So you’ve decided to take the plunge and give all you’ve got to your artist project- that’s dope! That decision will most likely be the easiest part of the whole process. Sometimes, it can definitely seem like an impossibly daunting feat at first to make sure you’re doing all the ‘right’ things in the right order and getting all your ducks in a row. While there are a lot of things to do in order to jumpstart your career as an artist, you should spend most of your time and efforts at the beginning stages diving into these 5 areas.
Write, write, write.
Dolly Parton is notorious for writing at least one song every day. Now, while this may not be attainable for everyone, it’s a great goal to work towards and is a wonderful habit to get into as an aspiring artist. Showing up for yourself and your career by doing the deep work of sitting down and practicing creativity for a set amount of time every single day can really pay off. And who knows, maybe you’ll have a ‘millions of dollars day’ like when Dolly wrote both “Jolene” and “I Will Always Love You” on the same day. The more you write, the better you’ll get. This is a great way to get in those 10,000 hours!
2. Find your ‘thing’- and own it.
Before anything is ready to be released, it is crucial that you take the time to figure out what it is you are trying to say through your music and brand. While that may change as your artistry grows and develops, it is important to at least have something about you that stands out. This might look like focusing your message as an artist around a particular cause you are passionate about, or being rock solid in your brand identity. A great example of an artist completely owning their brand is AGD Artist Manny Blu. Whatever your ‘thing’ is, you need to make sure that it is authentic to you and then own it.
3. Find your people.
As a developing artist, almost nothing is more important than the team that you surround yourself with. From your producer to your co-writers, it is absolutely crucial to find people that you vibe with. An easy way to find these people is to show up to live shows in your area or join some Clubhouse chats and put yourself out there! For Nashville locals, we love using the YEP Facebook group to connect with all kinds of people in the industry-it’s a fantastic resource. Whatever methods you use, it is highly encouraged that you get outside of your comfort zone and get to know your music community. Most often, those natural connections will lead to the best working relationships!
4. Receive quality + diverse feedback.
Your friends will (hopefully) be your biggest fans. They will also most likely be your biggest “yes” people. It is crucial in the early stages of your artistry to test out your music to different crowds and get quality feedback. You might accomplish this by trying out some songs at a writers round in town, asking your producer, or simply sending demos of your music to some other artists in your community and asking them what you could improve upon. However you receive your feedback, it is crucial that it is from several unbiased sources that will take the time to really listen to your work and help you out.
5. Grind.
You should be willing (and wanting) to work harder than anyone else if you truly want this. For at least some portion of your career, this may mean that you need to burn the midnight oil after your day job or even work an extra job to pay for recording expenses. It is important to set S.M.A.R.T. goals and to do whatever it takes to achieve them.
This is such an exciting (and most often overwhelming) stage of your artist career. It’s so important at this stage to take the time to celebrate even the smallest of wins + learn to pivot when your efforts aren’t very fruitful. Enjoy the journey. Trust the process. Work really hard. But most of all, enjoy it!