In today’s highly technological world, having an online presence is a must when it comes to booking gigs for the independent artist. An online presence lends overall credibility to the artist. What’s more, having all materials aggregated in one place makes it easier for potential venues, event planners, and talent buyers to review the materials and […]
Author: Anitra Jay
Anitra Jay is an acoustic soul singer-songwriter based in Eureka Springs, AR. She tours regularly up and down the US from Vermont to Texas and everywhere in between. Her music is a sultry down to earth blend of soul, pop, and gospel. After being laid off from her job in 2007, Anitra decided to pursue a career in music. She took her educational experiences in Public Relations and her professional background in marketing and applied it full force to her music. She's found significant success in establishing a lasting fanbase using her special brand of marketing techniques which she shares freely with other artists. In addition to being a full-time performer, Anitra runs TheCraftyMusician.com, a blog for indie artists sharing actionable tips and advice on how to promote, develop, establish a fanbase, and more. Her passion is to inspire other musicians and build a community of like-minded independent artists to encourage and promote successful careers in the arts. She appeared on HGTV's Tiny House Hunters in May of 2017 to share her music story and her Tiny House Journey with the world. Join Anitra on YouTube where she shares weekly DIY tips and secrets to move your music career forward.
10 Must Haves for your Artist Website
Your artist website is your conversation with the world. In most cases, this will be the first ever conversation you will have with a potential fan, event planner, media representative or talent buyer. Your website will help them decide whether to contact/engage with you, go to your show, or move on to the next artist. This is […]
How to Book House Concerts
It’s a beautiful evening! Everyone is having a great time. You are performing one of your favorite songs in front of the fireplace looking out into your audience of smiles and bopping heads as they sway to your tunes. There are about 30 people all together. They are engaging with you as you banter between […]
How to Get Your First Music Gig
You’ve got the nuances of your set list ironed out, practiced, and practiced. Now you are ready for your first music gig. My first gig was sort of a get together of my friends and family. We booked the clubroom in my apartment facility for the night, brought some refreshments, and invited every one we […]
20 Engaging Content Ideas for Social Media
We’ve updated this post and created another post with 50 social media content ideas for when you’re drawing a blank. Check out the new post here. I’m always looking for things to post on my social media that are both interesting and engaging. I’ve tried many ideas and the list below are my favorites! In […]
8 Ways to Sell more Merchandise at Shows and Double Your Income
As an independent artist, you make your money through several different avenues. One of these avenues has a very high potential to almost double your earnings at live shows. It is why artists make the most money touring. They are making their money from ticket and merchandise sales. Venues like to take a cut from […]
Leave a Lasting Impression with Your Audience
As independent artists, our greatest asset when it comes to acquiring fans is our live performance. With live performances, you are essentially making a sales pitch to potential fans. The moment someone new sees you perform, they are engaging in a decision making process. It is at your live performance where they decide whether they […]
15 Ways to Get People to Your Show
Draw. Draw is the magic word. When you’re booking shows, most venues want to know how much draw you have. Your draw is your ace card when it comes to negotiating with venues. It can also be used as leverage to get better deals and better accommodations. With a good draw you can get the shows […]
How I Get Subscribers on my Mailing List
As an independent artist, your mailing list is your lifeline. It is your direct connection to your fans. Whenever you want to reach them, they are only a few clicks away. These are the very people who have committed to supporting you and the best means to interact with them is through your mailing list. This […]
A Lesson on Goal Setting
Goal setting is the bedrock of success. Goals shape, motivate, inspire and provide accountability in anything they are applied to. Goal setting is writing down a quantifiable set of desires that are attainable and measurable. Goals allow you to better manage your time. Time is a valuable resource. Knowing your goals will help you decide […]
5 Must Do Rules to Being an Independent Artist
Being an independent artist takes a lot of grit. You have to push through the rejection and the negativity and show up to work. Whether it’s your shows or business meetings, or passing out flyers on the street, you have to show up every time in spite of how you feel. I didn’t realize what […]
