Plan for Success by Darcy D

 

Deutsch, Darcy - BWL Publishing Inc.

Winston Churchill famously said,
"He who fails to plan, plans to fail."

These are wise words for anyone in any business, including the music industry. Does this mean that having a plan guarantees success? Certainly not. However, there are principles that guide you when it's time to take the next step, and having a plan helps facilitate that moment. You’ll know when the time is right.

One of the first things I convey to new clients, no matter where they are in their journey, is:
"It’s what you don’t know that’s holding you back."
Everyone has gaps in their knowledge. These gaps often manifest in questions like: Do I really need a voice coach? What genre best suits my sound? Who can I write songs with? Where do I record? Who should produce my music? Who should play on my project? Does my sound fit a radio format? What even is a radio format? How do I brand my product? How do I register my songs? When do I need a publisher? When do I need a lawyer? Can’t I manage myself? Can I just make YouTube videos and get discovered? How do I become famous? And the list goes on…

There are countless factors and experiences that contribute to an artist's path and outcome. Every lesson, session, consultation, jam, and performance has the potential to become a pivotal moment in an artist's development. The answers to those questions form the sequence of your plan. Some elements of the plan can be tackled simultaneously, while others may need more focused attention.

This process requires discipline and a thirst for knowledge.
Find out what you don’t know, and you’ll discover what you need.
Keep asking questions.

·                  Intrinsically: Singers sing songs.

·                  They tell stories, again and again.

·                  The journey begins with a voice.

Good singers possess technical skills—they can hit the required notes and maintain consistent breath control with ease and grace. They can create power when needed or ease into subtlety without losing control. These are all essential qualities. But great singers feel. They understand the meaning of the song—they’ve lived the emotions, the pain, or the joy—and they can connect emotionally with the lyrics. They make listeners believe that the song is unfolding in real-time. It becomes their song. With passion, honesty, and vulnerability, great singers transport listeners to a place beyond mere understanding. In that space, listeners might swallow lumps, cry, or raise their fists in agreement. It can be magical.

When a singer performs without connecting emotionally to the lyrics, it’s often because they don’t understand what the song is about. If they can’t relate to the song, they’ll struggle to convey its story. This can happen if they’ve never experienced the emotions the song portrays, or perhaps they’re too young to grasp the theme. To make the song believable, the singer must relate to the content. A performance is much more than just notes and melody; it’s more than words and rhythm.

The Artist Development Process: A Checklist

This list offers a glimpse into the artist development process. Each point will be explored in greater detail throughout this series.

Voice Lessons / Music Lessons

·                  Work with a voice coach and music influencers you can relate to—someone who understands you and helps you achieve results.

Repertoire Development

·                  Learn as many songs as possible.

·                  Work through them with your voice coach.

·                  Perform them in front of anyone who will listen.
This can be any genre, any style, from any influence.

Discovery

·                  Break down your favorite songs and figure out what draws you to them. Is it the melody, the beat, the chord progression, the key, the lyrics, or the genre? What gives you that “this is it” feeling?

Write

·                  Don’t wait. Start writing.

·                  Try writing a short story, then paraphrase it using as few words as possible.

·                  Use a key, chord progression, and style that move you.

·                  Write a verse and chorus, and call it done for now. Move on to the next song. After you’ve written a few, you’ll notice a pattern emerging.

·                  Record these songs on your iPad or phone and listen back. Share them with others in the industry. Get feedback before doing anything further with your ideas.

Perform

·                  Put together a cohesive setlist. Don’t be too scattered in your genre choices.

·                  Play covers that complement your originals, covers that people want to hear, then add your own music.

·                  Engage with your audience. Develop a rapport.

·                  Book house concerts, coffee shops, clubs, bars, private parties, contests, local events and, opening slots if you can get them.

Build a Social Network

·                  Everyone needs a webpage—it doesn’t have to be elaborate. Start with a simple landing page.

·                  Experience a professional photo shoot with a photographer who knows what they’re doing. Choose an image that represents who you are.

·                  Get an opinion from someone in the industry (not family and friends).

·                  Link to only the social networks you’ll actually use. Stay active and share useful information.

Record

·                  This is a big process. Don’t go too cheap, but don’t break the bank either. You need to discover your sound, and everything you’ve done so far will influence the recording process.

·                  Know your intentions before selecting a studio, producer, session players, etc. If you’re just making demos, you can record almost anywhere.

Release

·                  If you’re releasing a product for online or radio distribution, you’re competing with every other artist in your genre. You need a plan that includes market research, strategic partnerships, and often a team to help you reach your goals.

Repeat these steps, over and over again. If it feels like work, that’s because it is!
But if it also feels like you can’t stop creating, and you’re up at night thinking about your next song—that’s passion. Keep going.

As this series continues, I’ll dive deeper into these topics, sharing my personal experiences and knowledge gained from industry professionals around the world.

I’ll leave you with a quote from an article by renowned voice coach, Dave Stroud:
"Create a system, and then go find chaos!"
Brilliant.
Most importantly—don’t fail to plan.

 

 

Darcy D/Virtual Voice Coach
www.virtualvoice.coach