Question 1

What is the single biggest suggestion you would give to someone wanting to get into this career?

Paul Gunther · Accepted Answer

“It’s the same suggestion I give to my playing colleagues when they say, ‘Oh my God, I’ve only had three auditions! I’ll never get a job!’ I say, ‘Sure you will. You have to keep auditioning or you’ll never get a job. You have to keep trying. You have to keep working. You have to stick with it. It will not just come to you.”

Question 2

What’s the #1 mistake people make when trying to get into this career?

Paul Gunther · Accepted Answer

“If you’re a person who has gotten far enough to be considered a serious candidate for a position, the only real mistake I can think of is communicating your interest to the Librarian and then not being available. If you want to learn the job you have to do the work.
Just be yourself. Don’t try to be somebody else. It’s going to come down to who has the personality and attributes who are the best fit; there’s no way around that. You can’t change who you are.”

Question 3

What is the question people should ask about this career but rarely do?

Paul Gunther · Accepted Answer

“I think most people don’t even know about this work, so anything about it is new stuff!”

Question 4

If you could describe in one word what makes you successful, what would it be?

Paul Gunther · Accepted Answer

“Communication. I’m not saying I’m really good at it; I’m just saying that’s one of my main focuses. I can explain a little bit. Originally, I got into this field because of my musical background, studying and playing music for twenty years.
“I always knew music was a thread I’d follow on my path, but I didn’t know until many years later what was equally important and goes hand in hand with music is the people who make the music, publish it, create it, who listen in the audience, who purchase and listen to the recordings (whether it’s on Spotify or on a cd), the people with whom you work, the people with whom you perform.
“That’s just as important as the work you do. I believe music is the greatest invention of the human race and for the human spirit. It’s the thing that draws people together more than anything else — apart from possibly spirituality.”

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