Being a musician, whether it be as a soloist or as a member of a band, involves creating and playing your own creative music. Some people consider it a casual form of expression while others consider it their dream job.
How, though, do you elevate your music to a professional level in a competitive market like the music one? If you want to increase your chances of success, you will need to build the groundwork independently and be ready for any opportunity that life can give you. Remember, “opportunity doesn’t waste time with whomever is unprepared” Idowu Koyenikan.
Here are some tips for those aspiring musicians who are still unable to rely on record labels and who must manage a variety of tasks independently, ranging from creating the music itself through its distribution.
Never stop creating new music. Your brain is stimulated by new concepts and musical compositions, which in turn encourages the production of more music. Building a library of demos should be one of your top goals so that you are always prepared to show your music to anyone who might be interested in it, whether it be just a few friends or your next employer.
Take your time and don’t rush to conclude, finding the right technique and sounds/words takes time. Do you feel stuck producing a specific track? Put it aside but never delete it. Returning to it later will allow you to view it from different perspectives, which will benefit your future developments.
To prevent ideas from fading away and to have a solid foundation from which to build the next time you work on the same track, record yourself performing your music as many times as you can.
Exercise is crucial. Creating processes to follow in order to succeed is fundamental when training to affinate your techniques, regardless of your existing skill. Play your music continuously and make experiments with it. What you can change? What you can add?
If you are a member of a band, getting together with your bandmates frequently is essential because the more time you spend together, the more you will learn from one another. Each of you has different ways, personalities, and body language, which are important considerations when collaborating on music.
It's time to start giving live online and/or offline performances of your music when you feel secure in your creations and you can hear that it has the correct flow. Online spaces like Instagram Live, TikTok Live, Twitch, and others can assist you in reaching a wide audience and are ideal for building a community around your music.
Offline spaces instead, like small pubs, parties or even the streets is where a face to face interaction with your audience happens. The idea could seem intimidating at first, but as you perform your songs in front of audiences more frequently, you get lot more at ease with it.
Do the guys in the video below look familiar to you? They are the Måneskin in one of their first ever concerts among the street of Rome, learning how to manage and stand in front of their audience from the ABC, from the street.
Never stop looking for opportunities and be reminded that every gig matters to build up the necessary experience. Doing so you get ready for a bigger opportunity when it will show up. Always give the best of yourself, you never know who is listening and watching you.
During music events speak to people and be open to conversate and create connections. The more open you are the higher is the chance you will find someone able to help you with collaborations and/or opportunities of any sort.
Even if having a strong musical talent is crucial when pursuing a career, it isn't always sufficient. For the project to advance, work must be done in the background. You will need to set aside time for the management responsibilities yourself if you don't already know someone who can handle them for you.
A manager's typical responsibilities include recruiting band members, scheduling performances, scheduling practice sessions, and networking. Juggling all of these obligations while also composing and performing can be challenging.
Wherever you can, try to divide up the work among the band members. When it comes to handling these jobs, cooperation and communication are crucial. Support other people who are taking on responsibilities as much as you can.
Nowadays, it seems impossible to avoid socials media, and you should never undervalue their potential to raise your band's reputation. They offer platforms for you to rapidly express yourself to your audience and share your songs.
Ask individuals for their opinions and remember to reply to comments. In Calypsoroom you can do this live meanwhile listening to your music with your closest fans in a video music session. Give your audience something to respond to or engage with. Inclusion increases interest in what you're doing . Engaging content includes images, videos, surveys, and even postings general queries.
Avoid the temptation to share the identical message on all of your channels. Adjust your posts instead to the platform you're using. This increases the likelihood that fans will follow you across numerous platforms.
A website could appear unnecessary with the abundance of social media outlets. Having your own landing page, however, will enhance your professional image and provide you complete control over how your content is presented.
The way we distribute music around the world has been transformed by the internet. Anyone can instantly listen to your music if you upload it to sites like Soundcloud, Bandcamp or Calypsoroom.
However, the ease of access to the internet has also altered how we listen to music. Due to the daily flood of new music on the internet, many of us now use premium streaming services with curated playlists to obtain a concentrated dose of the music we might enjoy.
So, without the assistance of a specialised PR firm, what is the best strategy to increase your exposure among other new music? The greatest place to begin is with a plan. Read some guidelines for creating a press release independently.
There is no specific formula for how to be an independent artist. Strategy may vary from artist to artist. There is no doubt that success in the music business requires drive, perseverance, a thick skin, and the capacity to adapt to its challenges. The secret is to keep going in the face of obstacles and inescapable setbacks. But most importantly, be genuine! Find the distinctive traits that make you unique and go for them!
Once your music is ready, consider the idea to post it on Calypsoroom and listen to it with whomever you want, at the same time, connected by webcam!