This probably seems to be the worst time in your life to be making a living as a singer. Performing to groups of people at traditional venues has become out of the question (and will continue to be for quite a while). Just to stay sane and enjoy the act of singing for people, millions of singers are offering free online performances/recordings (which is a GREAT idea).
However, many working singers are spending most of their time looking at procuring loans, gifts, crowdfunding or some other source of income just to stay alive.
How can you make money and actually thrive during this time of the COVID-19 global pandemic?
The key is in the concept of connection. It’s critical to connect with your audience in new and profound ways. You have to take advantage of the digital world for performance opportunities and you have to amplify the connection you make when you sing to audiences online.
Our world has been turned upside down and that makes connecting with your audience more challenging and more important. On the next 5 Thursdays I’ll be posting a blog with more details on each of the 5 keys.
Here are the 5 Keys to Making Fans and Making Money in these strange times:
Key #1– Be creative–think outside the box for streaming gigs and new opportunities
If you can’t see your way to new performance and business models right now, you’re basically dead in the water. This is THE most important step in making more money over the next few months. When you change your mindset and look at this as a great opportunity to adapt your business to the changing times, this ability will serve you well for the rest of your career. There will always be changes and issues that require you to adapt and evolve.
Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube as well as Zoom have taken off as the leading ways to get in front of your digital audience via live streaming. In this series of blogs, we’ll examine the best ways for you to get your performances in front of your audience (and grow your audience at the same time!)
Monetizing your performances is the next important step, and there are a few ways to go about it. We’ll examine what you may have already used as well as some new entries in getting paid for your music.
Key #2– Songwriting–connecting through great songs.
If you’re singing or recording songs that you don’t have an emotional connection to, you’re committing musical suicide. Just because other people tell you a song is perfect for you doesn’t make it true. You need to cover, write, record and sing songs that you love, that move you, and that you’re proud of. Anything less is a waste of your time.
Great songs overcome everything, including social distancing, a less than stellar voice, and…well, pretty much any other challenge. If you’re currently a songwriter, you have a great opportunity at this time to improve all aspects of your craft. I’ll walk you through the most important aspects of good songwriting.
If you haven’t written a song before, now’s a great time to dive in to songwriting, and we’ll go through the steps to get you started.
Key # 3– The 3 Steps to Power, Passion andConfidence.
If you have pitch potholes, breathing breakdowns, or projection problems, the unique sound of your voice or cool onstage look won’t cover them up. Great performing and connecting doesn’t happen accidentally. If you picture The 3 Steps (Core Mechanics, Artistry, and Stage Presence) as a 3-legged stool, you’ll get an idea of how important each one is to having a connected performance.
Take one leg away and your stool falls over. Now is the time to skill-build in all three areas. I’ll breakdown the 3 Steps and help you identify what to focus on in each one.
Key #4– Branding–finding and exciting your audience.
If you don’t know who you are as an artist, who your ideal fan is, where they hang out, and how to digitally reach them, you’ll constantly struggle with having a fan base and creating a steady revenue stream.
I’ll walk you through the important elements of branding so you can make sure you’re marketing the right way to the right people. This can be done with the help of virtual assistants, paid or unpaid interns, or you can save money by doing it yourself. Whichever way you choose, you need to be involved in and directing your own branding.
Key #5 – Ongoing coaching – how “adult supervision” can get you there and keep you there.
If you try to stay ahead of the rapidly changing landscape in the music industry (and in our world in general!) all by yourself, chances are you’ll stay right where you are now. Everyone, and I mean everyone, needs ongoing coaching. Whether you’re “up-and-coming” or are already a super star, a singer needs support from the best in the field.
“Having a pair of ears that you trust to work with you is as important as a coach is to a top level athlete. An Olympian wouldn't train without a coach and it’s the same for international singers,” says Professor Susan McCulloch from Guildhall School of Music and Drama. This is true for all working singers, no matter what level they’re at now.
Coaching helps singers to build up the strength, coordination and stamina they need to both mentally and physically thrive while touring, working in the recording studio, and learning new skills. Going it alone practically guarantees that you’ll continue at the same level in your career. If you want to raise the bar on your career, find a voice coach and a business coach and commit to ongoing coaching.
Upcoming blogs will expand on each of the 5 keys. Please leave us any comments or questions–we’d love to connect!
