Guest Author: Randolph Infinger (IG: @dolphin_finger)

If you’re anything like me, you most likely spent a lot of time and effort just to get a foot in the door and were lucky enough to be given the opportunity to strut your stuff. But how do young music professionals approach the next step of their industry journey and continue to grow?

PowerPoint won’t cut it anymore:

How many people say they are proficient in Microsoft Office on their resume? That’s right - everyone.

Learn some new skills and stand out! Photo and video editing have never been more accessible and easy to pick up. There are a lot of programs that are free and don’t require you to give an arm and a leg to Adobe once a month. Here a couple of my favorites that I have personally used and are almost exactly like Adobe’s interface:

https://www.gimp.org/

https://hitfilm.com/express/

Shake some babies, kiss some hands:

Let’s be real here for a second: no one absolutely LOVES networking events (if you do write me @dolphin_finger and prove me wrong). However they are incredibly helpful when looking to expand your social network and make a name in your community. Come prepared with some business cards (yes even you intern!) and an elevator pitch of what you do. This link is a great start when planning an elevator pitch at a music industry event:

http://blog.sonicbids.com/musicians-9-tips-for-creating-an-effective-elevator-pitch

Stand up for what you believe in:

This one isn’t directly related to advancing your career but is a huge issue we face. Recently we have seen a lot come out in the media about the entertainment industry in regards to harassment and overall shittiness. It makes the industry look convoluted and down right awful.

The good news is WE CAN CHANGE THIS. Young professionals are the future of the industry and we owe it to ourselves to create a welcoming environment for everyone. Be active in the community and look to reach out to charity events (donate your time instead of your money!).

Respect your fellow human being; it’s as simple as that.