Being a musician is more than having a good voice, writing songs, or performing on stage. An artiste is the CEO of their own brand, and success requires discipline, consistency, sacrifice, and a willingness to learn.
Here are some characteristics of an unserious musician or artiste:
1. Lack of consistency: Releases music today and disappears for months or years without a plan for staying relevant.
2. Waiting for others to do everything: Expects a manager, producer, DJ, promoter, or fellow artiste to build their career while making little personal effort.
3. Poor social media presence: Rarely posts their music, promotes their work, engages with fans, or takes advantage of digital platforms.
4. Failure to invest in their career: Wants professional results but is unwilling to invest time, money, energy, or resources in their craft.
5. Lack of preparation: Goes for shows, auditions, interviews, or studio sessions without adequate preparation.
6. Pride and an unwillingness to learn: Believes they know everything and refuses constructive criticism, advice, or mentorship.
7. Poor networking habits: Only remembers people when they need a favour but fails to build genuine relationships within the industry.
8. Failure to support fellow artistes: Expects everyone to promote their songs but refuses to like, share, comment on, or promote the work of others.
9. Making excuses instead of making progress: Always has a reason why things are not working but rarely takes responsibility or makes meaningful changes.
10. Lack of a career plan: Has no clear goals for releases, promotion, performances, audience growth, or long-term development.
11. Disrespect for industry professionals: Disregards producers, sound engineers, DJs, event organisers, photographers, videographers, and other people who contribute to their career.
12. Unprofessional behaviour: Arrives late, misses appointments, breaks agreements, or fails to communicate properly with collaborators and clients.
13. Depending solely on talent: Believes that having a good voice or hit song is enough, ignoring branding, marketing, discipline, and business management.
14. Chasing fame without building value: Focuses more on titles, popularity, celebrity association, and online arguments than on improving their music and growing their audience.
15. Giving up too easily: Expects immediate success and becomes discouraged when the opportunities, recognition, or financial rewards do not come quickly.
The biggest mistake an artiste can make
An artiste who refuses to promote their own music, support others, learn, invest in their craft, and consistently show up is making success more difficult for themselves.
You cannot expect people to take your career more seriously than you do.
Remember: Being a member of an association does not automatically make you a professional. Attending meetings does not automatically grow your brand. Having talent does not guarantee success. You must be willing to work, collaborate, promote yourself, and contribute to the growth of others.
A message for artistes
An artiste is a business, a brand, and an entrepreneur. If you want people to take your music seriously, you must first take yourself seriously.
Stop waiting for someone to discover you. Stop expecting others to promote what you are unwilling to promote yourself. Stop demanding support when you have consistently refused to support others.
The music industry rewards talent, but talent alone is not enough. Discipline, consistency, professionalism, relationships, and strategic promotion are what help turn talent into a sustainable career.
Before asking, “Who is supporting me?” ask yourself, “What am I doing to build my career, and how much support have I given others?”