Singerpreneurs don’t sit on the sidelines, waiting for opportunities to come to them. In the increasing noise of the artistic world, getting your work heard requires proactive thinking, creative problem-solving (we can certainly handle that), and often, teamwork. Working with a friend and forging strong partnerships with colleagues can do much to make everyone’s work more visible, and it lessens the anxiety of traveling a career path alone. Give this approach a ponder:
The Buddy System
Team up with a friend to help market each other’s projects!
If you and another performer are involved in concerts on two consecutive weekends, for instance, share the details of each other’s events with your contacts and invite your online buddies, allowing your personal networks to overlap and letting friends and families know that they might enjoy your colleagues, too.- Be sure to Like and follow your buddy’s events on Facebook, Google+, etc., and ask your friends to do the same.
- Post for each other on your blogs, profiles, or even on personal review sites like Yelp. (Did you know that you can create an event on Yelp, as something you’re actually interested in doing?)
Sending out your own info is one thing — but supporting a respected colleague increases exposure for both of you, and can broaden horizons for those you love. One following overlaps with another, and another, creating a network that is sustainable, sharing ideas, and building more excitement about cultural activities.
Don’t overdo it
We’re not suggesting you pass on every message you receive. The key here is to build real, collaborative relationships with a few colleagues, for maximum mutual benefit. Choose one, two or three friends to work with, building strong ties to them and their work over time, and you’ll all work out the best ways to promote one another’s endeavors. Everyone has different tools that suit their needs, so your “formula” will likely reveal itself as you continue to work in this way. But if you commit to too many buddies, you’re in danger of either over-promising what you can do (and losing your buddy’s trust when you run out of time), or annoying your followers with far too many messages. (Your fans do want to hear about you, after all!)
Next step
Take a look around and see what your friends are doing. Who do you admire and particularly find yourself cheering for? Do you work well with them and share similar goals? Do you also have different target markets or travel in different circles? If you can find a marketing partner that shares some connection with what you do, but is likely to have a significantly different network, buy them a cup of joe and see if working together appeals to them. Try one project each and see how it goes. Don’t expect immediate results, but plan to work together over time, if your personalities are compatible in this work. You may have to try this with a few people before you find the amazing collaboration that will benefit both of you, but it’s worth the effort, and the lessons along the way are likely to be extraordinarily valuable.
More info
This 2010 book is aimed more at widget-type businesses than the arts, but offers some creative ideas and business concepts that may help you get to the next level. Never underestimate the power of business reading, no matter how creative you are!
