TALENT IS NOT ENOUGH

written by Believe Nomayo O.

What if I told you your talent is not enough?

I discovered I could sing when I was seven. I recall vividly the night my dad accosted me singing with beautiful riffs and runs. Here I was in a secluded area where I could express my singing self. Unknown to me, my dad was close by listening.

He had thought I was trying to mimic the lady who lived on the first floor just above us, who also sang beautifully and in fact, whose voice I admired secretly.  He was later shocked to know that the talent was innate. I realized I could sing the way she sang without much difficulty. I later also realized I could sing just the way many of the black American singers did, just by listening to them. With time I had gained much confidence in my skill. Many could attest to it too.

Well sad truth is, at that time I failed to develop myself beyond that. In fact, I stopped to evolve. A number of factors could account for it. Some of which was my lack of knowledge, my ‘this-is-the-best-me’ attitude, and that I had got into Med. School quite early. It took quite a while for me to realize that there was more to just being able to sing – I only started to get a hint of it after I had participated in a number of talent shows.  And even when I found out, it was difficult to put together what those things were that I needed, beyond the voice.

Beyond Talent

It’s not enough to sit satisfied with yourself at the job you’re doing with your voice or the emotion you’re creating with the strings you pull on your guitar or even the magical lyrics of your written songs. Truth is, there’s a whole lot you need to know if you really aspire to make waves musically.

No one will pick you up from the scratch – by this, I mean at the level of raw talent – and groom you together with your excesses to become an icon. The chance of that happening is probably one in a million! There are a whole lot of persons out there with similar talent as you or who may even be better at what you’re currently doing. The competition is huge, so is the market. There are a lot of products striving to sell out there. Talent is not enough.

Question is, what are you bringing to the table?

You’ve got to come to terms with the fact that talent’s not enough; your talent alone won’t do! The market only has room enough for those who have taken their time to hone their skills and sharpen their craft to an appreciable level; whose level of preparedness in every possible music front meets the opportunities that still abound (yeah, there still exists a thousand and one opportunities).

Just as no reasonable or responsible company will invest in something they’re not sure would bring back returns, so it is with music. Like it or not, it’s a business just as much as it is a ministry. There should be no pretense about it.

It is common among artists to relegate the business side of music to the background. They promptly tuck away the thought of it in the deepest, darkest corner of their minds – except of course if you’ve been called solely to serve in the sanctuary as a minstrel (even then, there are still things you should know).

To become a successful music artist, you need to either get familiar with the business of music or get someone to help you with it.

In addition to recognizing the business side of music, you need good marketing.

Talent is not enough.

There are a variety of selling points you can think of. “We’re a rock band” or “I’ve just released a new single”, doesn’t cut it for marketing, because it doesn’t tell anyone anything they would possibly care about.

Responsibility is on you to find your unique selling point. It may be an interesting story behind a song, unique instrumentation within your music. It may be an engaging fact about your brand, or a catchy phrase you say before you sing. Just find it out!

There’s a need to stand out in your pursuit of success as an artist. And of course, this applies to every sphere of life.

I’d like to qualify ‘standing out’.

In comparing apples to apples, it becomes really hard to tell the difference. The difference becomes limited to the shapes, sizes colors, and textures. But telling the difference between an apple and an orange is way easier. The idea is in making blindfold difference significant enough to make you noticed by the right people.

Meeting the right people matters a lot in your music adventure. People like to work with who they know, like, and can trust. It’s called networking and is an art you’ll need to learn.

Want to play more gigs? Get to know other bands, event planners, and venues. Want some help with marketing? Build friendships with music consultants, journalists, and so on. Do you get what I mean?

Scripture says,

“And beside this, giving all diligence add to your faith virtue, and to virtue knowledge and to that add and add and keep adding.”

2 Peter 1:5 [Paraphrased].

I’d like to say at this point that amidst all of these, you have need of a great deal of patience and focus even when things don’t seem to take the expected shape you desire.

Take one step at a time to develop one aspect of your music career so you don’t feel all overwhelmed and full of anxiety, which in itself can kill your creativity.

Most ‘overnight successes’ you see had years of hard work, tears, sweat, and failures sown into them. So start cultivating the experience and skills you need to succeed.

Be willing to go at it a day at a time and stick with it!

Talent is not enough!