Our goal here at Muze is to guide you toward successful musical collaborations. However, not all collaborative relationships are meant to be. Some might even be detrimental toward ourselves and our visions over time. As you determine whether working an individual (or group of individuals) is right for you, here’s a list of some of our favorite red flags!

Your creative visions don’t align.

There is give and take in every collaborative relationship, as far as the influences and components that make up the end product. A little bit of debate is healthy; however, if you find yourselves constantly butting heads with your collaborators – to the degree that it is negatively impacting the creative process, your working relationships, and/or the completion of work – it might be time to sit down and have a chat about where things are going.  

Your values don’t align.

If they don’t match your vibe, do they fit in your tribe? Warren Buffett himself has gone on record to state that there is no amount of money that can make up for working with people you dislike, and research notes that the quality of your relationships will impact your health accordingly. So, by collaborating with people with whom you don’t get along, not only are you standing in the way of doing your best work – you’re preventing yourself from being able to show up as your best self.

Your long-term goals don’t align.

Goals become much harder to achieve when all parties involved do not share similar levels of commitment. This goes well beyond the world of romantic relationships, and into our collaborative affairs. You might be committed to performing your music around the world, while the rest of your bandmates desire to keep music as a side hustle. That’s when it’s time to question whether this is the right opportunity for you.

Your collaborators are constantly late – or worse, they sometimes fail to show up at all.

This one ties into the previous point about commitment levels, and adds the wrinkle of respect for everyone’s time. The last thing you want is to be at the venue ready to rock, while the last member of your band is nowhere to be found. Punctuality is an important part of professionalism. When one member of the team fails to show up consistently, it drags down the whole.

Your collaborators party too much.

There’s nothing wrong with enjoying oneself in moderation. After a gig, we’ve all had a good time hanging with bandmates, friends, and fans. However, keep an eye on those who consistently go a bit too hard after the show – or, even before/during). The company you keep is reflective of your values, and one bandmate’s bad habits can reflect poorly on the group. Not to mention, those habits can lead to all of the issues listed above.

Now you know the red flags, and you are ready for new collaborative relationships. What are you waiting for? Sign up for Muze!