I’m An Indie Musician…How Do I Get Started?
Hi Billy,
I recently saw you perform on the Hour and loved your songs, your attitude about
throwing out the maps and finding your own way and your advice to anyone trying
to be heard in the music industry about staying true to yourself. Something
about your philosophy reminds me of my friend Sarah, who is an amazing
singer/songwriter living in Ottawa at the moment….True Canadian content, her
songs are original and beautifully written and need to be heard by more
people….She has done some recording but isn’t sure what the next step should
be…and ends up singing mostly for friends at parties and everyone tells her
that more people need to hear her music…Thought that you may be willing to
give a few tips on what she should do next? How to get her songs out there?
Thanks,
Teresa
I love this question 🙂
When you’re an indie musician, the question of “What’s Next?” is always on the horizon. Even the second you release/record/perform/succeed, your work as an indie artist is never done. You could work all hours of the day and still, there is always something more you could do.
I really believe that you should never listen to anyone but yourself, because only you know what is best for you as a creator. That said, there are a lot of great ideas out there that we can borrow and make our own. Whether you’re an Artist in it for Art’s Sake or a performer just trying to get in front of as many people as possible or make as much money as possible, there are a couple things I suggest you do. But keep in mind at all times, I do not know what it best for you. Only you do.
If a tree falls in the forest and no one hears your album, what was the point of recording it in the first place? You can’t expect the first thing you record to be in high demand. Why would it be? No one has heard of you. Sorry, I know the truth hurts. You want people to hear you, right? Would you buy an album from someone you had never heard just because they said “Buy my album!” or “Check me out!”? Maybe, but most likely not. So, rule number 1: Get Heard.
You can do this by giving your music away. As much as possible. Burn CDs, press promo copies, email mp3s, create a website with free downloads, include your music in every avenue known to humanity and then start researching more that no one has yet heard of. Whatever you can think to do to get people to hear you, do it. You probably have more/better ideas than me. So, start thinking.
And that’s just the recorded side of you. There’s also You Live. First, you have to get good. You think you’re pretty good now, right? Sorry, you’re not that good. Maybe you are, but before you get in front of people, try your best to become GREAT. Seriously. Just try. Try for one month straight. Record yourself, video yourself, write with other people and practice as much as you can. Play every single day. In one month, you will look back and say “Wow, I thought I was pretty good a month ago…I sucked!” (Don’t get me wrong I’m not saying you suck…I haven’t even heard you. I’m just saying that if you really focus, you will get better without even realizing it. Then and only then is when you should get in front of others.)
So now that you’re good (and by good I mean GREAT) you need to get shows, right? Now you get to learn how to be a booking agent. Yep, sorry about that. And yes it really is as terrible as it sounds. Booking agent is one of about twenty million hats you will wear in the first 5 to one million years. How do you book shows when you’ve never done it before? This sounds hard. And, scary. Well, people have been doing it for decades, and we have all had to stand in a room and watch a band that is terrible and wonder “HOW, on earth, did ANYONE book this band!?” They did it, and they’re terrible…well you’re pretty good now so hey at least you’re one step ahead of the competition!
Speaking of the “competition”…they are now your best friends. Every other band is now: your family. You wanna get your music heard? You wanna play a ton of shows? Welcome to our family. We’re a collective of like-minded individuals who want the same things as you and believe it or not, we want to help you. So, come to our shows and ask to open for us. Offer to put on a show in your town in exchange for a show in your town. Oh ya, forgot to mention you have to become a promoter as well. Sorry about that too. And yes it really is as terrible as it sounds. You’ll probably lose some money sometimes, but sometimes you won’t. You’ll also make a lot of the best friends you’ve ever had and have some of the best times you’ve ever had.
You’re probably starting to notice that you’re having to do a LOT more than just “play music”. But all you want to do is “play music” so why should you have to do all this other stuff? Welcome to rule number 2: Learn Everything.
If you think someone is going to swoop in to your life and start doing everything for you, power to ya! I really hope that happens for you. It is likely that might happen for you. It is increasingly more likely to happen if you learn to do everything.
Once you’re GREAT, Getting Heard, becoming a booking agent, becoming a promoter…wow things are really moving along! In steps: Help. Help consists of all types of people. Help might be your kid sister passing out CDs at school, or a member of your street team putting up posters in exchange for free guest passes. Eventually it may even be a booking agent who is not you or even a manager who is not you. Who knows! The possibilities are endless and since you know what’s best for you, you can make up the rules. Hooray.
