Co-founder of SounDrive Records, Francesco G, teamed up with us at Canadian Beats Media to deliver five tips designed to help bands and artists get their music heard.
One
Know Your Industry
This first point has to do with understanding the nuances of whatever industry you’re participating in. That means learning where the money is, how to generate it, and how to utilize skills that you’ve learned in the past to your advantage. The old saying goes, “You need to learn the rules before you know how to break them,” which couldn’t be more true.
Yes, there are those lucky few who break rules without understanding and become those viral sensations, but let’s not rely on that and focus on building a repertoire of skills and, more importantly, friends.
Two
Be kind // Make Friends
Being kind to everyone you meet seems to be something that goes without saying. But I can’t count how many entitled people I have met over the years who have burnt bridges all around them to the point that they were left without a foot to stand on and disband or turn to another industry.
The music business is immensely competitive, and you can’t do it alone. With 24 hours in a day, it’s physically impossible to master every aspect of the skills you need to succeed in this industry. So once you find your forte, you need to build a team to fill in those gaps you can’t fulfill at the highest level.
The only way to find those team members is by getting out there and meeting other musicians and people in the industry. And being kind to those you meet along the way normally makes it a little bit easier to connect with them until the day arises when you may find a way to work together.
Three
Social Media
It goes without saying that we’re in the age of technology. Your social presence has never been more important for your cold audience, warm audience, and new potential connections who may assist you in your career growth.
It’s not only important for the awareness of your brand, but it also provides you with the opportunity to create more content than ever before! And for FREE! Use this to the best of your ability to tell your story, share with others and build a community around what you believe to really maximize your potential to get more eyes on whatever it is that you do.
Four
Become Obsessed
Many say you need to love what you do. I believe you need to become OBSESSED with what you do. Part of that is through the love and the passion that feeds your need to become better. When you put a half-assed effort into something, that’s exactly how it will be perceived, people aren’t stupid, so you can’t treat them as such. Or they will see right through you and move on to the next piece of content in their timeline, forgetting about you in the process.
When you become obsessed, it not only feeds your passions through your efforts, but when you do hit that goal you’ve been striving for, it’ll be a lot more worth it in the long run. Not to mention all those “No’s” you’ve got over the year start turning into YES. All because you cared enough to put your all into everything you do. This is a lifestyle, and if it’s not what you live, chances are things aren’t going to work out how you envision them. All the funding, PR, distribution, and other efforts cannot compare to a true obsession with your art and/or career.
Five
Have Fun
Remember, this is the entertainment industry. If you’re not having fun, you’re in the wrong industry! In a world predicated on the word “no,” you need to have thick skin and part of that is why you have to love what you do. If you’re in it for the wrong reason, little “no’s” become BIG ones, and things can spiral very quickly to the point where your passion no longer exists.
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