I couldn’t have been more wrong. Not only did my career depressingly lay stagnant for years but also I grew more and more frustrated with the music industry. I felt like I was running on a treadmill. The harder I worked, the farther I seemed to get away from my original goal to have a great time doing the thing I really loved – making music.

At the same time, I saw many of my colleagues’ (mostly men’s) careers begin to soar. For some reason I couldn’t figure out what I was doing wrong. Even though I was making money performing with several bands, I always felt like I was on the outside looking in.

It wasn’t until I stumbled upon some books by various female authors who wrote about succeeding in a male environment, that my situation began to change. These authors primarily dealt with women working in a corporate environment. For several years I studied these concepts, altered them as necessary, and implementing them into my music career.

I have to say that the results were almost instantaneous. My first test was to try and get a teaching job as a guitar instructor. Previously, I had auditioned for a few music schools and was in the dark to why I didn’t get hired. I knew I had all the necessary skills for the position. After I learned about how to present myself to a prospective employer, I was hired on the spot by a local school. I was shocked that not only did my new boss hire me on the spot, but also he told me how impressed he was with how I presented myself. This was a far cry from my previous attempts.

I knew I was on to something, and I continued to apply as many of these corporate techniques as I could. Amazingly enough, I experienced a dramatic turnaround in my career. With a new-found confidence in my abilities, I learnt how to showcase myself better as an artist. Therefore, I became a more competent businesswoman and related much better to the men I worked with in the bands I was in.

Canadian Musician Magazine

By applying some of the things I learned, I not only got published by a major music publishing company, Alfred Publishing, but also began writing a column in Canada’s leading music Magazines, Canadian Musician (Click for PDF sample: Technique Vs. Inspiration).

Overall, my musical experience went up a few notches. I have worked full time in the music business as a female musician for over 20 years. I have been able to support myself and have been enjoying every minute of it. Life is amazing when you are doing what you love most.

In the past few years I have developed a strong desire to help other women pursue their careers with knowledge and confidence. It is truly rewarding to pass along the information I’ve learned and help others succeed in this magnificent business.

As women, we have different challenges than men, and their know-how doesn’t always apply to us. Double standards and stereotypes pop up all the time in the music business, but by arming yourself against them you can shave off years of frustration.

I hope you enjoy my blogs which cover topics ranging from double standards in the music biz to becoming a better business women. In the podcast section you will find interviews that I am continually recording. In the podcast section are invaluable interviews from various musicians where we talk about solving problems that women repeatedly face in the music business.

From time to time I will also be offering ebooks (Such as “31 Success Secrets for Female Musicians” and other informative material for your furthering education.

Please feel free to email me with any suggestions on topics you would like to see covered in upcoming podcasts, blogs or other material.

- Vivian Clement