Doing It All?? : A SimpleTool to Make the Grind Make Sense

Sometimes, I feel like I'm standing at the bottom of a mountain I want to climb...walking around it, circling the perimeter, figuring out how to climb.  If you stare at the top for too long, it can seem daunting and insurmountable. So, why not look at the foot? Looking at the base of this mountain and sizing it up step by step will help you wrap your mind on how to just BEGIN.  Besides, every great journey starts with just a small step, right? Right.

So, for me, the mountain is figuring out HOW the heck am I gonna get all this work I have to do done efficiently and effectively as possible? How am I going to manage traveling, and promoting, and recording new music, and performing, and consistent contact with my fans all at the same time??  Hopefully, you have a team in place that can split up all these responsibilities.  More than likely, in the beginning you won't...but no worries, where there is a will, there is a way. I know you're asking, well what's your formula Ms. Elee since you seem to have it all figured out? Lol...I wish!! I do, however, have some ideas to share on how I do manage to get a lot of things done.

My biggest suggestion: MANAGE YOUR TIME!! I cannot stress this enough. Time is your most valuable asset, and learning how to use it to your advantage is half the battle!! For starters, get yourself a good calendar.  One that you like...you like the way it looks, it feels, the way it's laid out.  You may prefer a paper or digital calendar.  You may even choose one that has daily inspirational quotes (I do) because believe me, you're gonna be spending a lot of moments looking at, going over, revising your calendar.  Now that you have a way to keep up with your tasks, ask yourself what you need to be doing to get to the top of that mountain....well, eventually anyway.  Write down specific steps such as, how much do I need to perform per week, per month? How often do I need to record?  How often do I need to send music out?  How often do I need to blog and keep in touch with my fans? Etc... You get the idea right? Ok, now fill in your calendar with those steps.  Make sure you stay consistent and repeat those steps over and over.  A simple tool like a calendar can keep you from feeling "lost" when you're in the midst of the grind.  Be prepared to invest a lot of time, be prepared to PACE yourself, and be patient.  We are climbing a mountain afterall!!

You Need To.... Yeah, But How???

Artists, do you continuosly hear about what you NEED to be doing, but no one actually tells you how?? Yeah, me too. Talk about frustration! Thank goodness we are resourceful and know how to get the information we need right?  Actually, I always think it's better to know a little something about what you're seeking before you go and ask anyone...especially in this business.  Some people will try to tell you anything! lol.  Besides the more of a DIYer (do it yourself) you are, the more results you will see.  There are plenty of books and websites on whatever topic you may come across.  Need to know how to license music? Go to the bookstore or library.  You'll find plenty of books on the technicalities.  Once the rules and steps are understood, then comes the WHO?  That's the thing about the music business.  It really is relationship driven. You can have all the knowledge in the world, but knowing WHO to go to in order to get the job done is a beast of another nature.
The approach I take in getting to the WHO is to network as much as possible.  Go to music pools, conferences, release parties, showcases, open mics, wherever music folks gather.  Get to know people there.  If you're not a big talker, like me, then LISTEN.  You'd be amazed at what you learn just by paying attention.  Of course you can always make the "dry call" to a company you may have seen on the internet or found through your own research or heard of through various conversations.  If you are polite and present your questions in a non-threatening, to the point manner, who can be mad at you?  Afterall, this is business here, and businesses receive calls all the time. 
On another note, I've been keen to learn all I can about music licensing, and as I learn about it, I will share that knowledge with you.  Because this business is very competitive, most people will not be willing to share information with you for fear that you'll become competition or take their spot, or become a better artist or something. Who knows!  Afterall, knowledge IS power.  People play their hands very close because of conflicts of interests or caution of letting unscrupulous individuals within their circles or various other reasons.  So, when you do find someone who is willing to give you that much sought after inside info, value them!  Meaning pay for their services, or if you don't currently have the money, try trading services.  Whatever be the case, maintaining relationships with knowledgeable people who are willing to help/share is key!
Stay tuned as in the next post I will discuss music licensing basics...

This Music Business: Marketing 101

If you are an indy artist like myself, or working with an indy artist, then you are probably always searching for new knowledge and information on how to further your product. And sheesh! It's a lot of it out there.  The biggest challenge I'm facing now is not the WHAT but the HOW....How do I get the music out there?  Come to find out the HOW has a lot to do with the WHAT.  They are both connected.  If I have an intrinsic understanding of WHAT I'm pushing then that should help in guiding me on how to get it out there.  If WHAT I have is rap music, then who listens to the kind of rap music that I have?  If I can answer that, then I can figure out WHERE they are and HOW they hear the music they like.  Do they hear it at certain clubs or radio staions or websites? Etc.... So, once I answer these questions, I will hopefully know HOW to get the music out there.
Confused yet? LOL. Okay, so let's baby step this.  Marketing is simply a program for selling. A process that gets your music from the studio, to the iPods and CD players of the person who buys your music.
Now while that definition is simple enough, actually going about it can be a confusing and messy thing if it's not well thought out.  When you have a plan, it keeps you from deviating too much and getting lost in the music business "jungle". I so think "jungle" is a fitting word sometimes! lol  With all this being said, here is where I am....I am in the first stages of this "marketing process"....the music.  It all comes down to the music, or the product or whatever you want to call it.  Here's my dilemna, do I make music that has a certain sound and delivery because I know there are a whole lot of young girls out there who like that sound and who will buy it? Or do I remain a creative purist and do music that is strictly emotionally fitting and descriptive of me regardless of who may buy it or not.  Well, there are pros and cons to both sides.  Making music for an already defined audience will proably make creating a pipeline to that audience quicker and easier, resulting in probable sales.  Making music striclty from a creative place without the parameters of trying to please a particular group of people takes a lot more faith and patience in finding an audience for it and creating a pipeline to get the music to that audience. Here we have the gridlock that is as old as selling music itself. The balancing act of creativity and business.
Wouldn't it be ideal if an artist's natural delivery was in line with an already pre defined market? This is the "It Factor" at its finest. So, I'm an artist which makes me naturally inclined to creativity trumping all.  I believe that writing what you know and making music that is authentic is always the best way to go. I must admit however, that I do have a logical side in which I process things to help me make sense out of it all.  For me, ideally it would be about finding the perfect balance. Doing music that is true to my own personal style yet offers something to everyone.  This is every evolving artist's aspiration...atleast in my mind lol.  Answer this.....do you aim to make a lot of money for a phase while a particular taste is in fashion or do you aim to connect on a personal, emotional level with an audience who identifies with you and who probably always will? I do not think either is better than the other, just a matter of personal ambitions. Personally, I would find it a challenge trying to adopt a flava that is not my own and continue to stay in line with that over a period of time.  It seems to me that who I really am would eventually rise to the surface. So, if you're anything like me, your best bet may be to find someone or a company who is good at marketing and who also has a unique understanding of you and your music. It helps in getting the creativity to balance with the business if you have some objective input.  The best way to go about this is to be relentless in relationship building and put yourself and your music out there at every opportunity you get...that's how I did it.
Yeah, I know what you're thinking. I used to get frustrated when I'd ask a music business question and couldn't get a direct answer. I understand why now.  There is no set formula.  It's like this, "Peter" doesn't follow the exact same routine in the morning as "Paul" does in order to accomplish his daily goals.  The road to succes in the music business is a lot like this scenario. People are different and therefore take different paths to reach success.  Take comfort in knowing though that the basics are the same for everyone. You must have work ethic, product, marketing plan, and a relentless loving nature. HOW you do these things is really up to you! Oh, and remember to try to have fun along the way!!