How to become a songwriter: Danny and Sarah's story

Meet Danny and Sarah and learn more about their life as members of The Six. Part of our Bitesize world of work series.

The music industry is so exciting and fast-paced, and gives young people a lot of advantage.

• Danny and Sarah are members of The Six, a songwriting collective and band based in Manchester

• Sarah didn't have a musical background, she was a poetry writer before meeting Rick (founder of The Six), who got her to join the band

• Danny joined The Six as a song writer as well as continuing with his university degree

• For Danny to be part of The Six, he had to reassure his parents that his education would not suffer and convinced them to continue to support him with his career

• Danny says that "Music is always changing and there should always be new and different ideas", and "if you're that younger generation, you could be that new idea."

What to expect if you want to be a singer-songwriter

What will I get paid? Your income will depend on how successful you become and how much paid work you secure. Remember, a record deal doesn't necessarily guarantee success and success doesn't necessarily mean fame.Where will I work? Initially, you'll probably work a lot from home or the recording studio. You will need to travel nationally or internationally to perform.What are the working hours like? You'll choose your writing hours. Gigs are normally at night and can end very late. On tour, there will be a lot of early mornings and travel.

What qualifications do you need to be singer-songwriter?

What qualifications do I need? None in particular – passion, experience and dedication is more important, although musical knowledge and performance skills could be beneficial.

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