The Guitar Player's Resource
An artist cannot be simply defined by the genre of art they create. You can
not define a painter merely by what he has painted, a film maker by the
scenes in their film, a writer based upon the words in his book, a sculptor
by what appears to be in front of you, an actor by the last role he or she
portrayed and so on. The same is true with your music. You are not merely
and cannot be classified as a music artist. You have written lyrics that
"paint a picture" of your original inspiration. An inspiration that let's
people know of your passion for a certain thought, idea, or commonly shared
experience in life.
You are a writer, a poet, a philosopher, a social commentator, a political
activist, a motivator, a speaker, a person of vision and a musician. As you
can see, you as an artist cannot be easily defined by the genre of art you
create or participate in. So why do you define your audience and your
music's exposure based upon the style of music you create and perform?
If your music features lyrics of what you deem are of great importance about
life, love, politics, society, or life experiences we all share, why not
reach out to the thousands or even millions of people who will not come to
your shows but can be truly impacted and motivated your words and insights.
Instead of focusing only on those people you think will come to your next
show, reach out and share with everyone your vision, your passion, the
essence of who you truly are as an artist. Help them to "find themselves"
through your art.
Push yourself to go beyond simply writing a song and playing at the local
coffeehouse or bar to an audience that is mentally and usually physically
not there. You live in a city of thousands of people but you choose to
expose your music and art elsewhere. Your original inspiration was to help
people see what they were missing in life. But you are ignoring the very
people who live right next to you who need your message and insight right
now to play a show for the same 25 people miles away!
Understand that your music is not simply what at first glance it appears to
be. It's not a song but a collection of art that if you truly believe in,
can reach thousands of people in the very city where you live if you want it
to. But to be able to accomplish this you must learn not to treat your music
as music but as art. That requires you find all that is in it and you design
a plan of how to expose the various pieces of it to different audiences that
will get it and embrace it.
Remember, art is what the person who is exposed to it interprets it to be.
However, it never hurts for the artists themselves to share their personal
vision of what their art is.
Want to learn how to expand beyond what is in your music and present to the
thousands of people in your home city and state what the true value is in
your songs? There are two ways to do it.
One, I have a brand new audio book entitled, Understanding Who You Are As An
Artist that is only available at www.TSAMusic.com.
Two, if you are really serious about reaching out to thousands if not
millions of people with your music and the messages in it, join me in person
at www.ArtistStrategies.com so I can help you personally create a marketing plan for you and your music.
Author Tim Sweeney is head of Tim Sweeney & Associates, who are entering their 18th year of being, "the only true artist development company in the world."
Tim is one of the music industry's most sought after experts and consultants, and has written several influential books including "Tim Sweeney's Guide To Releasing Independent Records".
