X
musician

How to Develop an Audience as a Musician

,

How to Develop an Audience as a Musician

Too many are the talented audiences who drop on Spotify but never make a sound. Many of them have enough talent to earn a living off their music. The problem isn’t their sound, it’s that success with music is about more than just recording good songs. It’s about managing your musician career like a business.

You need to be effective at marketing your talents and connecting with the people who like what you do. Find a way to monetize your talent and you’ll never work a day in your life.

In this article, we discuss how to develop an audience as a musician, and how you can make money from your fans.

Develop a Web Presence

There are so many good indy artists out there who do little more than create an infrequently used Instagram account from which they plug their occasional shows. To truly find success online, you need to develop new content regularly.
Create several social media accounts and post on them actively. Consider also developing your own website where you can post comments, plug shows, and sell merchandise. While starting a website may sound intimidating and/or expensive, it’s actually much easier than the layperson tends to realize. The majority of hosting platforms give you all the tools you need to make a good site in a matter of minutes.

For a more bespoke option, consider hiring a freelancer to develop your website for you.

Publish Often

Content is king in the world of web marketing. If you aren’t regularly putting out new stuff people—and the search engines they use to find cool artists—will forget about you. Obviously, as a musician, writing songs takes time and you shouldn’t rush your art to keep up with the internet’s insatiable hunger for new stuff.

What you can do is give your fans a more behind-the-scenes look at your work by publishing practice sessions, or even covers of popular songs. Your posts don’t need to be perfect. Strike a balance between quality and efficiency.

Develop A Monetization Strategy

The ultimate goal is to make money from your audience. You don’t actually need Taylor Swift-like money to do ok. Start by developing a realistic goal for what you would like to earn from your money. A good ultimate objective would be to earn enough from your music to replace your full-time job income. Or at least enough money to be able to support yourself primarily from music.

Look at it like this: Can you put out enough content/merchandise to earn $10 a month from your most passionate fans? It’s a moderate amount of money that many people would be happy to give to an artist they love—assuming the value proposition is there.

Patreon is an awesome platform for artists who want to produce predictable revenue from their music. While it will take time to build a following, you can do well with persistence.

Make Great Recordings

All of the content strategies described above were about daily/weekly outputs. YouTube videos, small samples, etc. You can do that type of work from home with a decent laptop or even a tablet.

For your core work—like a new album—you need to make sure that the recording quality is excellent. At Pop Rehearsal, we provide artists like you with a high-end, affordable recording space. Use our industry-leading equipment to record albums that will help you grow an audience and cement your legacy as an artist and musician.

Conclusion

What you need to understand is that none of these strategies will make you an overnight success. While we hear the most about people who go viral online, for every overnight sensation there are 10,000 other people plucking away gradually. Maybe these grinders aren’t shopping for BMWs but they are generating steady interest and growing an audience.

You’ll find that online success snowballs. You might start out very slow, picking up 1-2 true fans a week. However, if you do that for one year, you’ll have acquired 100 people who are enthusiastic about your music. That’s 100 people not only listening to what you put out but sharing it with their friends. Thanks to them, maybe you pick up 500 fans in year two.

Do you see how it goes? Ultimately, you won’t need to fill stadiums to make out alright. All you need is a steady stream of patrons who are interested in your music. Keep singing. You’ve got this.

Rehearsal

Rehearsal Room Essentials: What Every Musician Needs

, , ,

When it comes to making the most of your rehearsal time, having a well-equipped rehearsal space is crucial. A good rehearsal room encourages creativity, ensures productivity, and minimizes interruptions. Whether you’re a solo artist or part of a band, here’s a list of essentials every musician should have in their rehearsal room.

1. Quality Sound System

A reliable sound system is the backbone of any rehearsal space. This includes:

  • Speakers or Monitors: Choose high-quality monitors to accurately hear your sound.
  • Mixer: For bands, a small mixer helps manage multiple inputs and adjust sound levels.
  • Cables and Adapters: Always have backups for XLR, instrument, and patch cables.

2. Instruments and Accessories

Ensure every instrument is in good condition and comes with its necessary accessories:

  • String Instruments: Keep extra strings, picks, and a tuner handy.
  • Drums: Extra drumsticks, drum keys, and replacement heads are lifesavers.
  • Keyboards: Don’t forget a sturdy stand and sustain pedal.
  • Microphones: Invest in dynamic mics for vocals and a few condensers for instruments if needed.

3. Amplifiers

Amplifiers are essential for guitarists, bassists, and even vocalists. Ensure the amps are well-maintained, and bring along power strips and extension cords to avoid interruptions during your session.

4. Recording Equipment

Recording your rehearsals is invaluable for self-critique and improvement. Basic recording equipment includes:

  • Portable Recorder or Laptop: For capturing audio quickly and efficiently.
  • Audio Interface: Ideal for higher-quality recordings.
  • DAW (Digital Audio Workstation): Software like Ableton, Logic Pro, or GarageBand for detailed recordings and playback.

