe no one will notice! -Xarumy

A drumming friend shared this advice with me a while back: "Leave your ego at the door." While it takes a certain amount of ego to shred your guitar, thrash your drums or rock your keyboard, remember that, as a musician--and especially as part of a group--you're there to entertain your guests, not to show your attitude or be a diva.

Your bandmates will appreciate your professional attitude, and your guests will appreciate your professionalism on the bandstand...

Songwriters - Keep a tape recorder or small notepad with you at all times. You never know when inspiration will hit and if you don't have some way to record a melody or capture the lyrics they may be lost forever.

There's always been a lot of drugs in the music business. You'd be smart to run the other direction. Keep your distance as much as possible and don't buy into this notion that you have to do drugs to be creative. Nonsense!

Protect your hearing! Take it from one who knows. My ears are ringing loud right now (I have Tinnitus) and I would give anything to go back and do it over again... but I can't. Invest in some earplugs and earphones. Use them during practices and as much as you can on louder gigs. Don't forget to keep earplugs with you for concerts too.

Never, ever, EVER argue with each other on stage. I've played with many bands over the years where a couple of the members will start arguing on stage right in front of everyone! This is so unprofessional and it just makes your band look bad, not to mention embarrasing the other members of the band.

Out of respect for the audience you're playing for, try to avoid taking extended or extra long breaks. So many bands like to stretch those breaks out and sometimes really abuse it. The crowd wants to hear you play and at least some of them are there just for you, so respect this and don't keep them waiting.

Don't take a break if you see people showing up during a slow evening and it's time to stop.

Herbie Hancock tells a story about playing a session at the plugged nickel where he hit a chord that was wrong; dead wrong. But, Miles Davis was listening so intently that he made it sound right by the notes he played over the top of the chord! In the jazz world, I think that Miles is the epitome of listening and playing off of what you hear. So many of us would do well to emulate this.

If you're having a hard time playing or singing in general compared to your usual ability level, try this: Play or sing something that has a very lyrical and singing quality to it, not something that is very technically challenging. Sail right through the melodies. A half an hour of this has been known to clear up unusual problems for more than a few musicians!

As a performer, you'll do better spacing out your practice sessions. It's difficult to "cram" just before the performance; learning is less efficient, and your body is tired out for the gig.

There is an old saying or quote that compares an amateur musician with a professional. It says that an amateur is someone who can get it right, while a professional is someone who cannot get it wrong. Yet more motivation to practice.

Trumpet player Rafael Mendez was quoted as saying something to the effect of "Make every note you play a solo." Take that to heart the next time you perform, even as a member of a group. Although you want to blend and play your part of the musical process without overpowering the group, a solo mindset will make you a stronger group member.

Don't get caught up in dogmatic approaches to playing or singing. Quite often, someone who thinks they have solved everyone's problems gets a lot of press or spends a lot of marketing money to get their product, method book, seminar DVD, or idea out there. While there are certainly guiding principals of technique, everyone has slight differences in body and mind.

It is easy to get hooked on a teacher, especially if they are good at what they do and your personalities work well together. Even so, take the opportunity to explore other teachers, even if just through a single lesson or masterclass. You never know what you may pick up from their "bag of tricks".

Pay close attention to your bandleader as their attention is on your pay.

Be willing to help set up and break down on a gig, even if it’s not your equipment. It goes a long way as a gesture of goodwill.

Try to be considerate of other band members on road trips. Many will object to smoking or drinking in the vehicle. Others may want to get a little rest rather than listen to blaring tunes or raucous conversation the whole way there. It’s more important to arrive safe and ready to perform than to have a party on the way down.

Show up at rehearsal having practiced on your own. It saves everyone’s time and helps you play better together.

Make sure you know the correct attire for the performance and follow it exactly. When everyone has a “uniform”, it is easy to ruin the appearance by not following suit, even if the uniform consists of black pants, casual floral shirts, and black shoes and socks.

Is your instrument ready the day before? It should be. Double-check it. Do you have extra strings? Are you tuned up? Is your horn oiled? Do you have maintenance and basic repair supplies? Extra batteries? Cables and cords?

Before you leave, heed the advice of many a musician that has turned around to head back for something halfway to the gig – MAKE SURE YOU HAVE EVERYTHING YOU NEED BEFORE YOU LEAVE HOME. Just do it – even if you’re running late. You don’t want to be even later. Make yourself a checklist you can use over and over that has things like directions, instruments, cables, cords, accessories, supplies, water bottles, money, snacks, mp3 player, etc.

Get multiple sets of directions and take them all. Get the ones your bandleader or band member has. Get an alternate set from Google Maps or another mapping service. Make sure that at least one set of directions has an actual map on it. And have phone numbers for the band leader, band members, and gig location in case something should happen.

If you are driving to the gig, make sure your vehicle is well maintained, gassed up, and ready to roll well before the day of the gig. This is even more important if you are giving others in the band a ride.

Be flexible. A performance is rarely ever exactly what you expect. Hopefully, this variety will keep things interesting for you. Be ready and willing to change the order of tunes or set lists. Be ready to stretch a song, cut another short, and even let the event organizer use your microphone to make announcements.

A lot of Musical Terms and Music Definitions at MusicGlossary.com. This should prove a valuable resource not only to musicians but music teachers and educators.

Surround yourself not just with things that relate to music, but with actual instruments, staff paper, composition books, play-along CDs, and the like. The more opportunities there are in your environment to create music, the more likely you are to do so.

"Fake it 'till you make it" may be an overused term that should not be taken to the extreme, but there is definitely an art to "showmanship". Most times, your audience will not pick up on a lot of the musical subtleties in your performance. However, if you can show them with your body, demeanor, or facial expression how you are experiencing them, that energy will translate to the listener.

Do you play professionally, even if only part-time? Do report any of that income on your taxes? If so, did you know that some purchases such as CDs, music downloads, instruments, and accessories may be fully tax-deductible? See a tax advisor with a good reputation to help you with this.

It never ceases to amaze me when band members leave their horns lying around on stage or off stage, or leave their cases out in a room that the public could have access to. There have been too many stories of lost and stolen instruments to chance it. Is it a hassle? Yes. Is it worth it? If you ever have to decide the answer to that question $1,500 or so later, it will be a painful yes.

Don't be afraid to ask your fellow musicians for help, be it with carrying equipment, gear suggestions, help with technique, or suggestions of musical expression. It will get you what you need and further your relationship with them.

Consider copywriting any song you write before you give it to a group to perform, even if you are in the group. It costs around $30. Or, you can do a poor man's copywrite and mail it or email it to yourself...