Tough Love for Musicians: 4 Fear-Based Mistakes That Will Sink You

Facing the Hard Truths: 4 Fear-Based Mistakes That Can Sink Your Music Career—And How to Overcome Them Like a Pro

Kevin McElroy
Editor, Tune Up Magazine

Let’s be real for a second—if you’re out here making music, you already have our respect. Anyone willing to get up in front of people and play their own original stuff deserves a round of applause. But respect alone isn’t going to get you where you want to go. If you’re serious about making it in the music world, you’ve got to face the hard truth: most musicians are their own worst enemies. And the number one killer of a music career? Fear.

Fear messes with your head, holds you back, and stops you from taking the risks you need to take to succeed. Whether it’s the fear of going broke, failing, succeeding, or getting screwed over by the industry, these fears will sink your music career faster than you can say “encore.” So let’s break down the four biggest fear-based mistakes that could take you under—and how to avoid them.

1. Fear of Going Broke

We’ve all heard it: “You need a backup plan,” “Musicians don’t make real money,” “Get a real job.” Maybe your parents drilled this into your head, or some well-meaning friend threw it your way. It’s easy to get caught up in the idea that the music industry is some magical land where no one makes any money. Spoiler alert: that’s not true. You can make a living as a musician, but only if you stop sabotaging yourself by assuming you’ll fail financially.

The Mistake: Thinking you need a “safe” job or a backup plan while you half-heartedly pursue music on the side. That’s a one-way ticket to career limbo.

The Fix: Shift your mindset. Instead of focusing on the fear of being broke, focus on how you can make it work. Successful musicians take risks—and they also take the time to learn how to make money in the industry. That might mean diversifying your income streams, learning about royalties, or getting savvy with merch. Whatever you do, don’t live your life assuming you’re destined to be a starving artist.

2. Fear of Failing

This one hits everyone at some point. Maybe you’re worried you’re too old, or not talented enough, or that you don’t live in the right city to get noticed. The excuses pile up fast, and before you know it, you’re stuck on the sidelines, too scared to even try.

The Mistake: Talking yourself out of the game before you’ve even taken a shot. Convincing yourself that you’re not enough, or that your circumstances aren’t good enough, to make it.

The Fix: Change the narrative. What you believe becomes your reality. If you think you’re doomed to fail, you will. But if you believe you’ve got what it takes, and you’re willing to grind it out, you’ll find a way to make it happen. And here’s the kicker: if you never try, you’ve already failed. So take the leap, make the mistakes, and learn from them. The only way to guarantee failure is to do nothing.

3. Fear of Succeeding

This one might sound crazy, but it’s real. Some musicians get right up to the edge of success and freak out. They start worrying about what happens if they actually make it—how their lives will change, how people will treat them, whether they can handle the pressure. This fear can be just as paralyzing as the fear of failure.

The Mistake: Sabotaging yourself right when things are about to take off. You might turn down opportunities or avoid making decisions that could push your career to the next level because you’re scared of the unknown.

The Fix: Get comfortable with the idea of success. It’s not as terrifying as you’re making it out to be. You’ve worked hard to get this far, so don’t psych yourself out at the last minute. Accept that with success comes change—and that’s a good thing. You deserve to be where you are, so stop doubting yourself.

4. Fear of Getting Screwed by the Industry

We’ve all heard the horror stories—musicians getting locked into terrible contracts, promoters ghosting them, industry execs taking advantage. It’s enough to make you want to hide in your basement and never show your face to a record label. But here’s the reality: music companies aren’t out to screw you over. In fact, they’re scared of working with musicians who are bad bets.

The Mistake: Letting fear of bad deals keep you from getting into the game. You don’t want to get burned, so you avoid business deals altogether, missing out on major opportunities.

The Fix: Do your homework. Instead of assuming every contract is a trap, learn what makes a good deal and what doesn’t. Arm yourself with knowledge so you can spot a bad offer from a mile away. More importantly, focus on making yourself a good investment. The music companies aren’t the bad guys—they just want to make sure they’re not wasting their time or money. Show them you’re serious, reliable, and ready to work, and they’ll come looking for you.

Bonus Tip: Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

And here’s the kicker—don’t go at it alone. Seek advice from people who’ve been there, done that. And when you get that advice, actually listen to it. Sure, sometimes criticism stings, but if it’s constructive, it’ll make you better. If it’s not, push the person to explain themselves, or ignore them altogether. You don’t need to get butt hurt about every little comment. The people who make it are the ones who can take advice, apply it, and grow.

In Conclusion: Get Out of Your Own Way

So, here’s the tough love—if you let fear control your career, it’ll sink faster than the Titanic. But if you face those fears, flip the script, and get smart about how you approach the music industry, nothing’s stopping you. Whether it’s fear of going broke, failing, succeeding, or getting screwed over, the only way forward is by taking action. You’ve got this.