One Small Window

For every musician that didn’t come to the 1st ever Unconvention conference in Mumbai this weekend, stand up and give yourself a good kick in the pants.
It was a tremendous event. You have no idea what you missed out on. We will be writing about it a lot more later because there were many many lessons learned.

For now, here’s a quick overview of the things people said during the weekend:

- I’m so indie that I make Arjun S Ravi look like a corporate sellout.

- This is amazing! I got to meet so many musicians that I listen to and admire.

- Dude, free pens from the British Council!

- You can sit in your mansion, play music whenever you feel like and make loads of money when you’re Robert Plant – not now! Right now you have to work fucking hard.

- Stop complaining and find your own fucking venue!

- ‘Sacrifice’ is an important word that you have to think about. How much are you willing to sacrifice for your career?

- It’s easy to label-bash but don’t forget, you can’t clap with one hand. There is no smoke without fire.

- If there is a hell – and I will go to hell – it will be like the SXSW festival. Standing in one place and listening to what sounds like 700 drum sound checks all at once.

- In our country, feudalism sits side by side with capitalism.

- Look for and build a story about yourself as a musician. Find an angle – what is it that makes you unique and interesting. It’s all about story and image. Find it and build it.

- Invest in your career.

- Go and talk to people. There is a misconception that managers/agents/promoters etc. don’t want to talk to you. Of course they do – if you’re good they want to know about you because you can bring them business. Go talk to them.

- This is a business. You are a brand. Remember that and build it.

- Can you hold this cup of coffee so that my friends think I successfully gave it to someone?

- Build a great team. Iron Maiden didn’t make it to that stage alone. There aren’t 5 guys in the Iron Maiden story – there are 50-100 guys behind the scenes who all helped make it happen.

- Have a vision for your career and communicate it to your manager. They can’t do anything for you if you don’t know what you want to do and aren’t willing to work for it.

- Ask yourself what do you want from your career as a musician? What are your goals, what are your plans and expectations? Where do you want to be in five years?

- Shakira did I say that right? Oh I’m sorry – it’s shukriya.