Photo by Peter Clark via Flickr / CC BY 2.0
We know that being a DIY musician is far from easy. Going out into the music industry on your own is intimidating at times, but it can be so rewarding in the end. In this new series, we're giving you a quick roundup of our best tips and advice from experts every Monday to help you become a better DIY musician.
1. Work on your confidence
"Confidence must be nurtured. At first, start by setting realistic goals that can easily be accomplished. Learn a few easy songs and play in front of your friends to get used to a crowd. Additionally, learn to develop a positive response to stress." – Anthony Cerullo, touring musician and writer
From: 5 Performance Psychology Skills Every Musician Should Master
2. Practice discomfort
"Most of us practice in the same room, with the same group of people, using the same equipment, and playing mostly the same songs. So rather than playing in the same room all the time, think about how you could use different spaces to get used to playing in rooms with different acoustic qualities. The idea is to make your practice time closer to the real thing, so instead of just getting better at practicing, you’re actually getting better at performing." – Casey van Wensem, freelance composer, musician, and writer
From: Are You Practicing Wrong? Why Your Routine Could Be Doing More Harm Than Good
3. Step up your digital distribution
"Spotify, Amazon, and iTunes are big deals to people. While Bandcamp is probably the better format for digital sales, having your music every place you can get it isn’t such a bad thing. A lot of people choose to go through CD Baby, TuneCore, and Distro Kid for this kind of service. If you’re pulling in a good amount of revenue with your releases, these are probably good choices." – Rob Lanterman, writer and musician
From: Be Your Own Record Label: Everything You Need to Know About Distribution
4. Record yourself playing along to a song
"Modern recording technology allows you to play along to songs and directly compare your playing to that of the person you’re emulating. Match their feel, their tone, and their parts, and I guarantee you’ll feel rock solid onstage." – Liam Duncan, full-time touring musician
From: How to Have More Confidence in Your Playing Ability
5. Focus more on getting YouTube subscribers rather than views
"The number-one problem that holds most musicians back from actually finding success on YouTube is focusing on views instead of subscribers. Bands that get hundreds of thousands of views are thrown into the spotlight for a few seconds of fame, but bands that build up an engaged base of 100,000 subscribers don’t get much attention. This focus on views over subscribers is totally backward and will only end up holding you back." – Dave Kusek, founder of the New Artist Model
From: The One Thing Most Musicians Do Wrong on YouTube
6. Monetize your website
"Not only is your website your primary online marketing tool, but it's also a tool to convert fans and monetize your music. Use your website to sell your music, merchandise, and loyalty programs to your fans. Offer a free single for download on your website to capture email addresses and send personal sales offers to your new fans." – Lauren Gill, founder of Power Publicity
From: 4 Online Marketing Mistakes That Too Many Musicians Make
7. Celebrate your successes
"One of the best things you can do for yourself and your career is to celebrate the successes you have – and broadcast them to the world. Everyone starts somewhere, so don’t ever negate the success you have. Furthermore, don’t be afraid to show off a little. In fact, a little gratitude with your successes will go a long way." – Angela Mastrogiacomo, owner of Muddy Paw PR
From: Musicians: How to Turn Small Wins Into Huge Successes
