© 2010 Vinny Ribas
I am pleased at the number of artists that I meet who just want to be famous enough thatt they can ‘make a difference’ in the lives of others. However, I am concerned that they think they need to wait for celebrity status to have an impact. I believe that you can start from wherever you are right now to reach people in a positive way. You don’t need to have millions of people buying your music to change the world. You can start with one life. And if you constantly strive to touch people in a positive way with your music now, you will attract and help more and more fans who want and need to hear what you have to say.
Here are some ways that artists and songwriters can have an impact starting today:[private_freebie]
- Write positive songs. Build a reputation for being uplifting and encouraging.
- Join the Positive Music Association (www.positivemusicassociation.com) and surround yourself with other artists who have the same ultimate goals.
- Write a song for your favorite nonprofit organization(s) that they can use in their marketing, on their website etc. Donate it to them.
- Perform for people who don’t have the chance or ability to see live music. This can include nursing homes (some have a budget to pay you), group homes for people with disabilities, respite facilities, homeless shelters etc.
- Tithe a portion of your income to your favorite charity(s).
- Make it a habit to comp 2 people to each of your live shows who can’t afford to pay the ticket price.
- Perform positive music at schools, YMCAs, Boys and Girls Clubs etc. Teach the students that music doesn’t need to be about violence, hate etc. or contain foul language to be good.
- Write/perform songs that bring light to specific people’s good works. It’s a kind of recognition few will ever get and will play over and over again forever.
- Offer to be the music for a nonprofit fundraiser. If you have enough notoriety, offer to play a benefit concert.
- Donate musical instruments and equipment that you no longer use to someone who needs it.
- Honor local heroes in a song – policemen, firemen etc.
- Record a children’s CD with all positive songs on it. Get a sponsor to pay for pressing and then distribute it to the schools in your area.
- Write and/or perform songs that encourage people to overcome their addictions.
- Write and/or perform songs that help people with addictions through the recovery process.
- Write a song in memory of someone who passed away and give it to his or her family.
- Write a non-specific tribute song to people who do a lot for others. Any time that someone like that comes to one of your shows, recognize him and then dedicate it to him.
- Write/perform songs that encourage families to get closer.
- Record one song that you sell downloads to where all of the income goes to a charity.
- Offer to be a spokesperson for a charity (TV, radio or print ad, on their website etc)
- Honor someone special in each of your newsletters.
- Offer to mentor a student by teaching him or her to play an instrument.
- Write a catchy song about smiling.
- Offer to promote your favorite charity via your website or newsletter.
- Join with Compassion International (www.compassion.com), World Vision (www.worldvision.org) or similar organizations to help them find people to sponsor underprivileged children.
- Tithe a portion of your income to support a music ministry.
- Write and perform a jingle for a nonprofit.
- If you have some notoriety, or have a very unique act, align with a national nonprofit to perform concerts for them around the country. They pay you a modest fee and cover your travel and accommodations. They sell the tickets for the shows and keep all of the profits.
- Donate a portion of your CD sales to a worthy cause.
- Perform benefit house concerts on your off nights. All proceeds go to a specific charity.
- Offer to sing for children at summer camps.
- Volunteer as a band to help someone.
- Use your mailing list to recruit help for a person or organization.
- Use your mailing list to ask for prayers or healing thoughts for someone.
- Write personalized songs to honor senior citizens.
- Thank both active and retired serviceman for their service in song and at shows.
- Write songs for other artists who share the same heart but have a larger fanbase.
- Use your local celebrity to award recognition to people who deserve it but don’t get it.
- Offer to perform for troops at a local military base.
- Write a song about how wonderful your community is and offer it to your local chamber of commerce to use on their website.
- Use your music videos to honor a person or organization.
- Write/perform anti-bullying, anti-violence songs at schools.
- Write/perform songs that teach valuable life lessons.
The bottom line is simply that there is no reason or need to be famous to make a difference in people’s lives. You can make people smile, encourage them, honor them, and help them right from where you are right now. Begin your legacy now. Who knows? It just might be the actual reason you become famous!
Please add things you’ve done or your suggestions to the comment list.[/private_freebie]
