Dos & Don’ts for Artists in the Music Industry
Some of these items may seem trivial or basic to some of you….but it’s the little things that go a long way. In this age of email, social media and technology, it’s easy to forget how powerful and impactful a handwritten note and showing up can be. Here are 10 Dos & Don’t for artists in the music scene.
DO…
Show up on time. Please, for the love of all things good, get yourself a digital calendar that is synced to your phone. (Google calendar syncs directly to your apple calendar, so no excuses) I say this because the second you book a gig, or tell someone you are going to follow up with them, or say you’re going to go to a friend’s show, you can put it right into your calendar! Showing up on time and not “forgetting” goes a long way. You will gain a reputation of being reliable and I think you’ll find that more opportunities will come your way than your buddy who constantly over sleeps and forgets appointments.
Show gratitude. After someone takes the time to meet with you or gives you an opportunity to play somewhere, sending a nice thank you email will be much appreciated. Better yet, sending a handwritten thank you note will almost guarantee you another gig/another meeting/etc. Also, tell your fans how much they mean to you. Let them know the difference they have made in your life. They are an integral part of your career after all!
Learn the pieces of your business. If you have a basic understanding of all the moving parts of the music business you will better be able to advocate for yourself when you eventually have a team doing things for you. You will be a better leader and decision maker, and you will know where all your money is coming from and going to. Understanding things like royalties, songwriter splits, marketing, song registration, publishing, taxes, and standard contracts will make you a more well rounded entrepreneur, which you are by the way! Don’t get me wrong, you don’t need to be an expert by any means, but read a few books and you’ll be better for it!
Organize your finances. Keep your personal money separate from your music money by creating an LLC and opening a business checking account. Make all of your music transactions through that account so nothing gets mixed together and when tax season comes, it will be MUCH easier to see what you made that year. Going along with tax season, if you are paying out gig players, be sure to track the amount you are paying them as you go so you can easily send them a 1099 at the end of the year.
Have a mentor or coach. Having someone to keep you accountable and keep you on track is so beneficial to an artist navigating this unpredictable industry. Invite someone you trust and who has a little bit more experience to help you. Ask all the questions, be hungry to learn and when you have the tough days, they will be there to pick you back up.
DON’T…
Send unsolicited material to labels/publishers. Save your energy, they will not read it. Do the work and go to networking events, meet fellow creators and find a personal connection in. This is a small industry and you’ll find that most people on your “to meet with” list are only 1 or 2 degrees of separation away from you. Once you do get a meeting and they ask to hear some of your work, do not send more than 1-3 songs. That shows that you know what that particular label/publisher is looking for, you respect their time, and you leave them wanting more…
Show up unprepared or unrehearsed for a gig. A professional musician is always working on their craft. Have your set list ready to go so when you’re up on stage, you can focus on having a great time and entertaining. Make sure you know what the backline is for the gig and what you need to bring with you. Even if all the sound equipment is provided, it’s good practice to bring your own cables and microphone.
Sign the first contract sent your way. No matter what! There are scammers out there who claim to be talent finders and they want to sign you to an “indie label” and they want to “make you a star.” Please, please, please, if you aren’t sure about an “opportunity” that is proposed to you, get another opinion. Ask a friend or ask us at New Roots, we would be happy to take a peek at it!
Compare your music to others or shame other music/artists. That’s just unkind. There is room for everyone in this industry, you just need to focus on what you are creating and support the other music you like. If you don’t like a song that is topping the charts right now, rather than shame that song or that artist, let that fuel you to write a better song or meet more people or go contact your local radio station and introduce them to your music. We have enough shaming in the world, y’all. If you lean in to creating what is authentically YOU, I think you’ll find that others will come on board and support you.
Shove your music down your fans/followers throats. As you are building and growing your fan base, it’s important to nurture the relationship and make them feel like your friend. Imagine if the only texts you sent your best friend were to pre-save, download, pre-save, stream, listen…I don’t think they’d stick around very long. It feels spammy and we lose the human connection with the artist behind the music. Use social media and email as a way to let them learn more about you and your hobbies, your inspirations, and your stories - it all relates to your artistry. Once they feel like they know you, then they are going to be thrilled to save, download, stream and share your music!