Another important consideration when building your music business is establishing relationships with local businesses, venues – and, of course, local fans.
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Your local market is, in fact, THE most important element in your career progress. Why? Well, if you can’t conquer your local market – do you think you can conquer anything bigger than that?
There are exceptions to this, but – when you think about it – your entire web presence is in fact an extension of your offline presence – not the other way around! You’ve got to start somewhere, and that somewhere should be your local area. This is where you’ll meet locals, some of whom will be more than happy to support you and join your “club”. And maybe even your “team”. More on that in a moment.
Also, in your local market you can actually talk to people face to face and thus learn so much more about how you and your music are perceived, what matters to them, and so on.
The typical way “in” is through playing gigs. But you can also form business relationships with others who are already engaged in your local scene. That might be music shops or even other artists. Sometimes a local restaurant or some shops will be more than happy to help local musicians out either by allowing them to advertise on their premises or by allowing them to perform there.
So make sure that one of the first things you do when preparing yourself for a music career, is to print some business cards for yourself. Perhaps even some flyers and/or brochures or any other marketing materials. And definitely also fan-club signup forms. Just be sure they’re designed tastefully and professionally.
You can also advertise in your local press or places like a music shop or Guitar Center, schools and colleges, and so on.
Treat your local market as your most important testing ground for your ideas, your music and your business initiatives.
I know some artists who do so well locally that they’re almost demotivated from expanding beyond that. I wouldn’t recommend that. Keep aiming for the stars!
Still, it’s entirely possible to sustain yourself entirely from music within a relatively small “local market”.
There’s also something else here. Your local fans will be tickled pink if they’re part of your success on a broader stage. Many will only be too happy to chip in and help. Some may even become part of your “street teams” or even your inner circle.
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| Book 2 – Chapter 17 Your Site and Your Fans |
Course Overview | Book 2 – Chapter 19 Your Team |
Book 2: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 14b, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, Overview