5. Metronome and Tuner

Staying in time and tune is non-negotiable. A metronome helps maintain tempo, while a tuner ensures instruments sound their best. There are many digital and app-based options if you prefer portability.

6. Comfortable Seating

Rehearsals can be long, so ergonomic seating is a must. Stools for guitarists, adjustable drum thrones, and chairs for others ensure comfort and proper posture.

7. Lighting and Ambience

Good lighting prevents eye strain and keeps the mood upbeat. Adjustable LED lights or spotlights work well, and adding personal touches like posters or rugs can make the space more inviting.

8. Sheet Music or Lyric Stand

A sturdy music stand is a small investment that goes a long way in keeping your sheet music, notes, or lyrics organized and accessible.

9. Whiteboard or Notepad

For brainstorming and planning, a whiteboard or large notepad is indispensable. Use it to jot down setlists, changes to arrangements, or rehearsal schedules.

10. Snacks and Hydration

Rehearsals demand energy, so stock up on snacks and water. Keeping everyone hydrated and fed ensures focus and prevents fatigue.

11. First Aid Kit

Accidents can happen, whether it’s a cut from a guitar string or a slip while setting up equipment. A basic first aid kit is a thoughtful addition.

12. Acoustic Treatment

If your rehearsal room suffers from echo or noise interference, consider investing in acoustic panels or foam. These enhance sound clarity and prevent disturbing neighbors.

13. Power Management

Power strips with surge protectors are essential for managing multiple devices. Always have extension cords and adapters on hand to avoid disruptions.

14. Cleaning Supplies

A clean rehearsal space is a productive one. Keep wipes, a broom, and trash bags around to maintain order and hygiene.

15. Positive Energy

While not a physical item, maintaining a positive attitude and fostering mutual respect among bandmates are key to a successful rehearsal. Encourage constructive feedback and celebrate progress, no matter how small.

Pop Music Studios

Pop Music Studios, based in Los Angeles, offers a range of services tailored to meet the diverse needs of musicians and performers. Their offerings include:

1. Rehearsal Studios Pop Music Studios provides eight fully equipped production studios designed to meet the demands of today’s music industry. Each studio is outfitted with high-quality gear, including drum kits, guitar amps, bass amps, and PA systems, ensuring a professional environment for bands and solo artists to perfect their craft.

2. Recording Services For artists looking to record, Pop Music Studios offers both live and multi-track recording services. Utilizing the latest equipment, including Pro Tools 12 and high-quality microphones, they cater to various recording needs, from demos to full-length albums.

3. Karaoke Rooms Pop Music Studios features 65” Smart TVs, YouTube Premium, and stage lighting, making them ideal for parties and special events. These rooms provide a fun and engaging environment for guests to enjoy singing their favorite songs.

4. Gear Rentals They also offer gear rental service, providing instruments and equipment such as keyboards, guitars, and recording mic packs. This ensures that artists have access to the necessary tools for their sessions without the need to bring their own gear.

By offering these services, Pop Music Studios aims to support musicians at every stage of their creative journey, providing the resources and environment needed to bring their musical visions to life.

Final Thoughts

A well-prepared rehearsal space ensures your time is productive and enjoyable. Whether you’re gearing up for a live gig or perfecting your latest song, having the right tools and environment can make all the difference. Equip your rehearsal room with these essentials, and you’ll be on the fast track to musical success.

recording

How to Make Your Recording Stand Out

The internet is a big place. Billions of people zip through it every day. You’d think a few of them would find their way to your recording organically. Unfortunately, it isn’t that simple. Gaining web traffic for any online pursuit is a question of methodology and persistence.

It’s not enough to simply be good. We’ve all heard garbage on the radio that gets millions of plays, just as surely as we’ve enjoyed beautiful recordings played to an almost non-existent audience.

In this article, we take a look at how you can establish a loyal audience that will be receptive to your recordings.

Don’t Forget the Funnel

What is the point of traffic if it is directionless? As a recording artist, you should develop a way for your listeners to support you financially as well as creatively. Marketers employ a concept known as the sales funnel.

Basically, the sales funnel describes the journey a person takes from the moment they discover a product to when they become a paying customer.

You can develop a similar concept around your music. Finding the song is the moment of discovery, but it doesn’t put money in your pocket. Develop a website where fans can make purchases. Sell merchandise. Set up a Patreon account.

It’s been said that artists need *only* 1000 ardent fans to make a living with their craft. “Only” gets an asterisk because one thousand fans can take years to acquire. It’s not easy, but it also isn’t insurmountable. With a well-reasoned revenue generation strategy, you don’t have to be Taylor Swift to make money with your art.

