Professional Development – For the Well-Rounded Indie Artist

You’re performing regularly, which in itself (“getting the reps”) gives you more experience and helps you to constantly improve and hone your craft, whether singing, playing an instrument, or both.  You’re also writing songs and seeing growth that way too, as the content and the structure improves over time.  And you’re even recording, making sure you’re getting the sound you want but also learning that aspect of the business.

But step away from the obvious demands of the job.  Look at the entire operation, as the CEO of you.  If you’re familiar with the SWOT model (Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats), you can perhaps assess easier where you need to put more time and effort.

For me, I am always doing the obvious – working on behalf of my clients for the management and promotion services they’re employing me to do for them.  And, of course, I work not only in but on my business.  Plus, I work on myself, meaning professional development.  I have attended events such as Social Media Marketing World and Podcast Movement.  I read industry blogs.  I go to monthly eMarketing Group meetings and the Florida Podcasters Association meetup.  Not to mention that I am a member of Tampa Bay Business Owners, Christian Business Connections, and the Valrico FishHawk Chamber of Commerce.

In a few weeks (on Saturday, October 1st) I am putting on a (free) “Promoting Your Music Career” workshop in the Florida Panhandle, in conjunction with the 8th Pensacola Beach Songwriters Festival.  (Interested attendees should RSVP to info@now-hear-this.net.)  This is exactly the type of professional development you should be engaging in.

Sitting at your computer reading industry-related blogs is good and will be helpful.  However, there’s something to be said for getting out, meeting other people, and being able to interact with a live person (meaning, not commenting on a blog or social media post, and expecting that to be a substantive discussion).

At a live event you should not only be focused on learning the content that’s being presented, and making a personal connection with the presenter, but meeting other attendees as well.  They are there because they are like-minded in the sense that they have the same interest in the material that you do.  So engage in a healthy exchange with them, sharing stories back and forth about what’s working (and what’s not).  If you click with someone and stay in touch with them, keep in mind that it wouldn’t have otherwise happened if you’d stayed in that comfort zone known as home.

Even a website like meetup.com can be a possibility for finding an interest group that will put you in a position for the benefits you should be seeking as alluded to in the paragraph above.  Doing nothing, and then complaining about the results, is pointless.  Get out there and see what you’re missing.