From Musician to Musicpreneur: Aki's Journey of Creating Opportunities
Updated: 8 hours ago
What does it mean to think like a musicpreneur? And how can musicians take an active role in creating opportunities for themselves?
In KALOS' two-part Creator Spotlight webinar series, From Musician to Musicpreneur, musician and entrepreneur Aki Chan shared his personal experiences and practical insights into developing an entrepreneurial mindset and building a more diverse music career.
Drawing on his experiences in both Hong Kong and the UK, Aki explored how being open to possibilities, willing to try different things and proactive in building connections can help musicians create opportunities beyond their immediate work.
While the two webinars covered different stages of his journey, they shared an important message: Opportunities don't always come to us. Sometimes, we have to recognise them, take the initiative and make them happen.
1. Don't limit yourself to the opportunities you already know
In the first webinar, Aki shared how his career gradually developed beyond music performance and teaching.
Rather than following just one established career path, he explored different possibilities within the music field. Starting from his experience as a musician and teacher, he expanded his teaching activities, took on other music-related work, eventually became a freelancer and established his own company.
What stands out from his experience is not simply the range of work he has undertaken, but his willingness to try.
Instead of hesitating because something was unfamiliar or waiting until he felt completely ready, Aki learned through doing. Each new experience allowed him to discover different possibilities, develop new capabilities and understand how he could apply his existing knowledge and skills in other ways.
For musicians, this is an important mindset to develop. A fulfilling career doesn't necessarily have to follow a predetermined route. There may be opportunities in areas you haven't previously considered, whether related to education, creative projects, entrepreneurship or other music-related activities.
Sometimes, you only discover what you are capable of by being willing to take the first step.
2. A new environment doesn't mean starting from zero
The second webinar focused on Aki's experience after moving from Hong Kong to the UK, where he continued to explore possibilities and develop new projects in a different environment.
One example was Cantonese Reading Playground, an initiative he established in the UK to preserve Cantonese traditions and encourage children to connect with the language and culture.
Through stories, songs and fun activities, the project creates an engaging environment for children to learn Cantonese while keeping cultural traditions alive.
Aki also shared his experiences developing other creative and cultural projects, including a Cantonese puppet show and a Cantonese Drama and Study Half-Term Holiday Camp.
What made this sharing particularly valuable was his openness in discussing the practical process behind bringing these ideas to life.
He took us through his experience of applying for funding for the puppet show across three different cities in the UK, sharing useful tips and advice on navigating funding opportunities.
For Hong Kong musicians who have relocated to the UK, these insights were especially relevant. Finding your footing in a new environment can be challenging, and understanding where to look for funding, support and potential collaborators can make a real difference.
Aki's experience demonstrated that moving to a new place doesn't mean putting your ambitions on hold. It means being willing to explore the new environment, identify available resources and build the connections needed to turn ideas into reality.
3. What can musicians learn from Aki's journey?
Across both webinars, several important lessons emerged that are worth reflecting on, particularly for musicians looking to develop their careers and explore new possibilities.
Be open to possibilities beyond your current work.
Don't limit yourself to what you already know or what you have been trained to do. Your musical knowledge, experience and personal interests may open doors to other areas of work. Being curious and willing to explore can help you discover opportunities you might otherwise overlook.
Learn by doing, rather than waiting for the perfect moment.
You don't need to have everything figured out before trying something new. Taking action allows you to gain experience, develop new skills and learn what works along the way. Not every attempt will lead to the expected result, but each experience can help you move forward.
Actively seek resources and make things happen.
Having an idea is only the beginning. Turning it into a real project requires initiative and resourcefulness. Learn to identify what you need, explore available funding and support, and find practical ways to bring your ideas to life.
Build meaningful connections and become part of a network.
As Aki highlighted, good connections can make a significant difference in developing new opportunities. Relationships can lead to collaborations, introduce you to useful resources and bring together people with different skills and expertise. Being part of a supportive community also gives you opportunities to exchange ideas and learn from others.
These lessons remind us that developing a music career is not just about improving our artistic abilities. It is also about understanding the possibilities around us, recognising what we can contribute and building the relationships that help us move forward.
4. A KALOS Creator in action
Aki's experiences reflect the entrepreneurial mindset that KALOS hopes to encourage among musicians through its Creator community.
Being a musicpreneur doesn't necessarily mean starting a company or turning everything into a business. It is about taking ownership of your professional direction, recognising opportunities around your talents and capabilities, and having the initiative to turn ideas into something meaningful.
Through his work in both Hong Kong and the UK, Aki demonstrates how musicians can apply their experience, interests and strengths in different ways, develop projects beyond their immediate musical activities and create value for the communities around them.
At KALOS, we believe that musicians should be encouraged to explore possibilities, develop useful skills, build meaningful connections and take an active role in shaping their own careers.
And sometimes, it all begins with a simple willingness to try.
Don't just wait for opportunities. Start creating them.
Watch the webinar recordings
Missed the series or want to revisit Aki's sharing?
Catch up on both sessions of From Musician to Musicpreneur and discover more about developing an entrepreneurial mindset and turning creative ideas into real opportunities.
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