Make it Regular

One-hit wonders notwithstanding, making it as an audience requires regularity. Think about how many entertainment products compete for your attention every day. Shows. Sports. Music. Games. There are so many ways a person can spend their free time.

If you aren’t giving your audience something to sink its teeth into regularly, they will probably forget about you.

Granted, good music takes time. You can’t publish a new album every month. You can give your audience a regular smattering of other content. Social media posts. Blogs. Emails. YouTube videos. Maybe publish snippets from your rehearsals. Many people will enjoy an inside baseball look at what it takes to make great music.

Put Yourself Out There

One of the most uncomfortable components of life as an artist is not playing to strangers but presenting yourself to people you know. It’s strange how much easier it can feel to play for a room full of strangers than it is to play in front of friends and family.

There’s that old saying about how the prophet is never accepted in his hometown. Get up on stage in front of people from your everyday life, and it’s hard to make them see you as a serious artist.

This is a natural struggle, but also one that you need to get over. Personal connections make it easier to find gigs and generate web traffic. Play for friends and family. Post your art to your personal social media pages.

Tapping into your social network is the easiest way to develop traction in the early days of your career. It can also help you start getting gigs. The more you present yourself to your community as a serious musician, the more you will ultimately be seen that way.

Perfection is Unattainable

You don’t want to push out a bunch of rush jobs, but you also can’t get stuck in an endless cycle of revision. Sometimes “good enough,” is what you’ll need to publish. It’s good to think of your art the way you would any other job.

Do plumbers feel inspired with every pipe that they tighten or drain they unclog? No. But they do go to work each day with a clear understanding of what they need to accomplish, and they do it consistently for forty+ hours a week.

Music is obviously more subjective than plumbing but the process can be similarly structured. Set goals. Get on stage. Publish a certain amount of songs/videos/social media posts each week. Commit to doing it regularly, even when you don’t feel “inspired.” That’s how you develop an audience.

Set Reasonable Expectations and Pursue Them With Persistence

Most certainly it will feel like you are playing to an empty room in the beginning. It can take time to develop a good web presence. Persistence is key. Celebrate small wins. Each fan that you acquire will get you that much closer to your goal.

Even reaching 1-2 people a week will be impactful over time. While it might take a few years to get going, it is very possible to make real money from your music.

Conclusion

Ready to get going? As the saying goes, you are only as good as your latest song. Regular, high-quality recordings are an important component of standing out on the World Wide Web. At Pop Rehearsal, we specialize in providing artists with affordable recording spaces from which they can develop their craft.

Contact us today to book a room and get your career started. Remember that the journey of one thousand miles begins with a single step. You can’t get fans without recordings.

gift

Give the Gift of Music This Year!

,

It is hard to believe that the holidays are in full swing. Soon, Black Friday will have us all scrambling to get that special someone on our list something special. This year, instead of wrapping up another gift card, consider putting some thought and time into your gift. Let your talent be your gift by recording their favorite hits for them to enjoy all year round! These are the best reasons and ideas for your loved one’s enjoyment!

It Shows You Love Them

It isn’t that another gift card doesn’t say you are thinking of them. It is, however, going to be just one of many gift cards they receive. Putting some real thought into gift-giving is not the norm, but it should be. Let’s all commit to returning to a time when we put some real thought into gifts. This year, make it all about them, not glorified cash.

Songs Evoke Feeling

When you hear your favorite song, it reminds you of the best times of your life, important moments, and your youth. What other gift can grant all of those things in one? When you record your loved one’s favorite hits, you are giving them memories too. Once more, by singing them yourself, that means you went above and beyond this Christmas season.

The Gift that Keeps Giving

Imagine giving them a gift they can use all year long as a pick-me-up. If they have a bad day, they just tune into your recording. If they need to know you love them, press play. Most importantly, you can be alongside them throughout their day while they commute, work out, or just want to jam out. Your gift can be the thing they find comfort in all throughout the year, for years to come!

Invite Them Along

Instead of recording your favs alone, consider giving them the gift of a recording session together! How great would it be to sing the night away, duet your favorite songs, and then have it for you both to listen to again and again? That means you would have both a recording and the memory of a great time recording it together. You’d be hard-pressed to find any other gift that would give so much!

Let Them Be the Star

If you aren’t so sure about your talents, but know that they are very talented, give them a session to break out of their shyness. By purchasing our recording package for your loved one, you just might get the star in them to come out for the new year ahead. Putting them up on stage to let loose is like giving them the gift of confidence, and who wouldn’t want that?

As the holidays approach, the heat is on to find the perfect gift for that special someone in your life. Recording yourself singing their favorite hits, doing a duet recording, or buying them a recording session to let loose are all great ways to make the season bright well into the new year. This year, do something a little extra by contacting us for a session, they’re worth it!