According to Twitter, this month is looking real December 2.0-ish, but it doesn’t have to be. You can decide right now, at this moment, if you’re willing to take your career into your own hands. As an up and coming artist, you won’t be able to do everything on your own — but I can tell you where to start:
“You have to be in the gym to take a shot.”
Last week I wrote an article on 3 Ways To Break As An Artists In 2021. The reception on that article sparked the idea for an interactive discussion on Clubhouse. Last Friday, the breakr team launched our Clubhouse room and hosted our first event; “Welcome to Breakr House: How to Break as an Artist in 2021”. We kicked the night off with special guests Marc Byers, the Former General Manager of Motown Records and influencer Mouse Jones of Trap Karaoke, and the Guys Next Door podcast.
Yves C. Pierre, Cherry Martinez, Brittney Davis, Kenny Hamilton, Niles Heron, Hustle Simmons, and a few other heavy hitters within the industry joined Breakr’s co-founders on stage as speakers as well.
We spent 3.5 hours dropping gems, insights, and opportunities to eager listeners ready to grind out and get to the bag. If you couldn’t join us, take a quick look at the below top 3 takeaways from the discussion.
Also make sure you catch our discuss Friday January 15th on “Music & The Power Of Influence”, with Kam, Host of Handcrafted Pod and Founder of SelfKare Inc and DussePalooza, and Chayce Cheatham of TikTok.
- Be Open to and Seek New Opportunities
Artist, take the initiative when it comes to your branding. Don’t sit around hoping for the “right” person to discover your SoundCloud link posted under multiple viral tweets. Tools like breakr exist for a reason. We launched with artists in mind because we noticed how difficult it is to make connections and gain exposure.
Covid-19 has limited the way you’d normally brand yourself within your social sphere, but in turn it sparked a social engagement movement. “We’re in a time right now where a tool like breakr is super important,” Marc Byers said. Ten months ago you might’ve had a chance to perform at a local show, now your reach is global — you just have to bet on yourself and make that investment.
It’s literally room for everyone to eat, you just have to pull up to the table. Any table. Grind it out to show your audience that a music career is what you want and you will no longer get in your own way. Create your own community that fits your marketing needs.
(Shameless Plug) If you haven’t done so already, sign up to Music Breakr the newest music-tech product to get organic influencer based music promotion and connect with us on social media @musicbreakr.
2. Accept criticism, whether it’s constructive or not
Let’s be real, your first recorded track will not be the best (and if it is, you might have bigger problems). Your first video drop may not initially get more than 100 views, and your first live show might give you severe anxiety.
And that’s okay.
What’s not okay is rejecting criticism or letting it cripple you. Everyone who provides you feedback will not have malicious intent just like everybody’s feedback will not be right or warranted, you have to pick and choose wisely. You will ALWAYS have room for growth — so start getting used to it. Process those insights and apply them when and where you can.
“Sometimes with artists, we see their potential and we see the development. And we know what they can be, but it’s important to recognize where they are and help them grow to the vision we see and sometimes they don’t even see for themselves,” Brittney Davis said.
Take every comment, like and dislike, increased streams or lack thereof and use them as a roadmap for your development. You don’t have to wait until you hire a team before you begin implementing changes. When your audience compliments a single, that could indicate they enjoyed your flow so you can double down on that style of delivery. If someone comments that your verses could be longer, that should challenge you to write more.
Remember, you’re getting out of your own way this year.
“With [Lil] Baby…it was easier because he had a point of view,” Davis said.
Which leads me to my next point.
3. Be true to yourself
Know who you are and the narrative you want to portray to the world. In any career, confidence is key and being authentically yourself will save you time and money in the long run. I don’t know about you, but I would hate to wait until I’m a star to then have to undergo rebranding under the spotlight.
I’ll refrain from naming certain individuals, but we’ve all seen it even if we didn’t recognize the signs at first. Never let someone decide your image or define your goals without you giving the greenlight to do so. As an artist, a big part of your brand is your creative expression and that’s why your fans love you.
Five questions you should be asking yourself:
- Who am I?
- What do I want my art to say about me?
- What are my goals?
- What are my boundaries?
- Am I doing enough?
Checking in with yourself often is a major key. How can you know when you and your support system or team are on the same page if you’re not sure where you stand?
Matt Jackson of THFCTRY (pronounced “the factory”) said, “know who you are as an artist better than anybody else. You [have] to be able to know what you do for your fans.”
Your objectives will not be clear overnight and they will not remain the same. The only constant in your career is you. Be proactive in finding yourself and defining your needs before you daydream about wants. No one can want your dream more than you.
Sign off
There were many more gems shared than these 3 tips on how to break as an artist in 2021, but these suggestions will make a huge difference in how you start your year. Remember, why would you keep skipping practice then expect fans to show up to watch you play? When you put the work in, your audience will match your energy.
Peace.
To Promote your music via breakr visit www.musicbreakr.com
