If you are a musician or artist and have something to say, there are practical steps that you should know about in order to make the most of your music.  Most musicians struggle with doing more than creating the music.  Traditionally, it has been up to someone else to promote.  Times are changing and now you have the opportunity to be in complete control of what you do.  Here’s the steps to take.

1.  Make sure you are polished.  One bad performance can take years to get over.

2. Have your music copyrighted and send it to ASCAP or BMI in order to claim royalty rights.
3.  Don’t go anywhere or do anything until you have your music recorded.  This is the way to promote and to get your bread and butter.

4.  Have a CD releasing party and invite the town.

5.  Find promotional areas that will advertise your CD for free.  The internet is a great place to go for this.

6.  Get a website up and running.
7.   Find places on the net that will advertise your CD or downloads.

8.  Start planning out a ‘tour.’  It can even be a local one.

9.  Make sure you are playing with the right people and in the right venues.  Don’t settle for less.

10.  Get ready to quit your day job.

By developing a business mind, you can be sure to succeed with your indie art.  It is simply learning how to market yourself as your own artist and stepping up to find the different places to advertise.  By doing this, you can become a well known, full time musician, just as you have always dreamed.