Just over three years ago, I made a decision to take time out from my position as a primary school teacher to begin what I often describe as my ‘music industry apprenticeship’. However, there were no classes to attend, course leaders to seek advice from or exams to complete so it was a self-managed and self-guided course into the unknown. I was excited and terrified at the same time!

"Everyday I read about marketing strategies, song competitions, branding ..."

     Since then, I have worked full time as a singer/songwriter, supplementing a proportion of my teaching salary through piano teaching, cover gigs, weddings, etc. It can be extremely tough at times when gigs get cancelled last minute or the children don’t turn up to lessons and the financial pressures become more intense.

As a result of such pressures, people inevitably ask me all the time why I gave up a job that had great holidays and a great salary when perhaps I could work part-time on my music. However, I believe that to have a career in music, I must work at it every day from when I wake up until I go to bed such are the challenges in building a career in this industry.

I began by planning projects for the following year. I wanted to gradually release my music to the public to see what sort of response it got. I also decided to release singles for the first year rather than produce and release an album for financial reasons firstly and also because I didn’t believe an album was going to do very well when no one had ever heard of me.

By the end of the year, I had released three singles, all of which had received a lot of airplay on regional, community and internet radio with one of them getting some national radio play.  I did my own PR for each project, which of course was a risk but it lead to National TV and Radio exposure so the risk paid off.   Following a successful first year releasing singles, I released my debut EP 10,000 in the Summer of 2012 having built up a good fan-base the first year. I have sold over 300 copies of the EP since its release, which I am very proud of. It is a product that I worked very hard to produce and represents me very well both artistically and creatively.

Best Female Artist 2012

     Alongside the production and implementing of my music projects, I spend hours upon hours researching who I need to know, who needs to know about me and where exactly I need to place my music for it to be heard.  Every day I read about marketing strategies, song competitions, branding, overseas opportunities, music licencing and so on.  There is so much to know and understand that I could fill every day with just reading and research alone.

"My Advice to anyone setting on this career path is to work hard, make connections with people you trust and people who love your music ..."

     Despite the heartache it brings at times, I have never enjoyed three years of my life as much as I have enjoyed the past three years. I have learned to live with very little in terms of material things but I have never felt as fulfilled and as driven as I have done working in the music industry. I trust in my ability to succeed and I am committed to achieving the ambitions I have set myself.  

My advice to anyone setting on this career path is to work hard, make connections with people you trust and people who love you music, be honest and true to yourself and get yourself an extra supply of patience!!!  Having performed in Olympic Park during the games this year, turning on the radio to hear my music being played and receiving nominations for various music awards, I know that Hard Work is Always Rewardedand if you are determined enough, you will create the most incredible opportunities for yourself! 

Sinead McNally