How to Take Advantage of Online Tools to Enhance Your Music Career
*This post contains affiliate links, which means I may receive a small commission, at no cost to you, if you make a purchase through a link on this blog. I would never recommend a product I don’t use or love myself!
We’re living through some pretty trying times right now. COVID-19 is the only thing anyone is talking about right now and the panic it’s causing is like nothing I’ve ever seen in my life.
Coming from the East Coast, I’ve lived through hurricanes (most recently Sandy in 2012), nor’easters, and polar vortexes. I worked in a grocery store throughout high school and college, so I’ve seen panic buying (eggs, milk, and bread - check!). Living in Southern California, I’ve seen earthquake kits and several times had my cat and important documents at the ready for wildfire evacuations.
But I have never seen this kind of craziness. Not during SARS, not during H1N1, not during Ebola…this is uncharted territory.
People and economies across the world are impacted by COVID-19 and the fallout of closures, event cancelations, and a halt on travel. We’re scared, unsure, and are struggling to figure out how to move forward.
The impact on the music industry
The music and entertainment industries have taken a huge hit. Tours, festivals, and even local shows have been cancelled. Album release events, conferences, and showcases have been postponed.
And while many people only think of the artists when these cancellations are announced, there are far more people behind the scenes who have lost their jobs and are scrambling to find work (of any kind) to pay their bills. Sound technicians, ushers, backup musicians, food vendors, set designers…I could go on.
With so much uncertainty, it’s hard to know when venue doors will reopen, when tours can get back on the road, and when we can get closer to normality. Many people don’t know where their next paycheck is going to come from or even when it will come. And it’s just started.
But with the advances we’ve had in technology and online business, there is a way to at least begin to mitigate the potential paycheck losses. Here are some ideas for artists and other professionals in the industry to hone their skills, get productive, and earn a little income online:
Host a digital concert
Music heals and helps us to put our worries aside for minutes or even hours. It helps us through tough times and can even calm us at times. So when the venues are closed and fans can’t get out to shows, artists can bring the music to them. With technology today, there are so many options to perform live for your fans and to even collect tips or install a paywall so you can replace the income from your cancelled dates. Here are a few platforms you can use to host these digital concerts:
Facebook or Instagram live
YouTube videos
Google Hangout, Skype, or Zoom
Patreon
Collect tips by mentioning your PayPal or Venmo username, or if your website has the capability, install a paywall so fans have to pay to access the concert.
Share your expertise and knowledge
With a lot of adults and children staying home in the next few weeks, they’re going to be looking for things to keep them occupied or to further their skills or knowledge on particular subjects. Parents might be looking for alternatives to in person music lessons or a young adult may be looking to enhance their skills in music production.
Patreon - membership platform with the capability of different tiers so your fans can get direct access to you. How you price and what you offer is totally customizable and up to you!
Online courses - create a course around a skill or something you’re an expert at. There are several platforms that can host online courses, and even offer technical support and tutorials to get set up.
1:1 coaching or teaching - provide songwriting feedback, offer remote guitar lessons to kids who are stuck at home
Customize your work
Over the years, I’ve seen many songwriters and artists write custom songs for fans. Matt Pryor of The Get Up Kids and Bob Nanna of Braid and Hey Mercedes have been doing this for a few years now, using a platform called Downwrite. You don’t necessarily need to sign up for the platform to offer custom songs - you can add this as a service on your website or create an account on Fiverr. If you have skills outside of music, utilize those too!
Custom songs
Custom tracks and stems
Book birthday parties or weddings for later this year or next year (and ask for a deposit)
Social media posts
Web design
Podcast or video editing
We’re in this together
Isolating ourselves from the outside world might make it feel like we’re alone in this, but everyone is experiencing similar thoughts and feelings. We need to come together as a music community to not only keep our spirits up but to help each other out in these difficult times.
If you have ideas for how our community can connect or offset losses because of cancellations or closures, please comment below and we’ll add it to the list!
And if you want to create an income online but you’re just not quite sure how or what to offer, I’m offering free consultations to help artists and other industry professionals brainstorm and build out an online business. Schedule a time now and let’s get you back on your feet!