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Be in control of
your music career: Resources page
sponsored in part by Inferno Labs web design:
http://www.infernolabs.com
(pro websites
for artists, labels and other businesses)
.: Read the article below by
Tim Sweeney, who over the last 20 years has helped
several major labels (Columbia, Epic, MCA, Universal, Warner
Bros., Capitol, Mercury, Polygram, Revolution, Hollywood
(and their sub-labels), and well known independent labels
(Restless, Metal Blade, Enigma, Accretions, etc.) develop
the careers of some of their most promising and successful
artists of all time.
Are You In Control?
By Tim
Sweeney
Let me ask you a
simple question. Are you in control of your music career?
Obviously your first response will be "What do you mean, of
course I am. I write my own songs, make my own CD's, book my
own shows, and sell CD's." Well then, you must be
accomplishing all the goals you have for your music career.
If not, you must not be in as much control as you think.
While it's true, you are writing songs, making CD's, and
playing shows and selling CD's, the lack of results you want
is directly related to the lack of control you currently
have. Let me show you how most artists have lost control and
how you are going to get it back.
One of the first areas artists of all kinds lose control is
in their songwriting or in the creation of their art. For
most music artists we like to focus on writing songs with
meaning or messages that will be beneficial to those that
hear them. The first loss of control comes when they think
the person listening to their songs will magically "get it"
when they hear it. Considering most fans primarily listen to
music in their car, where they are distracted by the
frustrations of traffic, being late, and going to a job they
hate, it's difficult for them to focus on the messages in
the songs.
With that in mind, instead of hoping people hear our song
and get it, you need to push yourself to talk about the
messages in your songs whenever and wherever you are
promoting your music on a daily basis. Whether it's to or
through the media or talking to someone you don't know on
the street, you are in control on the conversation. The same
is true with your shows. While it's easier to have
others help promote your shows, it's not the same as when
you are the one talking to new people. Even at your shows,
don't just get up and play, remember you are in control of
your entire performance time. Talk in detail about your
songs, and what you want people to think about while you are
playing. Invite them to come up to you after you're done and
share their thoughts about your songs and how they relate to
them personally. If you do this, you will find you will sell
more CD's at your shows as well.
Why? It's simple. People will connect with you more and want
to expand upon your "bond" or relationship. They will want
to support you by buying a CD and coming to future shows.
My point is this. As artists we are in "artistic control" of
what we want to create. However, you often forget that you
are not communicating your passion, your belief, in your
music and the messages in your songs. You are in control of
that and in today's day and time where people are lost and
distracted, you have to wake them up with your works and
actions not just your art.
For more info, artists may order a copy of Tim's new audio
book Tim Sweeney's Guide to Releasing Independent Records
Part II, and you can learn all of this in the car.
Tim's book available at his site:
www.tsamusic.com
Past Articles:
Getting
More Press Reviews
by Tim Sweeney
Motivation
by Tim Sweeney
Who's
on Your Mailing List?
by Tim Sweeney
How To Generate
More CD Sales In Record Stores by Tim Sweeney
Being in Control of Your Music
by Tim Sweeney
How to
Put Out Your Own Record by Wendy Day
Business Basics by Wendy Day
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