You may not have played professionally yet. Alternatively, you could have been performing with a professional band and feel that you are ready to go solo. Either way, there are certain challenges you will need to overcome to find success. We provide you with some tips on how to make the transition or start your career.
Table of Contents
Self- and Goal Definition
If you have been playing with a band, your persona was not crucial to the success of the band, unless you were the lead singer. Now that you have decided to go it alone, it becomes mission-critical to define who you are musically and as a person. This is who your audiences will identify with. The same applies to the musician just starting out.
Define your musical goals. Is there a genre that you fit into? What do you bring to audiences that are unique? What is your personal style?
Investing in Equipment
When you go solo, it is entirely incumbent on you to ensure that you have everything you need; you can no longer fall back on the group to fill in any gaps. Getting the right guitar for your sound and look is vital. Even practice will perk up with the right guitar. If a specific brand, such as James Tyler electric guitars is important, make sure you invest. For example, look for a James Tyler electric guitar seller online to take advantage of the best prices.
Experienced solo artists provide great advice on the equipment you need to play live. Also, give consideration to how you will transport your equipment and set it up. Make sure you can do this competently by practicing at home.
Marketing yourself to Reach your Target Audience
You have already established your genre and niche (what makes you unique within that genre). This will help you to identify who your target audience is and gather information on which channels are best for reaching out to them. Try to get live exposure as a cover or by asking your local pub if you can play there. Also, consider streaming your performances. Remember to patent any original work. You can also do business cards offering to play at weddings and parties. Just get yourself out there and practice continuously so that every aspect of your performance is flawless. A public relations agency can help you get yourself out there a lot faster if you can afford it.
Collaboration with Other Musicians
Most bands collaborate with other musicians from time to time. This helps you to build a network of friendly contacts so you become known in the music world. Who you know is often as important as what you know, and this is especially true for the performing arts. Collaboration exposes you to new ideas and can prevent you from becoming stale.
Going solo can be daunting, even more so if you have previously been in a band where you had the support of the group and could also fade into the background when you felt vulnerable. Now you are forced into the spotlight and must learn to embrace and enjoy it. Remember your reasons for choosing this path and remain committed to it.
