It's a hard concept for some artists to understand, mainly because they're doing what they love. When it comes down to it though, it's a business, it's work. What do I mean by this? You should approach every aspect of being an artist/band as if it's your own business, and you should be treating any money made, contacts made, or relationships forged as such.
If you were running a pastry shop, you wouldn't just pocket ALL the money you made and spend it on personal expenses. No, you have a business, you've gotta keep the lights on, the water running, and most importantly, you have to keep making pastries, because no product means no customers coming back. All these things, you need money for. In an artist's case: you need gas to get to shows, money for new equipment to keep up with the industry standard, money for repairs on equipment, money for equipment upkeep (i.e. strings, amp tubes) and all the little unexpected wonders that will happen to a band (like when you're booking it 75 mph down the highway and the axle on your trailer breaks, or you get a flat). Keep money available for use in being an artist, because you'll need it, and lots of it.
Next, you know all those people that come to your shows? Treat them like they're paying customers (BECAUSE THEY ARE!). Respect your fans, love your fans (but not too much), because they're the only reason you're getting to do what you love. Never blow off a show last minute, or get all "rock star" and decide that whatever venue you're playing isn't up to snuff and walk out in the middle of a show. Lastly, never EVER put yourself in a position where you are not at your 100% best up on stage. A bad show alienates fans faster than anything.
Also, remember that any time you are playing a venue, appearing on a radio station, doing an interview, or even recording, you are making an impression that is the basis of what will hopefully be a fruitful relationship. As an artist, never burn any bridges, it'll always come back to hurt you. The music scene is always more tight knit than you know. Everyone knows someone who knows someone. If you insult one club owner, it could cost you interviews with a certain magazine. If you blow off an interview, it might lose you airtime on a radio station. So not only are you burning one bridge, but possibly several others. Remember that it works just the same way if you're an honest, hard working artist. You impress one person and several doors may open for you. Need proof? Google Justin Bieber, then google Kanye West.
Lastly, as in any business, you have to do work. No rock band is telling the truth when they say "I don't care what people think." Sure, it makes you look nonchalant and cool, but if they were telling the truth when they said that, you wouldn't be listening to or reading the interview they said it in. Why? Because that would make them lazy, and where do lazy bands go? Nowhere. Hey lazy band, where you goin'? NOWHERE! In a band, you're writing, practicing, playing shows, constantly designing and buying merchandise, recording, playing shows, doing publicity, keeping your gear fixed, playing shows, fixing the van, working on websites, oh, and playing shows. Working hard gets you places. To all the artists who want to be famous having never played a show, listen carefully, not gonna happen!
So strap in boys and girls. The music business is, believe it or not, a business. And in it being a business, you are going to have to do what you do in businesses, and that is work.
