Music Industry EXPOSED - Secrets From An Insider!

We have the great privileged to be able to pick the brains of someone who has reached dizzying heights of success in the music industry, has come back "down" to earth, and has lived to tell the tale. And no, this is not an episode of Celebrity Rehab!

Dave onstage with Alibrandi

Do you have dreams of becoming a rock star? A pop star? A hip hop mogul? Or do you have a son or daughter begging for their first guitar so they can be the next Taylor Swift or Imagine Dragons?

Don't be afraid of your dreams. Every successful person in any industry began as a child with a dream. And the music industry is not all sex & drugs & rock n' roll - your life can be greatly enhanced simply by having a guitar on hand and the skill to play it, at your next family BBQ.

Let's see what difference musical ability has made to Dave's life:

I think being/feeling successful in playing music is all about the little goals you set for yourself. 

Quietly I wanted to write some songs that would take off and would fantasise about playing those songs in front of lots of people. I am blessed to have be able to have done that. 

Little goals like:

Recording in a professional studio - check

Printing our first run of t-shirts and merch - check 

Releasing the recordings on iTunes (before there was Spotify ) - check

Flying to the states to play show case shows in front of industry label types - check.

Playing 100 shows in one year to basically no one just to get tight as a band performance wise. I have spent thousands of dollars on gear, flights, merch rehearsal room costs parking and fuel.

I'm happy with what i achieved, and continue to achieve as a musician. It's ALL about expressing yourself. NOT about whether it's able to be marketed, sold or recouped. If you love what you play, work hard and strive to write something original then you've already WON. If other people like it or buy it then that's a bonus. Not the purpose.

Music to me is a family legacy. I am playing my part in something that will continue through the generations. Family gatherings always end up being musical, singing playing and laughing. Those are some of the fondest memories I have. 

If one thing inspires me continually it's to make those childhood memories a reality in my son's life. That what passion feels like. Connecting through music has concreted some of the best long standing friendships I have ever had.  

If I had any regrets it's that i wish i started playing earlier. But that's only selfishly to be further ahead in my ability. 


Being a musician has made me broke, but I am not complete without it. I'd be a frustrated, lost, lonely person without being artistically creative. My medium is sound. 

Dave's other side - the friendly face of The Music Spot

Dave is now a contented family man, whom you can also find assisting other people to further their own dreams at The Music Spot. If you have a dream - don't let anyone or anything stand in your way. Come down and have a chat to Dave, and if you're lucky, you might even get to hear some of his magic on the guitar!