[private_freebie]
Most independent singers, musicians and songwriters would love to make money, or more money, using their talents. Pounding the pavement, Twittering and Facebooking till all hours of the morning, shopping demos everywhere, booking yourself in cities all over etc, are all proactive ways to make that happen. I would like to remind you that there are ways that you can give back or help other people with your talents as well. And because you used your talents for unselfish reasons, the ‘law of compensation’ returns it to you many times over!
Here are some ways to use your talents for good:
- Offer to perform for a benefit before they ask you.
- Write a complete song or a theme song for a nonprofit and donate it to them.
- Perform at hospitals, the Ronald McDonald House, senior living centers etc.
- Donate the proceeds of a gig to a nonprofit.
- Offer to perform or teach music or voice lessons for free at the YMCA or Boys and Girls Club.
- Record a song or a few songs and donate the proceeds of all downloads to a charity.
- Promote a charity or a charity event at your performances, in your newsletter, on your website etc, even if you are not performing at it.
- Get together with other artists, songwriters etc. and put on your own benefit concert.
- Write / record songs of encouragement, motivation etc. and give them away free to people who would benefit from them.
- If you have a good local following, use your influence to endorse your favorite charities. For example, offer to be in a TV commercial, a radio commercial or a print ad for them.
You may think that you don’t have the time to any of these things. But the truth is that every one of them is a very subtle and very effective form of marketing yourself. Keep your reasons for doing these things pure and don’t expect anything in return. But as I mentioned earlier, no good deed goes unrewarded. You never know who is going to see or hear you because of your unselfishness.
[/private_freebie]
