How to Become a Successful Independent Musician
Independent Musicians

It’s a fact that if you are a musician either as a solo artist or as a member of a band, you seek and crave success or recognition to some degree. Just like your favorite groups, you may envision yourself playing in front of a huge crowd of fans singing your songs or listening to your creations on the radio or online.

However, success can mean different things to different people, and as an indie artist, it can simply mean playing regularly and having a bunch of followers, or even selling copies all over the world and collecting millions of reproductions.

Whether you are the former or the latter, this article will help you find your way through the difficult, demanding, but rewarding world of music. We'll give you tips that will save you time and help you achieve the results you want to get.

Set Your Goals

First, it’s important to decide on your definition of success and the direction you want to take as a musician. As mentioned earlier, success can mean different things to different artists. For some, it may be linked to financial success, while for others, it may be more about developing and showcasing their artistic talents. However, it's important to note that these are not mutually exclusive. It's possible to have both financial success and creative fulfillment as a musician.

It's a common misconception that successful artists must sacrifice their creativity to make money. Although some artists may indeed make compromises in their art, that doesn't mean you have to. It's important to find a balance and strive for both financial stability and artistic expression.

This means setting realistic goals and figuring out what works best for you and your career. Whether it's focusing on developing your raw talent or investing time in learning new skills, it's important to find the path that will help you achieve your definition of success.

The Recipe For Success

Now you have defined what success means for you it is time to get the ball rolling. Of course, there may not be a specific set of rules to follow, but there are proven methods for achieving success as an independent musician. Having said that, we will provide practical tips and guidance to help you navigate the industry and achieve your goals.

Write Non-stop

If you already have several original songs, don’t relax and continue composing new pieces. In that way, you keep yourself busy working on your musical project. Bear in mind that fresh ideas are always enriching and exciting.

However, that doesn’t mean you only have to create material, revising and going back over your composition is important to achieve a quality product. As a matter of fact, we all know that quantity is not better than quality, and that's why you should start working on those tracks.

Take your time to decide what to include in your songs and what to leave aside. There’s no point in speeding up the process, if you feel you are stuck with an idea, give it some time to rest and continue with another. After some time you can come back to it and you might look at it from a different perspective or approach.

Last but not least, be sure to record every single idea that comes up to your head. No matter where you are, record a rough version with your phone to be later improved at home or with your band. When you have a good idea out of nowhere think of it as your brain working for free and is something that doesn’t usually happen. Don’t miss the chance to make a profit from that!

Master Your Abilities

Acquiring skills as an independent musician (and in any other aspects) requires practice and dedication, so it is essential to put in the hours and train to your heart’s content. While individual practice is important, rehearsing with your band is crucial for improving your overall sound and performance.

Playing along with a track is not the same as playing in a group setting, where you must listen to and interact with other musicians. In some cases, you might not hear yourself clearly, at that moment is when your body language and connection with your bandmates raise importance. By regularly rehearsing together in a studio, the drummer’s garage, or any other space, you will build a cohesive solid sound, learn from each other, and improve your live performance as a whole.

Show Your Product

When it comes time to play live, you will see the fruits of your time spent practicing and rehearsing. Once you can perform decently on live stages, don't miss the chance to do so, go out and play as many gigs as you can. Your first couple of presentations will work to gain experience, but as you play more and more, you'll get used to doing it with more ease and fluency.

But you may be wondering how to schedule a concert when you are just starting. First, try to make arrangements with venues to play, attend festivals, and get in touch with musicians and bands in your town. These days, these are easy things to do by contacting them through the Internet, social networking sites, or even in person. That being said, I will tell you that sometimes you may have trouble finding a place to play or you may not get a callback, but that's common in the industry. Remember that persistence is the key to success and no one gets their first show overnight.

Take Control of Your Own Career

As an indie artist, taking on the role of your own manager is essential to success. This includes not only honing your craft through practice and performance, but also being proactive in booking gigs, scheduling rehearsals, and handling other business aspects such as selecting setlists and selling tickets.

While it can be a challenging task, working together as a band to split responsibilities and support each other can make the process more manageable. Additionally, by managing your personal career, you have the opportunity to make valuable connections and secure better opportunities

Manage Social Media

Just like the previous item, social media management is an important part that is usually handled by the artist or band members. Nowadays, social networks help expose us to the world, so you need to show yourself on them.

First, try to gain followers by creating original and engaging content, such as rehearsal photos or behind-the-scenes videos. This content will create a sense of intimacy between the artist and the bands. Once you have achieved that, publish content that your fans can interact with and respond to.

Some artists even create websites outside of social media. This helps to reinforce your professional image and allows you to customize the page without the restrictions of Instagram or Facebook. In short, your social media presence is vital and, at this point, a must.

Releasing and Sharing Your Music

The internet has made it easier for independent musicians to share their music with the world, but the abundance of new music on the internet also makes it harder to be heard. The most effective way is to develop a release plan that includes various stages.

First, you need to finish your music and record it. Polish your mixed tapes and choose your stronger single to publish. After posting your music, is important to promote it to create excitement among the audience. There’s no point in showing something that nobody asked so create content related to the song to be posted.

Once your music is published you are in the game, this is important due to through the reproductions you can collect royalties but, how can you post your tracks? Nowadays there are many music streaming sites (Spotify, Apple Music) that allow you to share your music. Besides, you can add information about the artist and artworks attached to the songs. Apart from these sites, you also have YouTube, where you can upload your tracks as videos just by creating a channel.

Most importantly, keep in mind the importance of being patient. A well-planned and organized release strategy will yield greater long-term benefits compared to immediately releasing your music as soon as it is finished.