Starting From Scratch: Tips for the Brand Spankin’ New Musician

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This is a post I’ve been meaning to write for quite a long time. Having talked to many of our readers online, I realize you all are coming from different places in your careers. Some folks have been playing for years, some have been touring for years, and some of you are closet musicians. Well, I still get this question in my inbox all the time: “Where Do I Start?” People are continually asking for tips on how to get “this music thing” off the ground.  And since this is a marketing blog, we’re gonna outline some steps you need to take to begin the whole process of getting out there.   If you know someone who is just starting out, pass this on.  Here we go…

#1 RECORD DEMO
Other than your parents and your friends, nobody knows what you sound like. Get some audio recorded.  This will not be a full-length CD and it might not even be a full-on professional recording, but it will need to be a sampling of songs (maybe 2 or 3) that you can eventually stick on your website (s).

#2 UPLOAD VIDEOS
Start a YouTube account and take video of yourself playing a song. It doesn’t have to be uber professional but try to avoid the situation where viewers can hear buses and car horns in the background. If you can get someone to record a professional-looking video, do it.

#3 WEBSITE
Do it!  You need a website. So many artists are using services like Bandcamp, Reverbnation, and Sonicbids in lue of a website. Sure, I guess that’s fine while you work on getting your own domain and hosting…BUT get your own site as soon as possible.  It doesn’t have to be something elaborate, just a place where you can stick your information – a place that allows you to have your own personality and present content as you choose.

And this is where you’ll post those demos and videos.  Don’t start a website and say you’re a musician if there’s no music on your website. This doesn’t make ANY sense but people do it all the time. There better be music on a music site.

#4 SOCIAL MEDIA
Start the Twitter, Facebook Music Page, and the aforementioned YouTube  accounts. Make sure they each match.  If you’re band name is The Jaggers, your sites should be as follows:

  • www.thejaggers.com
  • www.facebook.com/thejaggers
  • www.youtube.com/thejaggers
  • www.twitter.com/thejaggers
Uniformity and consistency are key. Don’t be random.
Begin to post regular content  on your social media sites.  Begin to make your presence known. Begin to generate interest in your music. Also remember that it will take quite some time for your followings to build on each network. Don’t be discouraged. Let it take as long as needed for each platform to grow.

#5 BUSINESS CARDS
Get these guys printed quick! Now that you have a website, demos on the site, and social media networks, put all that information on a card!  It might feel silly to have one (especially if you’re not yet playing out), but its the smartest thing you can do for yourself.

#6 OPEN MICS
Open Mics are hit or miss, but they are still the best way to get out there and play. In fact, it pretty much doesn’t make sense to start actively booking unless you have gotten some practice on some stage at some time.  Go to your local open mics and play as often as possible. Meet other artists, network (give ‘em that business card), and learn from others in the room. It just makes sense.

#7  START BOOKING
Use what you know. Have you met any of the bookers at some of the venues whose Open Mics you’ve played? Contact them and ask if they will consider you as an opener for a future show. Collaborate with some of the other artists you’ve met at open mic. Check out this post: READ, WATCH, LISTEN, GO – A MUSICIAN’S GUIDE TO “MAKING IT”

Think of the above as a 6-month plan to getting your foot in the door. Once you’ve made the initial steps and put the necessary pieces in place, you can start to kick things up a notch. But follow these steps for now. In fact, if you’re a new musician, I challenge you to start doing the above, and tell us how it went when June comes.

note: feel free to put added steps in the comment section.

 

 

  • http://www.michaelgaither.com/ Michael Gaither

    This is a great list. A few comments from me:

    #1 – I’d also recommend including one live track (either band or solo…whatever is the best example of what you do in a show). Consider these discs auxiliary business cards, and either have nice labels printed or (better) do a very small run of cardboard sleeves to go with them. Never hand someone a disc that’s labelled with a Sharpie.

    #3 – Definitely get a real web site. And if you’re just starting, it’s pretty easy to put something together using reverbnation-type widgets. Also…never list pages that say “Coming Soon”. If a page isn’t ready, don’t post it.

    #6 – Open mics are the best way to meet other local musicians. They also give you a good sense of what the music scene (and talent level) is in an area. Better: If you can’t find an open mic start one.

    #7 – If you’re just starting out, you really need to get experience, both with playing live and with promotion. Besides looking for gigs, approach restauraunts, etc. (anyplace