Friday, January 30, 2015

Houston to Let's Plan to Win



We are beginning a new chapter in a new year and believe it or not many local artists are still riding the wave from 2014's marginal victories. While this may sound like a solid plan for the new calendar year it can be heartbreaking for the suits and ties who exclaim that "you're only as good as your last hit." Over the years the Houston music scene has had its share of successful runs where a standout talent has emerged and capitalized from the push of a hot single but, very few have actually managed to sustain longevity. Although talent and hard work go hand in hand neither supersedes an artist having an actual plan for their music career. I'm here for the long and restless nights of tracking and recording in the studio, but then what? What do you plan to do with the finished product? Most artists are too busy focusing on the creative aspect of their craft that they tend to overlook the business aspect. Resulting in a solid 6 track EP that nobody heard because you invested most of your time selecting artwork or tweeting through it. It's very important that in 2015 local artist take a different approach to growth and become more business savvy, after all it is the music business. I know what you're thinking becoming more business savvy sounds expensive and you're right but it takes money to make money.
 However, investing in a quality and knowledgeable team can set you apart from your peers. Once you have a team in place create a plan. Thanks to the internet we now have several cost effective systems and applications that make marketing a product simple. As your career advances you'll realize how important it is to utilize your resources when you see your marketing budget from the label. One of my secrets to planning ahead is breaking the year down by quarter and listing ideas and/or goals that I want to accomplish during the time frame. Putting thoughts on paper is a good way to hold yourself and team accountable throughout the year. There is a method to my madness and here are four tips as a parting gift to prepare you for the takeover.
  • Goal Oriented- Set realistic short-term and long-term goals per release or special project.
  • Don't Procrastinate- Time waits for no man. Creative works need to be seen and heard.
  • Trump Competition- Your only competitors should be yourself and yesterday.
  • Be Great- Greatness requires consistency.

A year from now you'll likely forget this post and that's fine..... but remember a year from now we'll see who was really working.