{"id":56,"date":"2014-09-29T09:52:03","date_gmt":"2014-09-29T09:52:03","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/martinphilipsmith.wordpress.com\/?p=56"},"modified":"2014-09-29T09:52:03","modified_gmt":"2014-09-29T09:52:03","slug":"becoming-the-troubadour-beginnings-part-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.alterativus.com\/martinphilipsmith\/?p=56","title":{"rendered":"Becoming the Troubadour – Beginnings Part 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

In my last post<\/a>, about “Becoming the Troubadour”, \u00a0I wrote about my rediscovery of solo, acoustic music and of the great singer-songwriters – and my desire to go more down this route myself as a performer. \u00a0Essentially, I was addressing the “Troubadour” half of this Online Troubadour adventure<\/a> that I signaled my intent to embark upon.<\/p>\n

So, what about the “online” part … what is that all about?<\/p>\n

Well, I’m fascinated by the potential of social media and the Internet to totally redefine the relationship an artist has with their audience. The potential is there to reach a very large number people, of course. However, far more likely as a self-promoting solo artist, you get to reach a relatively small audience (still possibly much larger than the one you reach on the gigging circuit) – but you can start to build a dialogue and relationship with them.<\/p>\n

For a while\u00a0now digital recording technology has made it possible to record and publish music at much lower costs than previously. The ready availability of recording software and hardware has made it possible to\u00a0produce good quality recordings in home studios. \u00a0Even professional studio recording has become available at a cost many can afford. You don’t have to have a recording contract anymore to get in a studio. \u00a0Social media (including specialist music sites) provide a low-cost way of getting your music out there and noticed. \u00a0The days of being dependent on radio airplay for exposure are long gone. \u00a0Also, you are able to\u00a0\u00a0reach a much more geographically dispersed audience. \u00a0For example, I notice that I have Facebook followers in the Far East. \u00a0Now, on the strength of that, I may not go and gig there (just yet) – but I can record my live performances and post them on YouTube for my followers in other countries to view!<\/p>\n

The flip side of all this is that the Internet is teeming with artists vying to get your attention, from big names through to folks who are just throwing something out the for the hell of it. Getting noticed big time means either having the big battalions of the record labels and media companies behind you with their big promotional budgets and expertise\u00a0\u00a0– or being very adept (and\/or lucky) at social media marketing.<\/p>\n

However, if (like me) you think you are unlikely to ever have a platinum selling album or to be playing to sold-out stadiums, the news is still good. \u00a0I just want to be able to make my music and share it with an appreciative audience. \u00a0I would love to be able to make a living out of it – but as a man in his middle years with responsibilities and bills to pay – I realise that may never happen. \u00a0Social media means I can reach out to engage with an audience much more geographically and culturally diverse than I ever could gigging around my little corner of the world. I can find a niche audience who are interested in what I am doing. It doesn’t have to be huge.<\/p>\n

I’m really interested in how far\u00a0this engagement with an online audience can be taken. Up until now, I have been pretty conservative in this respect. \u00a0Bands I have been in have had an online presence dating back to SkyHunter having a MySpace page. Remember MySpace folks? \u00a0However, we didn’t really do any more than post a few pictures, make a few songs available to listen to and publicise our upcoming gigs. \u00a0There was no real engagement or conversation with our fans. \u00a0I know there are artists out there who are much more advanced in how they are using social media. I’m keen to explore and experiment with what can be done.<\/p>\n

The fact I am simultaneously taking a different musical direction (going solo acoustic) undoubtedly adds to the risks of things going seriously pear-shaped. However, it also offers an opportunity for me to share that journey with an audience. You can share in my\u00a0ups and downs,\u00a0cheer and encourage from the sidelines, jeer and throw brick-bats etc. as the fancy takes you. \u00a0 That does mean me taking a different attitude to what and how I share – being braver and more open. It probably means me sharing rough recordings of songs, \u00a0partial song ideas with you and so on. It’s a risk – but I like the idea of being very honest and open and getting your feedback.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the ideas I have for how\u00a0I can be sharing and engaging with you:<\/p>\n