Cultivating Chance: The Strategy of Serendipity in Music Success
The Power of Taking Multiple Shots in the Music Industry
My favorite piece of advice often stands out: "Give yourself a lot of shots to get lucky." At first glance, this might seem like a call to try and try again until you strike gold simply. But delve deeper, and you'll find that it's a profound insight into the nature of success, especially in a field as dynamic as music.
The Super-linear Growth of Luck
Luck isn’t just a random occurrence. It grows super-linearly with exposure, effort, and persistence. The more you put yourself out there, the more you increase your surface area for serendipitous events. Here's how:
Meeting More People: Every person you meet is a potential collaborator, mentor, or connection to another opportunity. The more people you meet, the more you expand your network, and the higher the chances of meeting that one individual who can change the trajectory of your career.
Connecting Ideas: Every song you write, every gig you play, and every studio session you attend adds to your repertoire of experiences. These experiences can unexpectedly connect, leading to innovative music or fresh approaches to your craft.
Recognizing Patterns: The more you immerse yourself in the industry, the better you can become at spotting trends, understanding what audiences want, and predicting what might be the next big thing.
Serendipity in the Music Industry
The music industry is rife with stories of serendipity. Chance meetings that led to iconic collaborations, accidental studio sessions that produced chart-topping hits, and unplanned events that launched careers. But behind many of these "lucky" stories is a pattern of artists consistently putting themselves in situations where luck could find them.
Creating Opportunities for Serendipity
Diversify Your Efforts: Don't just stick to one genre, one instrument, or one method of songwriting. Experiment and diversify. The more varied your experiences, the more chances you have of stumbling upon something unique.
Attend Industry Events: Go to music conferences, workshops, and seminars. These are hubs for serendipitous encounters.
Collaborate Often: Working with different artists exposes you to different styles, techniques, and perspectives. It also increases your chances of creating something that resonates with a wider audience.
Stay Curious: Always be open to learning. The more you know, the more dots you can connect, leading to innovative music.
Embracing the Unpredictable
While it's essential to work hard and hone your craft, it's equally important to recognize and embrace the unpredictable nature of the music industry. By giving yourself multiple shots, you're not just waiting for luck; you're actively courting it.
In conclusion, your journey is as much about creating art as it is about harnessing opportunities. By understanding the super-linear nature of luck and actively increasing your surface area for serendipitous events, you not only enhance your chances of success but also embark on a richer, more fulfilling musical journey.
Here are a few notable examples of Serendipity at play:
The Beatles at The Cavern Club: Brian Epstein, a record store owner, decided to visit The Cavern Club in Liverpool after multiple requests for a record by a then-unknown band called The Beatles. He was so impressed by their performance that he offered to manage them. This serendipitous meeting led to a partnership that would eventually catapult The Beatles to global stardom.
Elvis Presley's First Recording: Elvis walked into Sun Records' Memphis Recording Service intending to record a song as a gift for his mother. The receptionist, Marion Keisker, was intrigued by his unique voice and made a note for the label owner, Sam Phillips. This chance recording eventually led to Elvis's first contract with Sun Records.
Justin Bieber's YouTube Discovery: A young Justin Bieber was posting videos of his performances on YouTube just for fun and to share with family. Talent manager Scooter Braun accidentally clicked on one of Bieber's videos while searching for another artist. Impressed by what he saw, Braun tracked Bieber down, and this serendipitous discovery led to Bieber's meteoric rise to fame.
Lana Del Rey's Viral Video: Before she was well-known, Lana Del Rey (then Lizzy Grant) uploaded her self-made video for "Video Games" on YouTube. The song went viral, catching the attention of many, including record labels. This unexpected online success was a turning point in her career.
Keith Richards' "Satisfaction" Riff: Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones famously came up with the riff for "(I Can't Get No) Satisfaction" in his sleep. He had a tape recorder by his bed and happened to record the riff in a half-awake state. When he listened to the tape the next morning, he found the iconic riff followed by 40 minutes of snoring.