Photo by zoonabar

Unless you do what I say in this article.

Let’s understand this simple truth before we begin: nobody cares about your music.

Now as one of the many harsh realities of the music business, this statement shouldn’t be taken as a personal attack. But as a musician in the early stages of your career, it’s safe to say the only people in the world who have any interest in your music are your girlfriend, or boyfriend, a few close friends, and maybe your parents. In short: you need a bigger fanbase.

These are simply the realities that all musicians face at the beginning of their professional journeys, and it’s important not to let the competitive nature of the business discourage you from your goals. Understanding the difficulties of music success is the first step towards building a fan base of people who, eventually, will love the music you create and believe in it like you do.

I will share in this article what I believe to be some of the best strategies for getting an audience – your paying customer – excited about the music you dream will become a big success.

Songs

There are a ton of musicians on this planet, but many of them haven’t developed great songwriting skills. As great songs are crucial to a band’s success, strong focus here is essential. As great songs are crucial to a band’s success, strong focus here is essential. Songwriting is a whole other topic in and of itself, but let’s at least acknowledge that it is more about skill and craftsmanship than it is talent and inspiration. To write great songs takes a bit of work. You can’t expect to be the next Paul McCartney, Paul Simon, or Paul Williams right away. Be patient – allow yourself the time to write songs without worrying how good or bad they may turn out. When you listen to any band or artist, think about what about their songs appeals to you. Catchy vocal melodies? Memorable guitar riffs? Interesting lyrics? A thumping, tribal-esque drum beat? These are some of the elements in songs that get a listener’s attention.

Image

Yes, it’s superficial as hell, but image counts…big time. If you want to convert people into fans, you must design some effective visuals to complement your sound. Styled hair, flashy clothing, jewelry and make-up are all time-tested and fan-approved methods for creating an eye-catching, sexy, musician-esque look. Is this the right look for you? The choice is yours, but, be sure you actually make that choice. Photo by greggoconnellPeople want to see artists that actually look the part. Average Joe haircuts and tee-shirts with your favorite band on the front often isn’t the most convincing fashion statement in this business…at least, not anymore. Show who you are on the inside by dressing up the outside. Find YOUR style by being true to yourself.

Stage Presence

Stage presence, like songwriting, may not necessarily be natural for all musicians. Although I believe strongly in excellent musicianship, I also get bored when watching a band that doesn’t move around much on stage. Being a little bit theatrical gives your audience energy to feed off of and something to keep them entertained. It’s a good idea to incorporate dazzling visuals to keep the audience interested in your performance. I believe energy is very important, especialy since you don’t have a great light show and huge screens behind you – yet! So jump around, fling your hair, and play the guitar between your legs (or at least keep your foot tapping.) Cliche and derivative you say? Yes, but it still works.

And finally, an extremely important piece of advice for aspiring musicians: don’t over think these strategies, because self-expression, charisma, and emotion will come through naturally. Just don’t forget to offer the audience as much as you can. After all, they’re the ones who come to your shows and help keep you going.