Building Reputation as a Classical Musician

In the world of classical music, reputation is part of what determines the relationships a musician has with the people and organizations that can move their career forward. 

A reputation is “the opinion that people in general have about someone or something, or how much respect or admiration someone or something receives, based on past behavior or character” (Cambridge Dictionary). People form opinions about another person early on—they notice if you show up on time to the first rehearsal, and they register the tone of your emails and how you respond to constructive feedback. Each interaction builds on the next, and soon you have a “brand”—the way people view you and what they expect of you. Your brand spreads within the professional community, and it’s a major determinant of the relationships and opportunities you have. 

A rewarding, sustainable life as a musician includes being recognized not only for your playing abilities, but also for your professionalism and good will toward others. By adopting a few simple practices, you can strengthen all sides of your professional reputation so that you become someone with whom people want to work and spend time. 

Spread gratitude. Few musicians achieve their career aspirations alone; they have help from teachers, colleagues, friends, and family members. It is important to express gratitude to those people with a few words spoken in person or in a phone call, email, or handwritten note. Gratitude-giving is a way to lift up others in your community, rather than a chore you do in the hopes of a pay-off later on. 

• Tip 1: Ask yourself how often you show gratitude to others. Many people are surprised by how seldom they express themselves in this way.
• Tip 2: Inject gratitude moments into your daily life. Reach out right now to someone who has helped or supported you this week. By doing it once, you’ll see that you can do it again. And again.

Share the talking space. When you are with another person or in a group, you are part of a shared talking and listening space. In these settings, people are both speakers and listeners. A skillful conversational partner balances these two roles, and adjusts them to suit the immediate situation. Within a professional context, that balance helps establish your identity and reputation. 

• Tip 1: Monitor how much time you spend talking and listening during conversations with others. Do you dominate a conversation with opinions and anecdotes? Do you ask questions about the lives and interests of others? Do you consistently redirect the conversation back to yourself? Or do you respond with curiosity and a follow-up to the comments of another person?  
• Tip 2: If you’re concerned about how you conduct yourself in conversations, ask a trusted friend/colleague to monitor you in action and to share their take on how you are as a communicator. 

Do what you say you’re going to do. Psychologists study a concept known as “say-do correspondence,” that is, doing what you say you’re going to do. In general, the more a person’s say matches their do—actual follow through with actions—the easier it is for that person to access rewards and to set healthy boundaries with others. Reputation is largely built on the consistency of your actions with other people. 

• Tip 1: Start tracking how often you meet your commitments, even small things like being on time and staying until the work gets done. If you notice a mismatch between your “say” and “do,” you might want to give real thought to how you can align the two. 

Consistently showing up and other forms of say-do correspondence do not mean compromising your personal boundaries or self-care. These can be maintained by communicating your intentions to the other person(s)—the points at which you need to say “no,” step back, or slow down, as well as when you can agree to take on more. It is a worthy goal to be reliable to others so that they know what they can expect of you, but you also need to protect your time and energy so that you can dedicate it purposefully toward meaningful work and interaction. 

Give these strategies and tips a try. They won’t address all of the complexities of reputation building, but they are important starting points. Pick one, apply it today, and let me know how it goes.