How Much Control Do You Really Want

I'm not really interested in telling an artist what they should do unless they ask me for my advice.

And even when they do ask, I don't expect them to take everything I say.

I know how artists are. 😂

Artists are creative people, and many of us like to do things our own way. There's nothing wrong with that.

But sometimes, instead of telling an artist what to do, I think it's more useful to give them some things to think about.

Are you satisfied with where you are right now?

Are you thinking about protecting what you've already built?

Do you know what that protection actually looks like?

Do you already know someone who can help you with it?

And perhaps the biggest question of all:

What's the plan now?

What Happens When You Want to Go Bigger?

I've seen artists say, "I want to go big with this."

And there's nothing wrong with wanting that.

But eventually, an artist can reach a point where doing everything themselves starts becoming the very thing that keeps them from moving forward.

That's not necessarily a failure.

It's just one of those moments of growth that can happen in any business.

Maybe you need more help.

Maybe you need a larger team.

Maybe you need mentorship.

Maybe you need someone with knowledge in an area that you haven't had the opportunity to learn yet.

Sometimes getting to the next level means recognizing that you can't personally do everything forever.

Total Control Has a Price

Here's something else artists need to think about.

If you want total control over everything, you may also be limiting how far you can go.

That's not me saying you should give up control.

Quite the opposite.

You should understand what you're giving up before you give it up.

There are legitimate reasons to bring other people into your business. There are also people who see an artist's ambition, inexperience, financial situation, or desire for success as an opportunity to take advantage of them.

And the music industry has plenty of complicated business relationships.

So don't be afraid to get help.

Just don't stop thinking for yourself because somebody tells you they can make your dreams come true.

Learn Before You Hand Things Over

One of the best things you can do as an independent artist is become obsessed with learning.

You don't have to become an attorney.

You don't have to become an accountant.

You don't have to become a professional booking agent, graphic designer, producer, videographer, or manager.

But learn enough about those areas to understand what you're dealing with.

Learn the terminology.

Learn how the business works.

Learn what questions you should be asking.

Learn what you're actually signing.

Learn what you own.

Learn what you're giving someone else permission to use.

Learn what you don't understand well enough to make a decision about yet.

The more you understand, the less dependent you become on somebody else simply telling you what something means.

And that can be incredibly valuable.

Find Wise Counsel

That doesn't mean you have to do everything alone.

In fact, I don't think you should.

There will be things you simply don't know.

That's when you find people you trust who have the knowledge you don't have.

Get wise counsel.

Find people who aren't afraid to tell you something you don't necessarily want to hear.

Find people who can explain things to you instead of making you feel stupid for asking questions.

And most importantly, don't be afraid to ask questions.

A good professional shouldn't be threatened by an artist wanting to understand their own business.

Growth Means Change

The reality of an artistic business is that growth can change the way you operate.

What worked when you had ten people listening may not work when you have ten thousand.

What you could manage yourself at one level may become overwhelming at another.

The little system you created in your bedroom might eventually need to become an actual business structure.

That's okay.

You don't have to build the entire machine on day one.

You just need to recognize when you've reached the next hurdle.

Then figure out how you're going to get over it.

Maybe that means learning something new.

Maybe it means bringing someone in.

Maybe it means changing the way you've been doing things.

Maybe it means protecting something you've never thought about protecting before.

Every hurdle teaches you something.

Don't Let Fear Stop You From Growing

There is a balance here.

You don't want to be so afraid of getting taken advantage of that you refuse every opportunity.

But you also don't want to be so desperate to "make it" that you hand over everything to the first person who promises you success.

Stay curious.

Stay cautious.

Keep learning.

And build relationships with people you can trust.

Your career is yours.

Your music is yours.

Your creative identity is yours.

Your business decisions are yours.

Other people can help you build those things, but you should still understand what you're building.

Because ultimately, the goal isn't to know everything.

The goal is to become knowledgeable enough to recognize what you know, what you don't know, and who you can trust to help you with the things you don't know yet.

It's stressful sometimes.

Trust me, I know.

But if you keep learning, keep adapting, and keep getting yourself over the next hurdle, eventually you'll look back and realize just how far you've come.

You don't have to reach the finish line today.

Just keep moving toward it.