This post I decided to change the focus up just a bit. Instead of focusing on standing out as a hip-hop artist, I want to change my focus on standing out as an artist in ANY genre. This week I want to touch on a subject that I feel is very important to be a successful artist, and that is INVESTING IN YOURSELF!

So, what exactly does it mean to invest in yourself as an artist? Well, there are several ways, one way is financially, another is educationally, and there is also the time you invest into your career.
Ok, let me give you some examples from an artist perspective. I am a producer, and I sell beats online so I get hit up nearly daily by hip-hop/r&b artist who are looking for production for their albums. I kid you not, 95% of these people want FREE beats. So let’s analyze this situation…

About 10 years ago I was bitten by the music bug and started writing and producing music. I was still in high school and I would skip school to go over a friend’s house to make music. When I graduated I spent every day that summer working on producing and writing music. Throughout college, my grades suffered because I was always learning and working on my craft. I would buy books and magazines on mixing, watch YouTube videos on producing etc. When I graduated in 2006 I spent that entire summer making music. I actually set a goal to have been involved in 100 songs that summer, I actually made about 60 songs, remixes, etc. that summer, but I made a huge jump in my production. That following spring, I took all the money I saved from my job and moved to Los Angeles. I knew a handful of people who happened to be in the music industry, and I went out determined to make a name for myself, and I did. I invested in myself, and when the time came for me to make a move and take my career to the next level, and I did.

I say all that to say this, I went through a lot of things, both good and bad to learn my craft and make a career out of it, and people expect me to work for them for FREE?! Does that sound right? Of course not!

I know my situation may be a little different, because I do several things, graphic design, video production, music production, etc. so let’s assume you are just an artist, that is all you know and you are pretty good at it.

INVEST IN YOURSELF!

I am going to touch on investing in your career financially for now; we will touch on the other aspects at a latertime.

Let’s assume you hit me up and you wanted a beat but you didn’t have a bunch of money. If you came to me and asked for the beat for free, you would probably be ignored. I invested money in equipment, time in my craft and you are not willing to at least pay me a little money in good faith to show me you appreciate the work I’ve done and for me to provide you with a product? If that is how you function, I don’t want to deal with you and I am not the only producer out there that feels this way.

Now let’s say that you hit me up and you tell me you don’t have much money, but you can pay me “x” amount of cash and you really would like to use a beat I have for sale. I would more than likely work with your budget, plus help you out in other ways such as promotion, adding your song to my website, shooting the song to anyone I feel may be interested, presenting you with advice and opportunities, etc. simply based off the fact you are investing in your career and showing me that you are SERIOUS! Not only that, if I really dig your music, I may even to offer to work with you for free because I believe in your career like you believe in your career.

I am not sure if I am a rare case when it comes to help I am willing to give, but I would like to say I don’t think so. I think there are a lot of folks out there who are willing to help you AFTER you show that you are willing to help yourself.

In closing, really consider if you want music to be your career and if you do, treat your career like a career. Put money, time and effort into it, invest in yourself! I think of a Common lyric when it comes this, “Nobody believed until I believed me.” Think about that line, if you believe in yourself and invest in yourself, that will radiate from you and you will be surprised who will be willing to help you!