09 Aug 10 Ways to NOT Fail as an Independent Artist
Author: David Andrew Wiebe
Original Article by Indie on the Move:
https://www.indieonthemove.com/blog/2022/7/10-ways-to-fail-as-an-independent-artist-episode-267
The road to stardom is a long and grueling one. A lot goes into the journey, and many people don’t know what to do. However, that’s not to say that you have to be completely blind to the path, as there are some things you SHOULDN’T do.
At FanFlex, we know a thing or two about the basics of what you shouldn’t do. Rather than tell you what you shouldn’t do, it’s better to tell you what you should do and why, so strap yourselves in.
The following list may seem common sense, but you’d be surprised how many people fail to follow these simple guidelines. Take some time and soak up the information this blog offers. It’s going to help, big-time.
- Treat Others with Respect
Sounds real obvious, but fame can seriously warp a person’s humility and ego. With those alterations come a lack of respect towards peers and even fans. Don’t let this be you.
Respect everyone you meet, including fans and bandmates. Don’t make a complete fool of yourself anywhere, even if you think you look cool. You’ll be remembered as either a super cool person or a complete jerk, and one of those options is better than the other.
- Be Punctual
This is an easy tip to remember if you truly take your music career seriously. Show up to your shows and rehearsals on time. If you ever have anything scheduled that involves you and your band, you should make it a habit to show up early. I’d say that 10 minutes earlier is a good guideline to follow.
And if you are ever late, always tell the truth and never make excuses. At least be frequently honest, if not frequently punctual.
- Strive to Improve
If music is your craft, then a good craftsman always strikes to further perfect his craft.
When performing or producing content, analyze yourself and consider what works and what doesn’t. Double down on what you did right and get rid of anything that didn’t work at all. The music industry is an eat-or-be-eaten world where one has to reinvent themselves to progress constantly, so improving yourself remains a top priority.
- Don’t Rely Exclusively on Social Media
Social Media is great, but it should never be the definitive way to market yourself. It’s certainly a great way to network with other artists and industry vets, but please don’t solely rely on it to promote and expect some kind of revenue.
Nothing will ever beat the good ol’ posters around-town method of promotion.
- Build an Email List
Email may not be the primary method of communication in this day and age, but a smart promoter NEVER rules it out. With emails, artists can send our newsletters and exclusive information to a select few with just a button.
Utilize services like MailChimp and gather emails at shows/events to build a newsletter list. You could maybe incentivize fans to check their emails with sweepstakes or giveaways.
- Don’t Rely on Royalties
Spotify is great, and it’s a popular method among starting artists to use as a source of passive income. However, unless you’re a platinum artist with millions of listens per year, the royalties from streaming services aren’t that numerous. Royalties from anything SHOULD NOT be used as your safety net.
First and foremost, you should be going out and doing shows. Spotify and other streaming services provide some extra cash on the side, but you and your shows should always be the breadwinner for the business.
- Get Coaching
Just because you’re already good doesn’t mean you can’t get better. Even the sharpest knives grow dull after a while, but that means you need a good whetstone to sharpen them back up.
Always be hungry to learn more from others. You could invest in a coach to help with vocals, choreography, or even just for general advice. It may take up a chunk of your funds, but it’s an investment in the long run. Speaking of which. . .
- Invest in Yourself
This is similar to my earlier point about coaching in that you should accept coaching. However, this mostly refers to self-help and self-improvement.
Maybe find a good podcast that helps you with stress. Head over to a bookstore and grab some books that can help you deal with showbiz and maybe teach you a thing or two about yourself. Money management, stress relief, self-help, and much more!
- Reinvest in your Music Career
Don’t forget to put some money back into your career as well! Sure, top-of-the-line equipment isn’t necessary to make it, but you should also spoil yourself with quality equipment and personnel. For example, instead of editing your videos with the default iMovie, invest in Adobe Creative Suite and get Premiere to edit videos and Audition to edit your vocals.
Samed with instruments. That old guitar can do wonders, but there’s only oh-so-much it can do. Invest in better instruments and equipment, or buy some if you don’t have any! Most venues require you to provide your speakers and equipment, so it’s worth the money.
As the saying goes, “you have to speculate to accumulate.”
- Adapt to Change
Finally, don’t be a one-trick pony. You’ll have to grow in all fields, whether behind the screen or on the stage. Learn from your mistakes. Change your formula up if you don’t see anything work. See what’s the best way to get your music out there.
You’ll eventually get to the top of the mountain, but only if you’re willing to take detours.