© 2015 Vinny Ribas
Here are a few common yet critical mistakes that many indie artists make.
1. Not having a well-designed website to drive people to so theycan learn more about you, buy your music, see where you are playing and sign up for your newsletter.
2. Not carrying business cards, or having cards without all of your contact information on them.
3. Posting 30 seconds of a song and expecting people to fall in love with it and buy it without every hearing the whole thing.
4. Doing the right things in the wrong order. For example, promoting a song to radio before you have a website and newsletter signup form to capture interested fans.
5. Thinking that all you need is a booking agent and/or a manager when you have no income coming in. Both work on commissions. Until you are making and commanding enough money to make it worth while for them to come on board, you have to do it yourself.
6. Not doing your due diligence on your band members and professional team members (agent, attorney, artist developer etc.) It only takes one undesirable person to damage your reputation or even your career.
7. Not using an entertainment attorney for your contracts. They know all of the ins and outs of the industry. Consider their fee an insurance policy protecting you against the seedy side of the business.
8. Insisting on recording and performing only your own songs when you are not a strong enough writer to fill an entire CD or show with great material.
9. Spending your money in the wrong places. For example, buying more gear may not be as important as investing in vocal or instrument lessons.
10. Not learning the ins and outs of the music industry so you make wise decisions.
