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Vol. 13, No. 6: Dec.-Jan. 2008
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Becoming A Complete Artist
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by Tim Sweeney
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Page added in
December, 2004
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About the Author
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Author Tim Sweeney is head of Tim Sweeney & Associates, who are entering their 18th year of being, "the only true artist development company in the world."
Tim is one of the music industry's most sought after experts and consultants, and has written several influential books including "Tim Sweeney's Guide To Releasing Independent Records".
Send comments or questions to Tim Sweeney.
© Tim Sweeney
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As I have talked about in my past articles this year, becoming a complete
artist means learning from others and how they connect with your music.
But that's not all there is to becoming a complete artist.
Becoming a complete artist means commitment. Commitment to yourself
and your art. Too often artists lack the belief in themselves because of
their lack of follow through. It's ironic. Many music artists will spend six
months to a year writing songs and producing them in a studio to get them
to be the best they can. However after they get the CDs back from the
manufacturer, they give up on their new CD in only a few weeks. Usually
when the media doesn't immediately pay attention to it or they get low
turnouts at their shows.
The lack of commitment to your art is what is keeping you from being the
artist you really are inside. For example, every year I put on a 4 day
seminar called, Music Strategies. I will get artists who call or email me and ask if they can come for one or two
days instead of all four. When I ask why they only want to come for one or
two days, they usually respond with, "I don't want to be away from my day
job too long." The same day job they hate which is keeping them from
doing their music full time.
As you see, they lack the commitment to change. Even though they know
the change will be beneficial, they will sabotage their careers to make sure
they are not successful. They have forgotten the importance of what's in
their music and how it will motivate the people who hear it to change. In
essence, they want people to be committed to change based upon their
music, even though they are not committed to their own music.
Finally, becoming a complete artist is about business. We have all heard
the term, "starving artist." Well let me say that I believe that this term is a
matter of choice. Artists fail because they want to. The artists that I work
with who learn how to do "business" from me, all find some level of
success. Being an artist means you are there to inspire and motivate but
you are also there to be compensated for your music, art, insights, and
guidance. You have not sold 1,000 or 10,000 or even 100,000 CDs
because you have chosen not to. Not because people didn't like your
music, you have not taken the time to impress upon them the value in your
art and how it will benefit them.
If you are interested in becoming a complete artist there are two ways I
can help you. First, order a copy of my new book, "Tim Sweeney's Guide
To Releasing Independent Records Part 2". It will help you make the changes
you need in one hour. Second, if you are frustrated with where you are in life
and want to do your music full time and get paid what you want for it, than
make the commitment to join me for four days by registering at
Music Strategies.
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Additional Columns by Tim Sweeney
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- And 42 more in the Guest Columnists series, view the index
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