By Artistopia Newsletter Team
http://www.artistopia.com
Alexandria, Virginia
September 6, 2004
Internet forums and discussion boards have become a valuable medium
for establishing an online presence, building a reputation, networking
with peers, and getting feedback on relevant topics and ideas. With
that said, there are many forums and discussion boards on the Internet
specific to music artists, musicians, and songwriters. These music
forums are packed with wisdom that thriving artists can leverage for
their professional development advantage. By becoming actively
involved in music forum communities, artists can find themselves
absorbing an abundance of music industry knowledge that can help in
furthering their respective career agendas.
Registration at music forum communities is generally free, however,
the more prominent and private communities charge nominal fees for
memberships. To find the right forum community for you, we suggest you
go to a popular search engine like Google (www.google.com) or Yahoo
(www.yahoo.com) and perform a search on "music forums". Browse the
search engine results one by one, and keep in mind that each forum
community has its own mission, theme, guidelines, and attitude. After
visiting a few music forum communities, you will quickly learn that
not all music forums are the same. Taking your time in finding the
right community is key because you will want time spent to be an
investment and not a waste. To help you find the right music forums
for your needs, Artistopia offers the below suggestions. Note that at
the end of each suggestion below, an explanation is provided on how it
applies to the development and maturing process of an artist in the
music industry.
1. Carefully select a forum community you can settle into for the long
haul. Take your time researching them by reading existing posts, and
making sure conversations, and music styles, meet your learning goals
and objectives before making your selection. Relation to professional
development: Finding the right music company or business that will
develop you thoroughly is key to helping you mature in the business
properly. Always know that haste makes waste.
2. Focus on building a well-respected reputation within the forum
community. A reputation in any forum community is earned by a member's
cumulative interactions and contributions over time, and not within a
few posts. Keep your reputation untarnished because repairing any
damage done to it is always twice as hard as building it in the first
place. Relation to professional development: Your reputation as an
artist in the music industry is your integrity, and tarnishing it
could lead to alienation and possible ousting. Wounded lions drag the
rest of the pride down.
3. Keep your posts clean, respectful, and productive no matter what
direction the conversation or message thread takes. It will be tough
to contain yourself at times, but learn to exercise patience and
calculated response tactics. Misunderstandings often happen in forums,
and when they do, you will need to know when to respond and when not
to. Relation to professional development: Being an artist in a
multi-billion dollar music industry is a job and not a party. Learn to
be professional at all times and costs.
4. Be careful not to offend senior members and administrators. Forums
tend to foster loyalty amongst the members, so measure each word in
your posts and focus on being productive, not destructive. Egos and
arrogance need not apply because no one knows it all. Smooth over the
senior members with wit and intelligence, and you will receive a warm
welcome. Relation to professional development: Simple, offend the
wrong music professional and it could mean your career. Be open to
constructive criticism and always yearn to learn from all those around
you.
5. Use the forums to "subtly" promote your personal website or
Artistopia profile, which will give you more exposure (brand name
building) and help drive your overall numbers (song downloads, profile
views, etc.). Most forum administrators frown upon direct promotions
and blatant advertising, but they will allow you to represent the
website you are from. Always consider yourself a visitor and respect
the guidelines set forth because administrators will ban without
hesitation. Relation to professional development: Identify and
exercise all marketing opportunities that will promote your artistic
talent without igniting a turf war. Know your boundaries and how far
you can push it by thinking with your head, and not with your heart.
6. Make full use of the signature functionality in forum communities
to brand yourself, especially by putting a slogan, a quote, a banner,
or a link that points to your Artistopia profile or personal website.
This is permissible at most music forum communities, and is helpful
for others in learning more about you when reading your posts.
Relation to professional development: Every professional artist is
known for a signature of some sort, even if it's lyrics, beats, looks,
or wardrobe amongst many other aspects of branding. Start thinking of
yourself as a brand that sells and start establishing your market or
niche. Become known for something distinct and keep building on it.
7. Engage the readers by articulating your ideas intelligently, making
sure your posts are flawless of grammar and spelling mistakes, leaving
out slang terms and not using excessive caps, and ensuring your
writing flows smoothly. Readers are quick to place judgements based on
your ability to write and communicate your thoughts effectively.
Relation to professional development: The music industry is about
building your fan base and keeping them. Gain their confidence by
displaying the ability to walk the walk and talk the talk,
professionally and effectively. Let them know through actions that
your position in the industry was earned and not handed to your
overnight.
8. Frequent the forums and post messages on regular basis. Appearing
often will demonstrate your loyalty to the community, and your resolve
to building your name and reputation. More importantly, you will be
consistently marketing yourself time and time again. Members that
disappear for long periods of time are perceived for not being focused
or serious about their agenda in the community. Relation to
professional development: Half of the battle to making it in the music
industry is keeping your brand afloat and marketable. Being a star is
the farthest thing from a walk in the park or a picnic. Stars have to
do many performances, appearances, interviews, and anything else that
will put them in front of a camera to keeping their brand alive.
Absence will deplete your popularity.
9. Network, collaborate, and create as many contacts as possible. Do
not be afraid to step out of the forum community box and work
in-person on projects with fellow artists, musicians, and songwriters
you meet in these forums. More importantly, always fish out and
befriend members that you feel will further your agenda. Do not
hesitate to share your ideas with other members, because if you don't
you will be isolating yourself. Relation to professional development:
The music business is about who you know and being at the right place
at the right time. To increase your chances of unearthing
opportunities, collaborate with as many peers and professionals as you
can. You never know who will open the door for you.
10. Do not spread yourself too thin by participating in more than 2
forum communities. Stay focused on establishing your presence and
building a reputation in a few places only. Diligent research up-front
will lead to wise decisions on the forums you elect to settle in with.
Relation to professional development: Productivity is key, especially
when you aren't getting paid. Start small and build your way up. Every
single decision you make, no matter how small, will impact your
overall progress. Learn the politics of the music business and use
them to perfection.
Building a presence in any forum community can challenge the most
open-minded socialite mankind can offer. However, by exercising the
above suggestions, you can be sure you are not marching in blindly.
Exercise each of these suggestions in moderation, be patient as it
will take time to build up your reputation, and always act
professional so others can respect you. Forums will ultimately teach
you people skills and politics.
Once you perfect the above forum tactics, then it is time to move on
and fish out real life music circles by attending networking happy
hours, conventions and conferences, and any other gatherings that
congregate music artists and professionals in one place. Most
important is for you to keep in mind that being a music artist in this
business is a job and not a party. Good luck and tread safe!
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