music industry tips for artists

This episode will cover preparing and crushing your first performance. Before you sign up for your first open mic or before you get on your first bill there are some steps you’re going to want to take. Keep in mind that you don’t have to do any of these. You can literally just get in front of people and rap over your song but that isn’t a pleasant experience for the crowd. Let’s take the proper steps to make sure you are actually entertaining.

Make sure to like, follow, and SHAAAAAARRRREEEEEE with your artist friends! We want to help you and your artist friends turn your passion into profit. Let us help you. Subscribe now to not miss the next episodes!

Share your thoughts and feedback with me by emailing me at louis@goproduce.ca

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Prepare a performance track and explain what it is. You don’t want your vocals competing with the track. If your pitch doesn’t match or if your flow is a little off it creates dissonance and the listeners get turned off without even knowing why. This will happen even if your song is good!

Design your songs and set them to be optimal for a performance instead of just having a listening experience. This can involve taking out the verses, lowering the volume of your hook, and including ad libs. 

Rehearse multiple times before your first performance. Use a mirror or record yourself and then study your moves. Do you like how the hook sounds? Do you need more elements to the performance track? Remember that while performing you will have a greater challenge breathing compared to being in the studio. Practice what you are going to say in between songs. Be intentional. Don’t rap to the ground. Make eye contact. What are you going to wear?

Get a lot of rest the night before and make sure that you have eaten and are hydrated. Don’t eat anything an hour before and don’t eat anything too heavy at all beforehand. Chugging water an hour before won’t do the trick. Start 24 hours before. Give your voice a rest if you can. This is your instrument and it needs to be taken care of. There are various exercises that you can do to warm up your vocals in anticipation of a performance.

Get there early for any sort of preparations and to introduce yourself to other artists and people at the event beforehand. Do not forget the Sound Person! Befriend people, grow your community, be interesting, be interested, and have fun. This will help build your confidence. Do not leave immediately after your performance. Stay to watch the other artists. Study what they do. Socialize with the guests at the venue and tell them where they can find more of your work. Be enthusiastic about the event. 

With your first show in the books, it is now time to reflect on the experience and prepare for the next one. With focused effort, you will only continue to improve! 

Artists, I see a world where all committed Indie Music Artists - and their communities -  profit off of their passion. Thank you for being here and contributing to that vision!

Have you performed yet? What was it like? Did you have any difficulties? Tell me in our FB Group! Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss Season 5. My name is Big Lou. We out!

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/goproduce/
Go Produce: www.goproduce.ca

This episode specifically will cover marketing your first release. This can take as much time as you give it. Try and give it as much time as you possibly can because there is typically a positive return on investment. We’ve already created our single and we’ve properly registered and distributed it. If you don’t know how to do that then make sure to check out those videos first. 

Make sure to like, follow, and SHAAAAAARRRREEEEEE with your artist friends! We want to help you and your artist friends turn your passion into profit. Let us help you. Subscribe now to not miss the next episodes!

Share your thoughts and feedback with me by emailing me at louis@goproduce.ca

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/goproduce/
Go Produce: www.goproduce.ca

Show Notes
This episode specifically will cover marketing your first release. This can take as much time as you give it. Try and give it as much time as you possibly can because there is typically a positive return on investment. We’ve already created our single and we’ve properly registered and distributed it. If you don’t know how to do that then make sure to check out those videos first. Revisit your goals. Keep them in mind. Refine them. Make sure it is a challenge.

Preparing your artwork. Talk to designers to come up with artwork for your single. I took it a step further and also created a logo. You can pay for these items or you can trade services. Be creative with this always but especially on a low budget. You want your artwork to capture your essence. Communicate subliminally.

Figure out a plan around how you are going to achieve the goal you set. Questions that you can ask when building your plan are what does your network look like? What can you do to nurture those relationships? What can you do to grow your network? What or who are you going to reference? Where are my potential listeners hanging out? There are so many more.

If you want even more information on music marketing then check out Adam Ivy! He is an absolute wealth of knowledge and is one of the leaders in this space.

Once you see the plan you may get overwhelmed. I did. Face yourself. Look at yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you are interested in doing this or if you’re committed. If you’re committed you’re going to do it even when you don’t feel like it. This requires a strong mindset. A strong mindset comes from working on yourself consistently. This is why it is important to know if this is a hobby for you or if you are taking your business to the next level. 

I have 3 main takeaways I’ve gathered from doing research on music marketing. They are to be aware of the power of 1, To focus on 1 or 2 social platforms at a time, and to be your genuine self. You haven’t escaped all of the marketing after this but for now, we can begin discussing getting ready for your first show which we will do in the next episode. 

Artists, I see a world where all committed Indie Music Artists - and their communities -  profit off of their passion. Thank you for being here and contributing to that vision!

