In the world of independent music, you can rest assured that there will be plenty of stressful days where you'll find yourself wanting to give up on chasing a seemingly unattainable dream. As technology and the means of making a sustainable living as a full time musician continue to change, having the ability to take the highs and lows of the game in stride is more vital now than ever before. Being unstable and overreacting to the little things will prove to have dire consequences, whereas keeping the big picture in mind as an adaptable professional will steer you inn the right direction.
This type of guidance may seem obvious, and always keeping a positive mindset is easier said than done, but sometimes you can fall into the trap of harboring a career killing mentality without even realizing it. To help ensure you don't succumb to any mental pitfalls, check yourself against these four mentalities to make sure you're not holding yourself back from your fullest potential.
In case you haven't considered this before: talent buyers are busy people, you guys! Filling a venue's calendar requires a ton of work: sifting through a perpetually growing inbox of inquiries, reaching out to bands independently, keeping an eye on events at other local spots, and ensuring all booked events run smoothly are just the basics. That said: don't annoy them.
Common sense should really rule out these six irksome habits, but the eagerness and ambition you likely possess as an independent musician can sometimes muddy your judgement. Make sure you're thinking clearly before contacting a talent buyer by reviewing the most common ways that musicians irritate them.
Considering how heavily bands and artists rely on Facebook to promote shows, it's crucial to stay up to date on the platform's event policies so you can beef up the reach of your events as best as you can.
The latest update on Facebook's event invite policy states that users can only invite up to 500 people each, but if "a large number of invites" aren't responded to on a regular basis, you'll be limited to even fewer for a "short period of time". People who organize a lot of shows may find themselves with a cap as low as 520, a frustrating hindrance on the ability to promote an event without paying for it.
That's the issue here, really: Facebook seems to be pushing users to pay for sponsored posts. I'm not debating the usefulness of that option here, but instead focusing on the scenario on which you're not going to use it and are hoping to maximize the visibility of your Facebook event for free. These four methods won't cost you anything but a little time and effort.
Every artist understands that, aside from the music itself, their online presence is the cornerstone of their career. Strong online platforms allow artists to develop genuine relationships with existing fans and consistently bring in new one. Of course building your following and nurturing those relationships is never as simple as you want it to be.
We've all heard the saying, "It's not what you know, it's who you know." In the music industry especially, this holds a lot of weight. If you want to be a professional musician, it's already expected that you'll put in the work to be the best you can be at your craft, but it's absolutely integral that you put just as much work into building a strong network if you want your music to get heard.
When we think of networking, though, we often think of the financial costs involved. You have to pay to go to concerts to meet people. You have to pay to attend networking events like festivals and conferences. You have to pay to submit to influencers... the list goes on and on. There's certainly value in these kinds of networking activities, but for DIY musicians on a budget, you're probably not in a position yet to drop hundreds on a weekend long conference. But fear not- there are several ways you can grow your network right now for the beautiful price of FREE!
Any time you talk with a promoter, booking agent, or venue, you should strive for professionalism. You can, of course, get a little more casual with your conversations. But your initial attempt at securing a date for a show is an indelible first impression that should be carefully thought out. If the people in charge think you're unprofessional from the get go, they may hesitate to book you- like, ever.
It's not that hard to avoid these mistakes though. Read on to ensure you never hinder your chances by committing any of these blunders.
Your band's first tour can be your first step up the ladder to success, but if it's not done properly, it can end up wasting a lot of time and a lot of money. Always take care in planning your tour, whether it's your first one ever or just another month on the road. To make sure it's a success, check out these five tour planning tips!
For those bands and musicians who are looking to up the level of crowd engagement at their next gig, here are eight useful tips that can help your time on stage stand out and remain memorable to your audience after the show has ended.
Timing is everything as far as your fanbase is concerned. There's a thin balance between consistent momentum and leaving enough intrigue to keep people wanting more. Knowing when to switch from one mindset to the other is crucial.
2015 was been one hell of a year for music, and looking at the trends you can expect to see more in 2016. A new year= new beginnings so here are the top 10 marketing techniques used by some of the industry's hottest and most innovative artists.
Are you interested in taking your live show online?
Online concerts can be a great (and profitable) way to deepen your relationship with fans.
For attendees, there are far fewer barriers. No traffic. No overpriced drinks. No crowds. All they have to do is turn on their computer.
For the artist, playing a series of virtual concerts can be a healthier, thriftier, more manageable alternative to touring. No long drives, no motel rooms with burnt carpets, no 4am Taco Bell runs, no sound engineer sleeping at the board, no bouncer who pockets your cash (to say nothing of the weeks and weeks of planning you'd put into booking a tour).
With so many bands and artists out there clamoring for attention, capturing the interest of a publicist becomes quite a challenge. Here are three creative techniques you can employ which will increase the chances of a publicist taking notice of you and your music.
Getting the rapt attention of a publication isn't easy. It takes effort, passion, patience, and creativity, since there are lot of other publicists and bands vying for the editorial attention of super busy writers, bloggers, vloggers, bookers and editors. So you need to stand out. If you aren't able to afford a publicst at this venture and can't rely on someone else's creativity, expertise, know how and endless contacts, you aren't SOL (you old schoolers totally know what this term means...for the rest of you- Google it.)
Here are three really easy ways to get a publication's attention:
Long gone are the days where bands had to book their tours with help from archaic machines like typewriters and fax machines. There are some truly amazing tools out there in the mark that you ought to know about! That is, if you are anything like me and are obsessed with being efficient and truly productive with your time.
Here are some of my favorites that I highly recommend with links attached to each name and a quick overview of why I think they will help change your life for the better! I'll keep it short and to the point so you can just get on with giving them a test whirl!
Every band has to start somewhere. Many groups playing the world's largest stages today started in small clubs in and around their hometowns. But sometimes, it's difficult to even get that far. When you're at the very beginning, with no fanbase or connections whatsoever, how do you cut through the noise and get people to notice you? Social media is a great way to stay in touch with friends and fans you already have, but it's becoming harder and harder to access new fans through it with so much oversaturation. Here are some tips on how a band with no fans or connections can get moving and start building a career.
