Music Artist Alert Part 2: Get Out of Your Own Way

I suggested 4 steps to help you raise your level of performance in the music artist alert column last month. This month, I’m back with 3 more steps to keep you on top of your game.

“Work hard in silence. Let your success be your noise.” Since the start of 2016, I’ve seen this quote all over social media. Meme lovers were quick to repost, retweet, and regram, but I wonder how many actually followed this advice. Hard work takes sacrifice, humility, collaboration and creativity. As they say, hard work trumps talent when talent doesn’t work hard.

It’s time to raise your creative impulse. Here we go!

Step 1 – Determine your quality.

There are so many crappy but extremely well mixed and mastered songs on the radio. Truth is, they always outshine a good but horribly mixed and mastered song. You have to listen to your music objectively to gauge its quality. Evaluate whether or not it sounds just as good as your favourite artist’s music.

Here’s how:

1. Pick 3 songs from 3 of your favourite music artists.
2. Play their songs and jot down what you notice about their song’s mixes. Can you hear the singer’s vocal nuances? Is the music dynamic or does it sit flat with no depth at all?
3. Immediately play your music. Can you hear your unique vocal nuances or does the music drown out your voice? Does the bass sound muffled?
4. Starting at 100%, compare your music’s mix to your favourite artist’s music mix. If your music’s mix is not 80% close to your fave’s music mix, make changes in your mix until your mix is comparable.
5. When you are confident, release your music and be proud.

Find more about proper mixing and mastering services here: www.tunecore.com/index/landr_instant_mastering

Step 2 – Mentorship

It’s time to get some guidance folks. You need a mentor. Congrats if you’ve got one. Not everyone is blessed with a mentor they can meet with every month. Some of us, me included, have virtual mentors. They inspire us via the world-wide-web. Here are the benefits of having a virtual mentor:

1. Mentors honestly have nothing to lose. They’ve been there and done that. They will help you avoid the pitfalls they experienced.
2. Mentors will help you identify your artist mission and vision.
3. Mentors will hook you up with trusted advice.

You don’t have all the answers right now, but just think about this. One day you will

be someone’s mentor. For now, you need to learn by example. To gain access to a

virtual mentor, start using the internet today.

Here’s how:

1. Use your favourite search engine to search for thought leaders in your industry: MUSIC. They should have at least 10 years of music industry experience. Search for music managers, music producers, music artists, music promoters, or A&Rs.
2. Choose appealing 3 thought leaders and read their bios.
3. Follow them on social media to understand their habits. Read about their career updates. Interact with them. Retweet, regram, and repost their latest opinions.
4. Follow their advice. Tailor it to where you are in your journey.

Find more about music mentorship here:

http://www.musicbusinessmentoring.com/

Find out more about thought leaders here:

http://www.thoughtleaders.world/en/2015-2/global/

Step 3 – Collaboration

It’s funny. I despised the word ‘networking’ for a long time. Now, I see networking as a way to meet cool people who are just as motivated as I am to create.

Challenge yourself to meet artists, producers, directors, promoters, agents, label execs, and even publicists.

Here’s how:

1. Reach out to them by email and social media direct message.
2. Follow-up after 7 days. Even if they never respond, at least you will be on their radar. They’ll soon read your emails and DMs.

You have to take initiative and start conversations. You CANNOT be involved in the music industry and avoid collaboration. It’s not humanely possible. You’ll eventually need a professional music video director, promoter, graphic designer, band, and more. See, I’m not just talking about working with other music artists. I’m also referring to behind-the-scenes type of people. They will help you make your dreams a reality. They’ll be your biggest supporters. They’ll spread the word about your projects because they are proud to be involved! Everybody wins.

Find out more about collaboration here:

https://www.bandlab.com/

Find out more about networking here:

https://www.careersinmusic.com/making-connections-in-the-music-industry-through-networking/

For the rest of this year, give it your all. Work towards your dreams. People will start to notice! Stay ready so you don’t have to get ready. Cheers to success!