NETWORKING 101: TIPS FOR COLLEGE KIDS GETTING INTO THE INDUSTRY

Whether you aspire to be an artist, manager, A&R rep, Marketer or pretty much any position trying to break into the Music Industry, you've heard the word 'Networking' before.

And that's basically all you hear for the rest of your adult life!

I'm just kidding...kind of.

Networking is obviously not JUST for the entertainment and music biz but if you want to make it and work your way up, you gotta become a networking fiend! But when do you 'over do it'? How DO you even do it? What does networking actually mean?

It seems we hear the word so much but when asking how to network successfully, there is never a really clear answer. So, let's lay out some tips to help you become a networking expert!

1. Make Sure You Genuinely Enjoy The Person You're Networking With

To put it plainly, bullsh*tting and pretending to like someone just because of their job title is not a good first impression. They see right through it. How would you like it if someone was clearly just using you to get what they want? Not good. It comes down to just basic respect for others. Look for a mentor or someone who can give you some more information about something, not someone who you think is going to somehow make you CEO of the company overnight.

2. Do Your Research!

Another basic rule of networking etiquette is to know who you're talking to! You want to make sure you actually care about this person and respect what they do. If you don't know some info on them, then why are you bothering to network with them at all?

3. Connect With Your Peers, Students, People You See At Shows, etc.

You may think it's not that necessary to talk to people in your classes or the people standing next to you in line outside the venue, but 'Joe Shmoe' who sits next to you in class could be the next rising artist to break into the business! Besides that even, talking to the people around you everyday is the best way to create new ideas, make something together, and grow together too. We gotta help each other in this competitive business!

4. Be Yourself (It Sounds Cliche I Know But It's True)

Seriously. BE YOURSELF.

You're going to be super uncomfortable if you're trying to put on a persona that just isn't you. Even worse, you can put on a persona so great, that the person now thinks that's who you are and you have to continue to pretend to be someone your not! Ok, that usually doesn't happen that often but you get my point. Again, people can see through the bullsh*t. The best way to really vibe with someone and make a good connection is being your best self. Way more people respect being authentic than being a phony.

5. Apps!!!

Technology is a great thing! Get on those networking apps! The most common one is LinkedIn. I love LinkedIn because its super accessible and more and more companies/recruiters are using it to find prospective employees. It's a great way to share projects you've been working on, share articles, and have great conversations with others.

Another networking app that ALL college kids should have on their radar is QUADIO. Quadio is a fairly recent app made specifically for college age musicians and music industry students. What's so amazing about it is that it uses geolocation through your college email to find other students on your campus and in area also using the app. It helps you connect with virtually anything or anyone you might need. Looking for a sound engineer in your area? Quadio can help you find one right on campus. Plus, ITS FREE! (We love to hear that). Quadio is an app that is definitely on the come up and I encourage everyone to check it out!

6. Find Music Industry Events

There are a plethora of Industry networking events and programs college students can join and many of them are extremely affordable! I am a part of GrammyU which allows college students involved in the industry to get in on events hosted by industry execs and even attend mic checks by huge artists! It's extremely affordable and it has great opportunities to network with peers your own age and industry professionals.

These are just a few tips and suggestions I've experienced and what I've heard from Industry professionals. Networking is nothing more than just connecting with people and getting to know the people in your space. The biggest tip is to try not to look to network just because of selfish reasons, but try to network because you are genuinely curious about what the industry is about and what to learn and grow.

Thank you all so much for supporting The B-Side! As always, remember to follow on socials @theb.sidemagazine and to subscribe to The B-Side YouTube page! :)

- Bianca