If you’re an up and coming musician, making sure that you get heard over the other hungry artists out there can be a challenge. But with the right strategies and a proactive mindset, you can bump yourself up a notch to stand a better chance at building a fan base that helps you grow your career one note at a time. Here are a few tips for musicians on how to get recognized.
1. Establish your brand
While you’re establishing your band, make sure that you establish your brand as well. This means more than simply creating a logo. While you do have to have a visual identity, your brand has to showcase who you are, what you believe, and how you plan to deliver on your brand’s promise. Remember, in show business, image is everything, and your word is your reputation!
2. Make the best music possible
Part of your brand will be the music that you produce. Never put out anything that doesn’t reflect the quality that you want associated with your name. Your goal is to create high-quality, original music that resonates with your audience. This means you can’t slack in any area of your art, from the writing process to postproduction.
3. Promote your shows with posters
Promoting your shows with posters is a visually captivating way to grab attention and create buzz for your events. With eye-catching designs, key event information, and strategic placement in high-traffic areas, posters can effectively attract your target audience and build anticipation for your shows. Give a personal touch to your promotion by using online templates to design attractive posters.
4. Leverage social media
Social media consists of many different platforms that you can use to get the word out about your music. According to the Music Industry How To blog, YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram are the three biggest players in the social media world for musicians. Through these avenues, you can share your music, update your fans about what’s going on, and even share photos that can capture attention and direct new listeners on how and where to find your sound.
You should also familiarize yourself with content marketing, since that can give you a big advantage over the competition. Firstly, it helps build brand authority and trust by providing valuable information to consumers, positioning the business as an industry expert. Secondly, it can generate organic traffic and improve search engine rankings, increasing the visibility of the company online. Lastly, content marketing fosters a deeper connection with the target audience, enhancing customer engagement and loyalty, ultimately driving business growth.
5. Entertain and engage
Once you start booking gigs, the spotlight is on. Now it’s time to make sure that you not only entertain your fans but also engage your audience throughout your musical journey. If you’re playing a show, talk to people between sets. You can also respond to comments on social media, give interviews, and even high-five your fans that are closest to the stage. The point is to make a connection that helps you remain memorable.
6. Design a music studio in your home
Building a music studio in your home offers the convenience and flexibility of creating music in a comfortable and familiar environment. With advancements in technology, you can now easily set up a professional-quality recording space, allowing you to pursue your musical endeavors with ease and creativity. When building your studio, keep track of any home improvements you make as certain upgrades can increase your home’s value.
7. Treat it like a business
Sure, your music is a reflection of your creative personality, but if you’re trying to make a living out of it, you have to treat it like any other business. It’s usually best to form a business structure and to open up accounts in your business’s name instead of your own. Also, maybe you’re wondering, “Do I need a business bank account for LLC?” Well, Capital One Bank explains that having a separate business account offers liability protection makes it easier to do your taxes. And while you probably won’t work 9 to 5, it’s important that you designate a set number of hours to certain tasks, such as booking shows, writing new music, or perfecting songs you haven’t released yet.
In the world of music, there’s never any good way to predict whether you will be a success or not. After all, people are going to like what they like. But, by taking a proactive step in your career now by establishing your brand and its promise, treating your music like a business, promoting your shows with posters, and prioritizing fan engagement and professionalism, you’ll put yourself on the right path toward enjoying a musical career and the lifestyle it brings.
This article was contributed by Megan Cooper who runs reallifehome.net.
