Jamal is the founder of Route, a platform which aims to inspire those entering the music industry by sharing stories, experiences and practical advice.
What issues were you looking to solve when you founded Route?
I work in the live music sector and I find that when new starters begin working in the office, they often don't know a lot of the everyday terms like 'backline', 'advancing', and '80% split' but why would they? No one has told them. With Route, what we want to do is provide a resource so that people can enter the various fields of the industry more prepared than we did and to demystify the whole experience.
With the cost of living constantly rising, we especially want to reach an audience of young people who aren't lucky enough to have some of the financial resources that make it easier for some people to take the risk of learning on the job. We want to open-up the doors - to what is an incredibly closed shop - to people from all sorts of different backgrounds. We want it to be beneficial to them and beneficial to employers who tend to go down a homogeneous path when it comes to hiring.
To do this we are getting people who are established in their careers to share their knowledge and the aim is to make that knowledge as widely available as possible. So far anyone we've spoken to about the platform has been really receptive and open which has been a bit of a surprise. I think people in the industry are willing to share but maybe need a little prompt because it's very easy to become consumed by your own career and where it is right now and forget about where you were 5 - 10 years ago.
There's also such a huge range of jobs out there behind the scenes that young people may not even know exist when they're thinking about where their skills might fit. We've done a couple of lectures and spoken to students who have a lot of fears about entering the industry so I think what we've got on the site so far will help.
What struggles or setbacks did you experience in your efforts to build a career in music?
The main roadblocks I encountered at the beginning of my career were financial and social. Though I lived reasonably close, I couldn't afford to live in London at the time, and because the music industry is one that relies so much on social interaction, it was difficult to make the connections or be in the right place at the right time for when opportunities became available.
Once I did make the move, it became easier but, looking back with hindsight, the next problem I found was that there was very little training. You're expected to hit the ground running with very little experience, and because of the fast-paced nature of the industry it can be difficult to ask questions. Going back to the social element, once you're inside, it's like being in an exclusive club and no one wants to admit that they've bluffed their way in.
What lessons or advice would you pass on to someone who is in the same position you once were?
Don't be afraid to ask people more senior than you questions about the aspects of your job that you're unsure of. Then if you're still unsure, ask them again. It can often be the case that they've assumed you have a level of knowledge that's similar to their own and they are being unclear with their instructions rather than you asking a stupid question.
Also, try out as many roles as you can to find the one that fits.
And what would you say to established music industry players who can help others avoid this situation?
For companies, try to actively support inexperienced team members who might be struggling. If they're performing poorly, ask why and think about ways in which the structure of your company could adapt to help them along. Is there enough training provided? Is the culture of your office so competitive that people are willing to watch someone else struggle to mask their own failings? And before all of that, look at what kind of representation you have in your office. If the vast majority is white, male, well-educated and middle class, ask yourself if that's because that's the only kind of person talented enough to work for you?
On an individual level, share as much knowledge as you can with your colleagues and peers.