Hello, I’m Matt HenshawI launched a successful career comeback

Whatever you want to doI’ve got some advice that will help get you there.

Here’s my story

This was my band CENSOREDIt all started as a bit of teenage fun.

A local gig here and there, A few lads from Nottingham, messing about.

SOMEHOWwe landed ourselves a record deal.

Less than a year on we were in the NME and playing Reading and Leeds.I couldn’t believe it

I didn’t even have time to collect my A-Level resultsPRETTY rock n’ roll EH?

We were supporting our heroeslike Ocean Colour Scene and Supergrass

I never really thought about the future. Don’t get me wrong, I was passionate

But I was having a great time making music. I thought we were SET for LIFE

Anyway it was 2008. BBC Radio 1 were set to play our latest track.WHAT COULD POSSIBILY GO WRONG?

Then…it slowly started to unravel

We organised a completely CRAZY line-up of back-back gigs.

Without any real guidance, we’d spread ourselves too thin.

St. Georges Day 2009…It finally caught up with me.

We were playing to a sold out crowd. I only lasted 3 SONGS I was burnt out.

We had to break for about 2 months.We cancelled all of our festivals.

We’d suddenly lost our momentum….we had to CALL IT A DAY

I was in touching distance of my dream career.SUDDENLY it was gone.

I took some time off. I remember my Mum asking me…“WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM LIFE?”

In truth…I really just wanted to learn again.

I decided to go to university I did an MRes in Film and Television

I wasn’t going out that much, more gardening, staying in and drinking tea. Not so ROCK n’ ROLL

I felt older and mature for the first time ever. It was a chance to get on with life.

I found a job as a COMPUTER SCIENCE SUSTAINABILITY RESEARCH ASSISTANTTry saying that with a mouthful

But something was missingI couldn’t put my finger on it

Then in 2012 I went to watch some gigs. Watching people on stage…

Something clicked inside me….I’M ONE OF THESE PEOPLEI’m a Musician

I realised the job I was doing wasn’t my dream

After so many years away, music was calling my name again…

WAIT…It hadn’t exactly gone to plan last time

This time it was differentI’D GROWN UP.

My first experience had awakened me to see things in a whole new way.

The musical landscaped had changed a lot since 2008

So many social networks, promotional tools…I had to be SMARTER this time.

Think matt, THINK.

I remembered LinkedIn from training sessions I had done at work…

I logged back onTHOUGHTIf this works for office stuff, why can’t it work for music?

I checked out other people’s profiles and then used the interactive guide to update my own one. type type type type

I realised how easy it was to tailor it to music to showcase my skills.

I wanted to get across my passion and most of all…my personality

Funnily enough most of my endorsements were already for signing and songwriting.

When I updated my profile more and more endorsements started coming in from people I already knew. It was a massive CONFIDENCE BOOST

Keeping my profile UP TO DATE was a sure-fire way of making sure people took me seriously and saw me as a professional. Not just another lad with a guitar.

I did a search Amazingly I found loads of relevant people…JOURNALISTS AGENTS PR MARKETING

Then one day I got the message…you’ve got a new connection

That one connection opened up a whole new range of peopleTriggered a fresh network of possibilities.

What was most amazing was that instead of sending out speculative messages to find opportunities…

suddenly, opportunities were coming to me!My profile was like a MAGNET and all because I’d added a bit more detail.

Just adding a bit more about yourself in the summary and adding a profile picture makes it much easier for people to find you.

It turns out if you have a complete profile, you’re 40 times more likely to receive opportunities.

And it meant people contacted me with relevant and meaningful jobs in mind…

…Be it a gig or festival or just helping put stuff together in the recording studio.

IT’S WORKING!

SUDDENLY I’ve got a gig coming up at the Roundhouse Camden and a slot at the Elevator Music Festival…

Its my very own ‘COMEBACK’ tour if you likeall off my own back.

At which point, you’re probably thinking…

“Good for him” But you might not want to be a musciain...

…That’s not really the point. The point is that I recovered from being down and out!

I’ve become the MASTER of my own career

I went from knowing what I wanted to GETTING what I wanted

Whether you’re a musician a lawyer, a scientist or an accountant…you can always DO BETTER

Follow what you’re passionate about.WORK AS HARD as you can GET THERE

You see, LinkedIn isn’t just for business people.It’s for anyone with AMBITION

If I can do it, then you won’t have a PROBLEM

I’m a better musician NOW than I ever was

LinkedIn played its part for me…and it can FOR YOU

LinkedIn What’s your dream Update you profile http://linkd.in/1izYjjr