Why do we love to play music? Why do we find so much gratification from seeing people in the crowd singing along to our lyrics? Many people can argue that the music we create and perform is just as important to our fans as it is to us. One of the most important elements to being successful as a new artist is creating a following for your music.
Start small- It’s important to start small and then expand. Establishing yourself as a new performer is essential to creating a following of fans. Play a few local venues and attract a group of “regulars.” Once you have a guaranteed group of fans coming to your shows word of mouth will attract more. When you have established a fan base in one area, try progressing to another. This will be incredibly important in the future if you tour and want to see familiar faces in the crowd on each of your stops.
Promote yourself- I know this infamous “P” word is thrown around all the time in this business, but nothing is more important when you want to establish a fan base. Need ideas? Try creating a mailing list and hand it around at each show. Every time you perform bring this around and get as many names as possible. This will help spread the word about your music faster and keep fans engaged with your music. When people dig an artist- they usually talk about them to others. Also in the age of downloading- allow your fans to download your single or pass them out at a show (plus–people love free things!). Spreading your music as much as you can is a very important way to get fans involved.
Establish a relationship- Having a relationship and being personal with your fans is key to keeping them engaged with you and your music. You want them to feel like they know you personally. One great way to do this is by creating a blog where you can let your fans know what’s going on. Blogging about your music, your day, or your latest recording session will really give your fans a way to connect with you and see what you’re up too. Also, having a message board on your blog is helpful because than you can be in contact with your fans personally. Where to create one? Some sites that offer blog services: blogspot.com, wordpress.com, and blogger.com.