Career strategy coaching is one of my passions. I find that many artists have no idea how to think about marketing themselves and end up stuck without momentum in their careers. Here are a few simple pointers to get you thinking about marketing.
"Why do I have to worry about this"? I can hear many of you saying to yourselves.I know, it's confusing, we're bad at it and it takes time away from what we love to do..making music..right?
YES all that may be true BUT without knowing at least the core elements of how to market ourselves our music (and our careers!) we will join the millions of other artists who cant figure out why their careers aren't going any where.
WHO IS YOUR TARGET AUDIENCE?
What is the single most important thing an artist needs to know about Marketing?
Its simple. Who is your audience?
Thats the number one question labels, managers, producers and agents will be asking you when you are seeking their support and help.
Knowing who your audience is will help you (and your potential team) make all of the important decisions. Decisions like what should you wear in your photo…what venue should you be performing in…what other artists should you be performing and recording with..and a million other details all of which stem from the simple fact that you are a brand. A brand that you need to understand or you won't understand how to communicate your music and expand your audience.
Your job isn't to figure out everything about how to market yourself but you wont be able to start working with a team that can help you until your thought about exactly who your fans are going to be.
Who is your Audience now?
I don't mean who would you LIKE your audience to be.. I mean when you play shows and look out at the folks who have come out to hear you what kind of folks are actually coming out? Besides your family and best friends and if thats ALL who's coming out then you need this Blog more than you thought :)
IF you and your band play rock n roll and your audience is young men who like to drink beer and party and rock out then your marketing will look very different from the Jazz Diva whose audience may want to sip fine wine and dress for an expensive meal in an elegant bistro. Right?
These two acts appeal to a different age range with very different passions and interests (and a VERY different pocket book!)…and consequently your pictures, online postings, video's, posters, newsletters, web site etc EVERYTHING THE POTENTIAL FAN SEES OR READS OR HEARS about your act will have to target them in specific ways that attract them to both you and your music.
WE DECIDE IN THE BLINK OF AN EYE!
These days everybody is taking in mountains and acres of information every which way and we decide if something is of interest to us very very quickly. The wrong "indicator" and we have already decided that this music isnt of interest to us. So what they first see and what you present about your act is very very important.....
.......ESPECIALLY VISUALLY!! Those details of design and art direction are all elements of "branding" that we have to consider when looking to create a sustainable career in this business.
Sounds like a lot of details to handle doesn't it? Sure.
Your job isn't to figure out everything about how to market yourself..its always better to have support and help with this important part of the creating success in the music biz....
but you wont be able to move forward working with a team that can help you until you've thought about a few of these basic questions..
Starting with exactly who your fans are going to be? And what do they care about?
Please contact Micah Barnes for information on one and one skype and in person bookings!
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