Additional skills in your bag of tricks could/should include: Design skills, web programming or basic coding knowledge, silk screening or printing, van fixing, navigation, online promotion, musical instrument repair and anything else you can learn in your spare time when you’re not writing amazing songs. If you have band members you can delegate tasks, just remember not to be a martyr and say things like “I do everything around here”. Some people are good at doing, some people are not. You either are that person or you are not. If no one in your band is, you can probably figure out what will happen. If you cant figure out what will happen, the answer is: Nothing. The more your band members learn, the stronger your chances are. If you’re a solo act that’s ok, maybe you can recruit your mom or best friend to pitch in. You have all the answers so you figure it out. Or at least give me a commission as I’m an indie artist and could use the extra money 😉
Oh last but not least, Get A Good Job. Sounds unproductive to your music career, I know. But sadly you will need a lot of money to fund your passion at first and the best thing you can do for this investment (your music career) is invest in it. Get a good job, and then get another good job. Save up all your pennies for cds, merch, a van (eventually), some decent gear (it doesn’t have to be top of the line) and living expenses. Once you are GREAT, Getting Heard, Booking, Promoting and learning as much as you can, you might be surprised…you may even make a few bucks 🙂
That’s all for now, let me know if you have any questions at all and thanks for writing.
Who of you is Getting Great, Getting Heard, Becoming A Promoter and Becoming a Booking Agent out there? Who’s learning? Can you share some Team Indie ideas with us team members?
I wish every musician trying to make it would read this. This should be in Rolling Stone. Thanks so much, Billy!
I think that sums it up really well Billy.
One other important thing I think is to work out what you’re trying to say as an artist.
You can work really hard at the business side of things, and even at the performance side, and get some results. But if the music isn’t there, it’s a tough job indeed. There is loads of ‘good’ music around. Lots of competent musicians. But when it comes to being you, there’s no competition – only YOU can do it.
So what is in you that is trying to get out? What is your unique contribution? Maybe you’re a great guitarist, or singer – so do that! Maybe you’re a great songwriter – do that! Maybe you’re great at the whole thing – cool! But if not, find the people you need to make an amazing sound. And then get it out there. We can’t wait to hear it.
Great blog! Also it’s reassuring to read that I’m (according to another songwriter who is further along the road to ‘succes’) more or less doing the right things to get my music out there. Even if I might never make it, I just want to know I gave it my all!
It’s also reassuring to read that it IS hard work and nobody is going to do it for you. It can be discouraging from time to time to put in so much work and feel like you’re not getting anywhere… Even when you are, but you just can’t see things in perspective yet. Hindsight etc.
So thanks a bunch, Billy!
Gijs – The Indoor Park
Singer-songwriter from the Netherlands
http://www.myspace.com/theindoorpark
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excellent advice billy! & very encouraging. learning everything is fun. frustrating but fun. sometimes you get a little scared at how big things are but it just motivates you to do better until you’re not scared of it anymore.
always a pleasure to read your blog!
Hey Billy,
how do you become a booking agent? do you just research cafes & bars & other venues on the net & then make calls? do you take note of places other folk musicians have played & then make the calls/send demos-CDs/links? have you usually found that places want to hear a really album-quality demo before giving you a gig?
Good call Padma! *very* important indeed!
How To Become A Booking Agent:
Once you know the people who book the venues in your town, booking is easy. So how do you meet the promoters in your city?
You have the right idea about finding contact information online etc. as well as asking other bands who booked their show at Blah Blah Blah (imaginary club I just made up).
It’s not true that you need a record to play a show. There are a lot of bands who have nothing recorded but someone seem to gig a TON. They either met a promoter (or several) who liked what they were all about or became buds with some bands who were already playing shows. My first band had NO recordings and we played ALL the time. I think it had a lot to do with the fact that we were always willing to take a gig, even last minute, and were happy to open for anyone. We were just thankful people thought of us and we got the chance to play! 🙂
Once you figure out your city, you just do the same thing in other cities. Another thing that really helps is just sit down or correspond with a band you like that you see playing a ton of shows. Most of us are happy to share contact info or stick ya on a gig 🙂 We all start somewhere!
Wow, thanks for posting Billy. I saw you on The Hour as well. I’m just getting started with music, learning and going through all the steps. I like what you said about getting good. I’m still working on that! lol, Congrats on all your success. Cheers, Julia
Great article! Here’s my little addition for anyone who cares and perhaps for Zimmy specifically:
I’ve found something that’s been a major factor in the things you mentioned (getting heard, becoming a booking agent, becoming a promoter) has been networking – both within and without the family you mentioned. 🙂
It’s only in the past year I’ve been doing this, and I’ve found it be both successful and FUN. Get out there and meet people. Everyone you can. Fellow musicians, booking agents, venue owners/managers, producers, promoters, EVERYONE. It becomes SO much easier to book gigs when the people you’re asking to host you have met you. And, as you mentioned Billy, prepare to meet some best friends and have some best times.
If you’re always on the local music scene meeting people, it’s only a matter of time before you’re getting heard, booking shows, etc. ^_^
thanks billy & darryl!
that is very encouraging & good information.
i live in a really small isolated town, so it’s harder to network … but not that hard. i feel like i’m up for it.
it’s good to hear that you don’t necessarliy require an album. interesting.
that was all good info that i really appreciate!