There are thousands of people who can sing, but not all singers get into the hall of fame.
Over the years, the number of up and coming artistes in Nigeria
has increased in tremendous, and it takes dedication, hard work and
consistency to turn a music dream into a successful career.
However, some up and coming artistes will remain “up and coming”, if they don’t
drop certain myths that lead them into making certain career blunders.
These tips are not cast in stones, but are relevant to help push
someone’s career forward. If you want to be rich and famous through
music, you should take this post serious.
1. Making Hits Should Not Always Be the Focus
Hits are amazing, cos they bring instant fame, but when an artiste is
always aiming at making hits and club bangs, he misses out on the
bigger picture. Most artistes are always looking for hits instead of
good music, forgetting that good content most times turns out to be hit,
not the other way round. You might end up making the hit, but its
wackiness will make it fade away in no time.
2. Big Studios Don’t Equate To Big Hits
This myth has been proven over time. Many hits have been produced
from small bedroom or home studios. Timaya didn’t get fame working with a
big producer, even Alakpomeji Records that produced the first hits of
9ice, was not big until they made Gonga Aso hit. Big studios usually
have great gadgets, software and sometimes experienced producers, but
then it is not a guarantee that the studio would produce songs that will
rule the air waves.
3. Music Doesn’t Promote Itself
Some music promotes itself when it is very good but then, you need to
push it out first before it gains ground. Upcoming artistes sometimes
feel reluctant to go around promoting their works, maybe due to lack of
money or support or even a dying passion. This jinx needs to be broken.
If your music must be heard you should not stop promoting it via the
Blogs (more effective these days) Radios, TV, interview, Print media and
Gigs.
4. Never Say No to Free Gigs
Most upcoming artistes make the mistake of turning down invitations
to perform for free in events, forgetting that publicity is key in
entertainment. Before you get up there, you must pay your dues and free
events are just the perfect path to channel your contributions. Free
performances are great platforms like a show room where you showcase
your talent and build a fan base. Upcoming artistes should learn to
embrace such invitations as it helps upgrade their acts.
5. Be Nice to Everyone
Fans are indirect marketers so you need to have a good attitude
towards everyone as they are all your marketers. Nobody likes to be
disrespected, not even by a star, so as an upcoming artiste should be
friendly with neighbors, manager, producer, clients and the general
public. Also be in good terms with family, as they form your backbone
that defends and protects you when crisis arises.
6. Be Known For a Sound
Find your sound and never be a copy of another artiste. You can be
inspired by them but don’t mimic them, as you’ll be seen as a karaoke
singer. Karaoke is a good rehearsal ground. However, artistes should
write their own songs and should not try to sound like their favorite
artiste. Be YOU! Be original!
7. Never Record Your Songs with a Producer You Don’t Connect With
Recording a song is like making love to a partner. There needs to be a
connection for the music to sound right. Most people get their songs to
the wrong hands and become unhappy after the session. Sadly, some
producers are interested in the money, while only a very few are
interested in your success. Find that producer who wants to see you go
far and has the right tone to compliment your voice.
8. Do Not Start Your Career As a Feature Artiste
What you step out as would be how people see you henceforth. You
might go a bit far with collaborations but might not last with just
that. Look around and research artistes in these two categories and
confirm for yourself that it is better to own a song than to feature
endlessly in other people’s track.
9. You Can’t Make It Alone
To run fast you need to run alone, but to run far, you need company.
You Will need God, People & Talent to get far in a musical career, so
make friends the next time you are an entertainment scene. Look for
mentors, get a publicity manager, form a team that would help you build a
long lasting brand as a musician. Talent will take you up but
connections will sustain you.
10. Get an Entertainment Lawyer
This does not need stressing. An entertainment lawyer helps an
artiste to cover his loopholes, draft contracts for him, help him
interpret contracts and also put in place every legal aspect of a
musician.
If Brymo had a personal lawyer, he would not have found himself in
the big mess he did with his former Record Label, Chocolate City. Do not
be like those artistes who only know the music art and lack the
“business side.” No one ever made it in Music but in Music Business!
All the best as you transform from an upcoming artiste to a real musician.
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