Whether you believe you can or you can't, you will be right.

It's so true isn't it? The only thing that matters at the end of the day is the amount of belief that you have in yourself and the music you are creating.

Without that belief, you don't have a career......

I have been doing this music caper for twenty years. TWENTY YEARS!!! Wow. However, I have only belived in myself over the past five years and in that five years I have achieved much more than the fifteen years preceding that.

I don't remember that moment when I finally climbed up the top of the mountain and put my flag of belief into the summit but I remember the feeling of knowing that it was okay to be doing what I am doing and it was also okay to be ME.

I can't tell you how to believe in yourself, only you can do that but I can tell you that if you are lacking in belief then you are not alone.

We live in a world that is not overly tolerant to artistic endeavours. I mean just the other day I had someone ask me at a party the most boring question.

Q - "What do you do for a living?"
A - "I am a musician"
Q - "Oh, that's nice. So what is it that you really do?"

That really threw me back. I was initially insulted but I proudly answered that being a musician was my 'real job'.

We as musicians are always being told that we:

1. Can never make a living out of a hobby
2. Need something to fall back on (just incase this 'music thing' doesnt work out)
3. Should go and get a real job.

(and so on and so forth etcetera blah, blah, blah.............................)

If you do have a day job, I am not telling you to give it up all I am saying is that when you have belief in yourself and what you do any decision that you make is made for you only, not to appease well meaning friends or family.

Be proud of what you do but dont be too proud to not take advice from people that have trodden the path that you are about to take. Use this channel for instance to ask any question that you want. I will only give you encouragement because I have been there myself.

Always remember, no matter how many articles you read, how many courses you take, how many bands you play in or how many gigs you do, you can't get others to believe in you unless you start believing in yourself.

Starting tomorrow, go and look at yourself in the mirror and tell yourself that you deserve to be a musician and that you are not going to feel guilty about it. After that its time to go forth and ROCK (or country or punk or whatever you do)!!!

Until next time,

Corey Stewart
Singer/Songwriter/Musician

NB: Also check out 'Corey Stewart Songwriting Tips'