Where are you struggling with your marketing? Tell me in our FB Group! Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss part 4 of the ‘Start Your Indie Artist Career’ series. My name is Big Lou. We out!

The first step is to determine the purpose and goal of this song. This will help you remember why you are doing this work that can be more tedious than creating. If you are not sure how to do this then reach out to me and I can help you! 

Make sure to like, follow, and SHAAAAAARRRREEEEEE with your artist friends! We want to help you and your artist friends turn your passion into profit. Let us help you. Subscribe now to not miss the next episodes!

Share your thoughts and feedback with me by emailing me at louis@goproduce.ca

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/goproduce/
Go Produce: https://www.prevailmg.com/welcome

Show Notes
The first step is to determine the purpose and goal of this song. This will help you remember why you are doing this work that can be more tedious than creating. If you are not sure how to do this then reach out to me and I can help you! 

We artists, or composers, for that matter, have several options when it comes to working with PROs (performance rights organizations) and we do so that we as writers and publishers can get paid. We have even more options around distribution so let’s dive into it just enough for you to do it properly. Do not rush this. Start 8 weeks early. You’re going to need to wait for the approval. 

Register for SOCAN as soon as you have your first song ready to go to get it out of the way. One key piece of information that you are going to need here is your IPI# which is pretty much your bank account number for your music.  This is key for collecting money around the world from people playing your music but also for sync licensing. Check out Craig Dodge for more information on that! 

Determine which distributor you want to go with (DistroKid, CDBaby, etc.). There are so many out there and it deserves a whole video to itself but what you need to know is that you need this if you are serious about your work. You can make an impact with YouTube or Soundcloud or even TikTok but this is the inevitable next step so take it as soon as your first song is ready. I went with DistroKid as I believed that it fit what I needed most. Once you’ve registered your song you are able to promote it within your communities. 

If you want your music on YouTube you have to upload it there separately. If you want your music on Spotify then make sure to register for Spotify For Artists as soon as you’ve selected a distributor so that you can build your profile and submit your song for editorial playlists. One critical piece of information that you’re going to need here is your URI code. Without this, you won’t be able to claim your artist profile or submit your music to editorial playlists. 

With your music now ready to be shared with the world you have to figure out how you are going to present it to them. This is the marketing aspect of this business which we’ll get into in the next episode. 

Artists, I see a world where all committed Indie Music Artists - and their communities -  profit off of their passion. Thank you for being here and contributing to that vision!

Have you done these tasks yet? Did you have any difficulties? Tell me in our FB Group! Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss part 3 of the ‘Start Your Indie Artist Career’ series. My name is Big Lou. We out!

This episode specifically will cover starting the creative process.
There are so many ways that artists will find inspiration. I’ve seen various ways in use and neither is better than the next. 

Make sure to like, follow, and SHAAAAAARRRREEEEEE with your artist friends! We want to help you and your artist friends turn your passion into profit. Let us help you. Subscribe now to not miss the next episodes!

Share your thoughts and feedback with me by emailing me at louis@goproduce.ca

Facebook Group: www.facebook.com/groups/goproduce/
Go Produce: www.goproduce.ca

Show Notes
Some start with an instrument/beat/lyrics. A lot of artists look for beats and one of the most effective places I’ve found is TheCharts.com. 
Finding a beat before or after the lyrics are written is all part of the creative process. For beginners, I’d recommend writing to a beat. This will help with matching the lyrics to the beat instead of trying to fit lyrics onto something that it shouldn’t

I began by finding a beat and writing out what comes to mind and I’ve written out an outline and then found a beat to match. Make sure to get stems and record with a competent engineer. The most fun is jumping into the studio with a crew to do work. Making the beat your own, make adjustments, make room for your melody and your hook. Be creative.

Recording takes time. Don’t worry if you don’t get it on your first attempts. You are going to want to take several takes and then put together what sounds best to you. It is critical that you are patient with this. Don’t strive for perfection because that doesn’t exist but make sure that you are happy with the product. I’d recommend recording when you are high energy so that you can bring your everything to the mic. 

I like to be with the engineer while they mix but I understand that sometimes they prefer to work alone. Remember that you hired them for a reason. I believe that artists should at least have a basic understanding of what the engineer is doing. This will allow you to communicate better what you would like.

The creative process doesn’t end once the song is finished. You’re going to have to come up with creative marketing strategies for this, you’re going to have to come up with a performance, and you’re going to have to do some administrative work which we’ll get into in the next episode. 

Artists, I see a world where all committed Indie Music Artists - and their communities -  profit off of their passion. Thank you for being here and contributing to that vision!

What does your creative process look like? Tell me in our FB Group! Don’t forget to subscribe so you don’t miss part 2 of the ‘Start Your Indie Artist Career’ series. My name is Big Lou. We out!