what Id like to see is, everyone who can play, get out and start promoting yourself as an independent artist. go out and talk to people, get gigs, and start promoting them.
then when you secure a gig or a few, call up the other artists and support each other. play each others gigs. promote each others events.
theres lots of how to books at
www.musicbookplus.com or chapters.ca or Amazon.com to help you get started and motivated
bottom line is, if everyone gets out playing, stuff is getting done, and theres no reason why you cant play the same venues as any other artist, even the crappy ones, even when you have to drive two hours and get lost in the rain, even when no one is paying you, even when you keep playing the same crappy gig down the street and hardly anyone shows up, if you keep at it, thats where everyone else got started, or even if its just a part time thing stuff is getting done
then all the artists get together and pool your resources and support each other, youre not competing with each other, theres strength in numbers, just go for it, its a team sport like soccer, get in and have fun
and if you want to learn more industry skills start responding to Now magazine ads to work for free or $10 an hour or whatever for people who know a bit more than you do, or offer to work for free for anyone doing what you want to learn or if it will help you network
show up anywhere where other Christian artists hang out, heres one
www.coffeehouse.ca, their main venue is on Danforth Ave Toronto. do a search and get networking with other Christian artists.
if youre willing to serve soon you will have a full throttle ministry, if youre willing to play any venue not just rave parties.
and if you want to promote your own raves, thats another kettle of fish, you might not have any time to perform, or if you set up a regular gig for yourself you may be able to book other artists in (even a youth group or coffeehouse or bar that doesnt currently have music), or just get playing the same circuits or venues other artists play (ask around and get networking)
if youre willing theres a way
as far as getting the word out, you have to build an audience whether youre an artist or promoter, its the same thing really... StreetBeatz pooled our resources and we promoted everyones parties not just our own in Toronto. we became the source for Christian underground events in Ontario for awhile, running an online magazine with photos. we just wanted to get the word out and that was our promotional vehicle. DM4C came about when we started swapping DJs with other parties and had to stay in touch with a lot of people who were a part of what became a movement. we saw a need, and filled it, and it exploded... Habakkuk 1:5, and the rest is history...
resources are everywhere if you look for them. but its a lot of hard work to get anything off the ground. the best way to get something happening is if everyone is working and you dont necessarily need to be working on the same thing. just help each other out. work in your own gifts, commit them to God to use you how He sees fit
most of our meetings were really based on praying together and coming up with ideas, and we carried out the ideas after the fact on our own. really coming together to support each other and go out and get to work is the essence of church, and there are lots of artist friendly churches in Toronto...
just wanted to throw some ideas out there to get people thinking forward... if everyone gets out playing, there is a scene, connect the dots and support each other, even if what other people are doing isnt exactly your thing, chances are your audience will like it, and dont expect yourself to be what youre not, youre not Tiesto, you dont have to be, just be what you be and do what you do.
if you work in your gifts, or in your availability find a need and fill it (even learning new skills, if you help out others chances are they will help out you), like DJing for a church youth group, just serve... and if when you ever do get rich and famous keep the youth group gig anyways
but the essence of the underground is based on people who work long hours for the love of music, money comes and goes if you ever see any of it at all. people come and go. people are still making music for the love of music. if what you do is for the love of people it will show and it will be an extension of your prayer life like anything else you do.
if you make a list of what youre good at, and what youd like to see happen (like all the questions you write down when you start a business), you might come up with some ideas you hadnt thought of. there might be an easier way to go about things.
always find a way to give back, goodwill spreads and it will come back to you. remember the whole worldwide industry is based on relationships. people who screw others over dont get invited back.
k thats just some random general thoughts and hope people find some worthwhile ideas in all of that to help get you thinking in the right directions... remember you dont have to do anything thats been done and you dont have to be like anyone else, become a leader, people follow leaders and entertainment and everything else is personality-based. have a product or service that serves people (your cool music).
Look at the nations and watch and be utterly amazed. For I will do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told. Habakkuk 1:5
peace and love
