So you want to be a successful musician?

1. Be yourself. NEVER imitate others. Do your own thing. What you do is what you will be remembered for. In this industry, people can spot a fake at a hundred yards.

2. Be nice to others on the way up. You WILL come down.

3. One hit does not a career make. Two hits do not a career make. Only a career makes a career. The sooner you understand this, the happier you will be.

4. BE CLEVER. Don't sign anything, unless the lawyer is your brother (John Lennon). Read the signs.

5. NEVER believe what journalists write about you in the papers, nor what your own entourage says, particularly when it's positive. Rely ONLY on your own family, and be cautious even then.

6. You are never the boss. Your ego is your worst enemy:

a) In the studio, RESPECT the producer. He knows best. That's why he got hired instead of you. Always arrive early for the recording session. If a session is delayed, you should never be the cause.

b) On stage: RESPECT the production team: They own your show. They have the power to make you look and sound great. Or not.

c) Everywhere else: RESPECT your manager and BE NICE to your fans. They are the ones who will take you the top. Or the gutter, it's up to you.

7. Leap at the opportunity of joining others in helping raise money for Charity. Always check that the charity is a registered organisation first.

8. Follow your heart, not your wallet.

9. Fame is rubbish. You want to be a prestigious musician, not a celebrity.

10. Drugs and booze will make you stupid and unreliable. And then kill you. AVOID THEM. Nobody wants to work with a drunk or a junkie.

Ernie Reid