The Top 5 Mistakes Indie Music Artists Make
This is a difficult list to put together because indie music artists make so many mistakes. I hope this short list helps some unknown indie artist avoid these mistakes in their quest to make it. The top five mistakes indie music artists make are.
1.Waiting for a Record Label to discover you- Not gonna happen most labels do not even have A&R departments anymore. The days of A&Rs going out and listening to live shows and actually listening to demo’s are long gone.
2.Not Performing Live – Live shows are the best way to make new fans and to move merchandise and actually make some money selling your music. If you think you are going to sell your music online think again. You should take every opportunity to perform live. And never ever pay a promoter to open for a Major artist. This is a way promoters make money and it does nothing for the indie artist because the fans came to see the Major artist not you.
3.Not Hiring a Manager- Not hiring a manager is a big mistake by indie artists. There is just too much to do to jump start a music career, a artist cannot do it all. A manager can take the load off your back and let a artist concentrate on their music. A good manager will work for free until you make some good money then they will get compensated.
4.Not making a Name for yourself in your Hometown – Labels and distributors will investigate a indie artists hometown to see if they have a local fan base. Indie artists that are mentioned by there hometown DJs and promoters will get a labels attention. You cannot conquer the nation if you cannot even conquer your hometown. If you are not a big deal in your home town then you are not working hard enough. Labels want artists to promo themselves these days and once a artist gets a huge buzz then the label will find them.
5.Networking Too Much – It might seem like the right thing to do, but it is a big mistake most indie artists make. If you are always available for anyone and everyone who wants to collaborate with you, then the general public will view you as nothing special. You must be hard to get a hold of. You must create a I am already a star persona. You do not want to have 3 other unknown artists on your songs with you. You do not want to collab with everybody. You want to collaborate with those artists that are at a higher level then you. You do not want to rub elbows with your fans.
great list # 5 makes sense to me. Their are way to many artists. the last thing I need is 2 other unknowns on my track
i disagree with #5 but the rest of the list is spot on.
Good list. Especially #4 and #5. People ask my artist @blackgb662 don’t have too many people on his records. I say to show he can stand on his own. And I see it to this day with this phony music conventions, Award Shows and other opps that are supposed to further your career but are really nothing more than chances for these big wigs to sit around and eat chicken wings and drink off the money YOU paid to perform/attend that sham. Cats running to ATL and New York to perform when they can’t even put 100-200 people in a club in Mississippi
wasting money and time on wack sites like coast2coast is a waste of time as well they ripped me off. do not support those homos. lil fats is a gay faggot
Good stuff man! The only problem is a lot of Artist want to be successful but are lazy! Half of them won’t take the time to even read this & if they do they won’t apply it. They don’t know how or they too cheap & or stubborn to ask for help. They think they can do everything on their own & if it cost any kinda of money you can forget about it. In just about every business I know it takes some money to make money! Its no way around it, but you can’t be afraid to invest in your career. So many artist will spend money on strippers, clubs, jewelry out here flexing for people that aren’t really FANS of their music, but rather their money & if you don’t build your fan-base correctly when the money’s gone. The people are gone as well. Invest your money in your career and spend it wisely to people you believe give you the best opportunity at exposure, success, shows & ultimately getting signed and making real MONEY!
Info is so informative, need tips like this to conserve wasting time, I know as an artist I let my ambition drive and not my mind all the time, its better to stack your ups and downs to reach a common level, these tips changed my entire week, definately #5!
#ThumbsUp What about the #Follow Me factor & the View my video side! Lets Talk @foleydlife
the biggest mistake they make is trying to be a rapper. there are too many rappers and zero fans these days.
there is a lot of hate in hip hop . Everyone i know THINKS they are a rapper. Most suck and are wasting there time.
paying a promoter to perform is just stupid
number 1 is real talk not gonna happen
#5 blew me away i make this mistake all the time real wisdom there
thanks for the knowledge
real list good knowledge Fade knows his stuff