Canadian Musician - January/February 2018 | Page 51

small stipend to cover daily transporta-
tion. Prepare to do the menial tasks and
get coffee for the higher-ups in return
for being a fly on the wall and learning
by proxy. Some internships immediately
thrust individuals into active company
roles, like graphic design or digital adver-
tisement, though! Internships can range
from week-long shadowing up to six
months in length. Be prepared to work as
if you’re getting paid and you will go far.
Interns are often the first people to be
interviewed when a position comes up as
they already know your work ethic and
personality. You can find these opportu-
nities through Work in Culture, Indeed.
com, Facebook music groups, school bul-
letin boards, or word of mouth.
For those on the industry side,
there is a wealth of knowledge to be
discovered through websites like
Linda.com and Alison.com where
you can learn how to run your own
business, but also study things like
photography, graphic design, and mar-
keting. Many public libraries have free
membership portals and web resources
through your card.
Self-Learning
Speaking of libraries, many offer lend-
ing libraries of instruments and the
Toronto public library even has record-
ing studios to rent by the hour included
in your free membership. Libraries
can become your best friend for music
biographies, CDs, magazines (get your
Billboard online through their portal),
and more. Just on your phone, you can
download a drum kit app and have at
it. You can pretty much find any book
or resource through Amazon, but who’s
to stop you from noodling on a sitar
until something sounds good or picking
up a second-hand mixing board and
applying tutorials from GarageBand
forums? Netflix has amazing music
documentaries that will inspire and
educate you about the highs and lows
of popular music. Even watching music
awards shows can be beneficial as it’s
important to know what’s gaining pop-
ularity in the mainstream. Follow your
favourite musicians on Instagram and
check Pitchfork.com for what’s trend-
ing during the commercials.
Dan Hand of Black Lamb Music
Internships
Internships vary drastically; however,
most consist of a co-op-like placement
where you are working an entry-level
position at a company two or three days
a week related to your interests. You
do not need to be in school to get an
internship but some labels and organi-
zations only accept interns from them.
Overall, these are not paid positions,
though some companies may offer a
Music Conferences & Seminars
Conferences offer an intensive style of
learning where presenters and panels
discuss a particular subject for 45 min-
utes to an hour, followed by a short ques-
tion period. There can be a myriad of
topics crammed into a single day, from
songwriting to sync licensing to touring
to celebrity interviews. These are great
opportunities to pick and choose which
topics you’re specifically interested in.
You bounce from room to room wired
Mentorship
Mentorship can be effective at various
stages. From one-off meetings to rela-
tionships that last for years, this style
of learning consists of connecting with
someone with more expertise than you
and getting guidance or advice specif-
ically tailored to your situation. This
can be in a formal conference-style
situation or just chatting over a pint.
Though some agencies offer men-
torship packages, most mentorships
begin with a conversation. Mentorship
can come from musicians you admire,
publicists, promoters, artist managers,
or any industry, really. There just has
to be a genuine interest in helping the
person being mentored reach their
short- or long-term goals. Mentors
can be found through provincial music
associations, attending concerts, or a
cold-call email asking for a coffee. Even
Facebook Live videos can connect you
with an industry leader where you can
ask for advice or guidance.
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