Develop Your Own
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A professional music career is something every musician probably dreams about having “someday." Fame and Fortune- ah, the good life, doing what you love and getting paid for it too.
Well, now it's time to turn that dream of yours into a reality!
Today, you can develop and promote your own music career with the help of the internet and some good advice.
ASSESS YOUR SKILLS:
First of all, you will need to make an assessment of your talents, goals and experience. Are you a gifted singer, guitarist, songwriter...? Write a brief description of yourself that briefly describes your skills, years of experience, etc.
GET ORGANIZED:
Next, you'll want to organize all the information about yourself into a presentable format. This will be your personal portfolio and should include the following information:
Your Name |
It's a good idea to include photos, an audio sample of your music (mp3, CD, video, etc.) and a brief cover letter telling about your experience and your specific aim (such as selling a particular song, getting a record deal, etc.)
First impressions count, so take your time with spelling, vocabulary and other important details.
MAKE A CONTACTS LIST:
You can send copies of your portofolio via email, snail mail, or fax, to:
- music magazines
- radio stations
- music vendors
- music websites
- A&R representatives
- songwriting competitions
- music competitions
- fundraiser events
Use your portfolio on the internet to tell others about yourself via paid and/or free advertising space such as: youtube, myspace, facebook, twitter, classified ads, open forums, message boards, newsletters and email.
LINE UP GIGS:
Of course you'll want to look for as many performing opportunities as possible. Consider coffee houses, churches, fairs, private parties, restaurants, local concerts, weddings, etc.
The more exposure you have, the better your chances of success. You might even consider approaching some restaurant owners to see if any would be willing to sponsor an open mic once a month. Live music is often good for business- you could even meet an important A&R contact!
GET EDUCATED:
The Music Industry is big business, so it's important to learn all you can about...
- booking agents
- talent scouts
- recording companies
- record producers
- legal contracts
- copyright law
HAVE ORIGINAL MATERIAL:
Your music career will have a much better chance of "making it" if you can create your own original songs.
Songwriting is a very important skill that can help you earn a living. Many people have successful music careers just writing songs for other people. Producers, recording artists and music publishers are always looking for ORIGINAL material.
BE PASSIONATE:
A good song comes from the heart, so find something you are passionate about and use that as your springboard for creativity. The emotion you feel will help you to produce a better song.
You will find inspiration for your material from things that make an emotional impact on your life. I also suggest you start writing down your thoughts and feelings in a journal. Read and listen to other people's poems, songs and lyrics too.
PROMOTE YOURSELF:
In order to promote your music career you'll also need to learn how to use effective techniques that will get you noticed. Selling CD's, hats, shirts, and posters with your band image is one way of advertising, but it can be expensive.
You could promote yourself for free using resources such as Soundclick , Facebook, Twitter, etc.
WHY WORK WHEN YOU CAN PLAY?
CREATE YOUR OWN WEBSITE:
As a songwriter myself, I have found that having a website can be very helpful in the development of a music career because it allows you to share your songs with millions of people without ever leaving home!
My own website even gave me the opportunity to have two of my original songs used in a TV documentary about Hurricane Katrina!
You can read about it here...
Creating your own website in this day and age can really give you an edge over the competition. The exposure you gain from it can help to grow your fan base and really push your music career forward.
HONE YOUR CRAFT:
Finally, if you are serious about developing a music career you must do whatever it takes to hone your craft. Take private lessons, enroll in a school or program of fine arts, and practice diligently. Set yourself some goals and do whatever it takes to reach them. Then you will be able to enjoy life doing what YOU love to do. Afterall...
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