Music Career with No Money Down- Start Today, Even with No Budget
Is budget holding you back from achieving your musical dreams? Here's some advice from OnAxis Music, the local publicity company serving indie musicians, so you can push forward with solutions:
1. TWO BIRDS, ONE STONE
Partner, partner, partner. Work with others in mutually beneficial ways. For example, take the challenge of printing fliers on no budget. For performing musicians, advertising your upcoming shows with fliers is affordable if you partner with a business or venue that advertises with you.
---- making fliers with a printing company who can advertise their services on the back of the flier
---- splitting the cost of the fliers with the venue. Include their logo on the flier, along with all the shows that month. That way, both the band and the venue benefit from the advertising.
---- Ask local businesses if they'd like to include a coupon on the flier. Ask if the business will hand out fliers to its customers. Plus, there's an added bonus for people that pick up the flier.
Take this principle and apply it to any challenge.
2. BUILDING FANBASE
When you're getting started, most of your fans, besides family and friends will probably be other musicians. Build your fanbase in the music community:
- host a weekly or monthly open mic. Most venues will pay you to provide sound and organize the event.
- develop a monthly showcase, or a special showcase. Whether you produce hip hop, folk, jazz, world or metal music, find a venue that will open its doors to a showcase. Search for bands or artists in your genre and put together a show with three or four acts. Work together with the acts to promote 2-3 months in advance.
- Consider adding a charity to the mix. Many charities have events that need music entertainment. You'll present your music to a new fanbase, and get good karma!
3. WEB RESEARCH
It takes time, but it pays off in spades. Search for new venues, new skills and opportunities to learn and network. Remember to make sure you take frequent breaks and stretch your hands. Make sure your set-up is ergonomic. If you do web research on a smartphone or laptop, keep it simple. If you do extended research, use a desktop or a comfortable position when using the computer. It will save your hands, wrists and fingers.
4. KEEP GOOD RECORDS
If you can measure it, you can understand it and make it grow. Try Excel, Open Office, Microsoft Word, your smartphone, or simply a paper and pen-- write down how much you spend, in time and money, on your music goals each day. Each week, look at your progress. This could be as simple as tracking your Twitter followers and adds, or keeping track of how much gas you spent getting to practice. It all adds up.
Keeping track of your practice time and progress will help you learn self discipline and focus. Distraction is the biggest reason people don't reach goals. Do yourself a favor and get organized!
5. MAKE THE PLUNGE
Music requires your 100% commitment. For excellence, you need the right space, comfort and inspiration. Make your music a priority, and it will treat you well.
Good luck!
Parts of this article also appears in the Paragon Studios Inc. recent newsletter. Sign up and learn more at www.paragonstudiosinc.com
Partner, partner, partner. Work with others in mutually beneficial ways. For example, take the challenge of printing fliers on no budget. For performing musicians, advertising your upcoming shows with fliers is affordable if you partner with a business or venue that advertises with you.
---- making fliers with a printing company who can advertise their services on the back of the flier
---- splitting the cost of the fliers with the venue. Include their logo on the flier, along with all the shows that month. That way, both the band and the venue benefit from the advertising.
---- Ask local businesses if they'd like to include a coupon on the flier. Ask if the business will hand out fliers to its customers. Plus, there's an added bonus for people that pick up the flier.
Take this principle and apply it to any challenge.
When you're getting started, most of your fans, besides family and friends will probably be other musicians. Build your fanbase in the music community:
- host a weekly or monthly open mic. Most venues will pay you to provide sound and organize the event.
- develop a monthly showcase, or a special showcase. Whether you produce hip hop, folk, jazz, world or metal music, find a venue that will open its doors to a showcase. Search for bands or artists in your genre and put together a show with three or four acts. Work together with the acts to promote 2-3 months in advance.
- Consider adding a charity to the mix. Many charities have events that need music entertainment. You'll present your music to a new fanbase, and get good karma!
It takes time, but it pays off in spades. Search for new venues, new skills and opportunities to learn and network. Remember to make sure you take frequent breaks and stretch your hands. Make sure your set-up is ergonomic. If you do web research on a smartphone or laptop, keep it simple. If you do extended research, use a desktop or a comfortable position when using the computer. It will save your hands, wrists and fingers.
If you can measure it, you can understand it and make it grow. Try Excel, Open Office, Microsoft Word, your smartphone, or simply a paper and pen-- write down how much you spend, in time and money, on your music goals each day. Each week, look at your progress. This could be as simple as tracking your Twitter followers and adds, or keeping track of how much gas you spent getting to practice. It all adds up.
Keeping track of your practice time and progress will help you learn self discipline and focus. Distraction is the biggest reason people don't reach goals. Do yourself a favor and get organized!
Music requires your 100% commitment. For excellence, you need the right space, comfort and inspiration. Make your music a priority, and it will treat you well.
Good luck!
Parts of this article also appears in the Paragon Studios Inc. recent newsletter. Sign up and learn more at www.paragonstudiosinc.com
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