My background as a musician and music educator has given me the opportunity to work on many creative projects within the industry. Some of the most enjoyable moments include performing at great venues and festivals in the UK, Europe and South Africa. My role as musical director for an international collaboration with a musical dance theatre company based in Pretoria was definitely a highlight. I have also enjoyed working as a studio engineer and producer in addition to recording with the bands I have been part of.

I am very happy to have joined the team at the British Centre for Music and Enterprise (BCME) in Leicester, this is a role in which I feel I can bring together my skills and experiences to support young artists, develop great partnerships and collaborative work, and to continue learning and being inspired by the work of the teams many talented professionals.

Here are my thoughts on some key factors for developing and maintaining a career in the music industry.

1. Be informed - Find out about the industry as a whole and keep up to date with current trends. There are many roles and career paths available which will allow you to utilise your skills and suit your interests. You may want to be a lead singer, musician, a sound engineer or producer, an artist manager or a specialist music lawyer, it is a hugely diverse industry. 2. Don't give up - ever! Be prepared to work hard and put the time and effort in. Don't let setbacks defeat you, everyone has times in their career that are more challenging. It helps to be fit and healthy, which isn't always easy with tours, late nights and sometimes the fun of a rock and roll lifestyle, but it is important, as you need stamina and determination.
3. Have a plan - but be flexible and adjust your goals when needed. It is useful to have a plan of action to move your career on, this may include developing new contacts, gaining new skills, enhancing your marketing, working on new material or going into the studio. Evaluate what has worked well for you, what you need to do next and then draw up a plan to make it happen. 4. Be inspired - There are many fantastic artists and music industry professionals to gain inspiration from, recently I read this article about Pauline Black from The Selecter, I think it is a great insight into the industry and I love her attitude. http://www.theguardian.com/women-in-leadership/2015/jul/17/10-minutes-with-pauline-black-lead-singer-and-manager-of-the-selector 5. Be good at what you do - it's obvious but worth highlighting again! It doesn't mean that you always have to be the very best in the world at your specialism, but you do have to be able to deliver! Creating a quality product, putting on a confident show or managing an innovative project feeds your confidence, and builds a strong and positive reputation. 6. Keep learning all the time - Endeavour to build your skills, experience and qualifications as appropriate. Many professionals have expressed that motivation and a strong desire to continue learning is key, whether that is developing instrumental technique or creative practice, enhancing knowledge about associated technologies or extending your understanding of specific areas of the industry. 7. Network - Developing supportive and positive relationships and contacts is so important.

Attend purposeful networking events, the BCME host a range of seminars and networking events that bring together industry professionals and artists.

8. Be professional - It is important to be professional from the outset of your career, be on time, have the right equipment with you, and always communicate clearly, even if it is to let your colleagues or collaborators know you need assistance with a task, much better to discuss problems than allow them to jeopardise a team effort. I think it is hugely important to appreciate those who support you, if someone drives you to a gig then buy them a drink or two, and make sure they know you appreciate it. 9. Collaborate - creative work often benefits from collaboration, partnerships can expand your skills and experiences, sometimes pushing you out of your comfort zone and into new and interesting artistic territory. Partnerships enable individuals and organisations to work and learn together, often strengthening the quality and value of the end product, project or collaboration. 10. Enjoy yourself - it is a fantastic and varied industry to work in, and there are so many interesting and talented people to share the journey with.