Having anxiety about sharing music? Look no further!
Tell yourself, “I may not be the best artist, but I’m learning how to be one.”
*Raises hand to forehead*
I’ve had it up to here with these ‘music mentors’ who say:
“If you’re scared of posting your music, then get out of this industry!”
This issue isn’t something to gauge how passionate someone is about making music, an anxiety disorder could be a factor.
Just because some people have unlimited confidence, and haven’t ventured into the darkest realms of social anxiety, doesn’t mean marketing your music should always be easy.
You might feel so much passion for your work. You may have dedicated months or even years to your craft, and still might feel cautious about sharing your music to people.
If you can relate to this, DO NOT FEEL EMBARRASSED!
You’re not alone, so many people have spoken to me about how daunting this first step can be for aspiring commercial artists. It may be one of the first big obstacles on your path, but you know what they say…
“The first is always the worst”
Okay, I just made that up… Anyway, here are some reasons why some of you may be reluctant to commercialise your music and solutions to follow.
1. Imposter Syndrome
If you’re telling yourself any of the following:
“People will make fun of me”
“I’m not as good as anyone else”
Or
“I might sound too much like Kanye”
Then you may have a case of Imposter syndrome.
Don’t worry, you’re not going to die. It’s simply a common psychological pattern where feelings of self doubt, anxiety and worry of seeming like a fraud creep in. It’s sort of like telling yourself you’re not good enough.
Solution
Tell yourself, “I may not be the best artist, but I’m learning how to be one.”
Meaning, if people don’t like your music then they won’t listen to it. If you get constructive criticism, take it. And if you get abuse hurled at you, use it as motivation.
All of your idols were bad at what they do at some point, that’s how they became good at it.
Related article: 6 Proven mindful practices to be an original musician
2. People won’t want to collaborate with you
It’s needless to say that collaborating with the right artists can open up so many doors, but what if you haven’t got any doors to open?
What if they look at your old songs and realise how much of a beginner you were?
I’ll be the first to say that no one thinks this. Fellow artists will only consider your worst tracks to see how much you’ve improved, but certainly not to gauge your quality and skill.
Solution
Network with a wide range of artists within your genre to gain a little confidence. A lot of people understand that everyone is a beginner at some stage, so they’ll also help you improve.
Remember, not everyone is going to want to collaborate with you, and you should never force one that doesn’t work.
Keep improving your style and your DMs will be flooded with interest.
Related article: How to collaborate with the right musicians during lockdown
3. It’s your little baby
What if you’ve just stumbled upon a new sound?
It’s so great, so groundbreaking, that no one can know about it. If anyone hears a snippet of this sound, they’ll stage a full on robbery to get their hands on it.
There are a few issues with the above statement:
- Welcome to the music industry
- You’re not going to be groundbreaking without a fan base
- You need to release it asap before someone else creates it themselves
Solution
This is the music industry, a load of audio photocopiers, coining terms for genres and sounds that they may or may not have created.
This is the challenge, defending what is rightfully yours by using it your way, and however you want to. This may mean growing a solid, and loyal fan base that will back your corner when confronted with the dreaded question…
“Who made this beat?”
Related article: 9 ways to stay motivated as a small artist
Summary
Social media can be a scary place, which makes it extremely easy to stay in your comfort zone and to hold your music for dear life.
But one of the main qualities a great artist can have is fearlessness, the ability to take risks. The sooner you realise that all of the stress and anxiety you’re feeling is as a result of overthinking what doesn’t exist, the more you’ll improve your craft.
You’ll have a lot of scary moments in your career, but facing each one will make you a stronger person.
Thank you for reading!
