| Internet forums and discussion boards have become | | | | push it by thinking with your head, and not with your |
| a valuable medium for establishing an online presence, | | | | heart. |
| building a reputation, networking with peers, and | | | | 6. Make full use of the signature functionality in forum |
| getting feedback on relevant topics and ideas. With | | | | communities to brand yourself, especially by putting a |
| that said, there are many forums and discussion | | | | slogan, a quote, a banner, or a link that points to |
| boards on the Internet specific to music artists, | | | | your Artistopia profile or personal website. This is |
| musicians, and songwriters. These music forums are | | | | permissible at most music forum communities, and is |
| packed with wisdom that thriving artists can leverage | | | | helpful for others in learning more about you when |
| for their professional development advantage. By | | | | reading your posts. Relation to professional |
| becoming actively involved in music forum | | | | development: Every professional artist is known for a |
| communities, artists can find themselves absorbing an | | | | signature of some sort, even if it's lyrics, beats, |
| abundance of music industry knowledge that can help | | | | looks, or wardrobe amongst many other aspects of |
| in furthering their respective career agendas. | | | | branding. Start thinking of yourself as a brand that |
| Registration at music forum communities is generally | | | | sells and start establishing your market or niche. |
| free, however, the more prominent and private | | | | Become known for something distinct and keep |
| communities charge nominal fees for memberships. | | | | building on it. |
| To find the right forum community for you, we | | | | 7. Engage the readers by articulating your ideas |
| suggest you go to a popular search engine like | | | | intelligently, making sure your posts are flawless of |
| Google ( or Yahoo ( and perform a search on "music | | | | grammar and spelling mistakes, leaving out slang |
| forums". Browse the search engine results one by | | | | terms and not using excessive caps, and ensuring |
| one, and keep in mind that each forum community | | | | your writing flows smoothly. Readers are quick to |
| has its own mission, theme, guidelines, and attitude. | | | | place judgements based on your ability to write and |
| After visiting a few music forum communities, you | | | | communicate your thoughts effectively. Relation to |
| will quickly learn that not all music forums are the | | | | professional development: The music industry is about |
| same. Taking your time in finding the right community | | | | building your fan base and keeping them. Gain their |
| is key because you will want time spent to be an | | | | confidence by displaying the ability to walk the walk |
| investment and not a waste. To help you find the | | | | and talk the talk, professionally and effectively. Let |
| right music forums for your needs, Artistopia offers | | | | them know through actions that your position in the |
| the below suggestions. Note that at the end of each | | | | industry was earned and not handed to your |
| suggestion below, an explanation is provided on how | | | | overnight. |
| it applies to the development and maturing process | | | | 8. Frequent the forums and post messages on |
| of an artist in the music industry. | | | | regular basis. Appearing often will demonstrate your |
| 1. Carefully select a forum community you can settle | | | | loyalty to the community, and your resolve to building |
| into for the long haul. Take your time researching | | | | your name and reputation. More importantly, you will |
| them by reading existing posts, and making sure | | | | be consistently marketing yourself time and time |
| conversations, and music styles, meet your learning | | | | again. Members that disappear for long periods of |
| goals and objectives before making your selection. | | | | time are perceived for not being focused or serious |
| Relation to professional development: Finding the right | | | | about their agenda in the community. Relation to |
| music company or business that will develop you | | | | professional development: Half of the battle to |
| thoroughly is key to helping you mature in the | | | | making it in the music industry is keeping your brand |
| business properly. Always know that haste makes | | | | afloat and marketable. Being a star is the farthest |
| waste. | | | | thing from a walk in the park or a picnic. Stars have |
| 2. Focus on building a well-respected reputation within | | | | to do many performances, appearances, interviews, |
| the forum community. A reputation in any forum | | | | and anything else that will put them in front of a |
| community is earned by a member's cumulative | | | | camera to keeping their brand alive. Absence will |
| interactions and contributions over time, and not | | | | deplete your popularity. |
| within a few posts. Keep your reputation untarnished | | | | 9. Network, collaborate, and create as many contacts |
| because repairing any damage done to it is always | | | | as possible. Do not be afraid to step out of the |
| twice as hard as building it in the first place. Relation | | | | forum community box and work in-person on |
| to professional development: Your reputation as an | | | | projects with fellow artists, musicians, and |
| artist in the music industry is your integrity, and | | | | songwriters you meet in these forums. More |
| tarnishing it could lead to alienation and possible | | | | importantly, always fish out and befriend members |
| ousting. Wounded lions drag the rest of the pride | | | | that you feel will further your agenda. Do not |
| down. | | | | hesitate to share your ideas with other members, |
| 3. Keep your posts clean, respectful, and productive | | | | because if you don't you will be isolating yourself. |
| no matter what direction the conversation or | | | | Relation to professional development: The music |
| message thread takes. It will be tough to contain | | | | business is about who you know and being at the |
| yourself at times, but learn to exercise patience and | | | | right place at the right time. To increase your |
| calculated response tactics. Misunderstandings often | | | | chances of unearthing opportunities, collaborate with |
| happen in forums, and when they do, you will need | | | | as many peers and professionals as you can. You |
| to know when to respond and when not to. Relation | | | | never know who will open the door for you. |
| to professional development: Being an artist in a | | | | 10. Do not spread yourself too thin by participating in |
| multi-billion dollar music industry is a job and not a | | | | more than 2 forum communities. Stay focused on |
| party. Learn to be professional at all times and costs. | | | | establishing your presence and building a reputation in |
| 4. Be careful not to offend senior members and | | | | a few places only. Diligent research up-front will lead |
| administrators. Forums tend to foster loyalty | | | | to wise decisions on the forums you elect to settle in |
| amongst the members, so measure each word in | | | | with. Relation to professional development: |
| your posts and focus on being productive, not | | | | Productivity is key, especially when you aren't getting |
| destructive. Egos and arrogance need not apply | | | | paid. Start small and build your way up. Every single |
| because no one knows it all. Smooth over the senior | | | | decision you make, no matter how small, will impact |
| members with wit and intelligence, and you will | | | | your overall progress. Learn the politics of the music |
| receive a warm welcome. Relation to professional | | | | business and use them to perfection. |
| development: Simple, offend the wrong music | | | | Building a presence in any forum community can |
| professional and it could mean your career. Be open | | | | challenge the most open-minded socialite mankind can |
| to constructive criticism and always yearn to learn | | | | offer. However, by exercising the above suggestions, |
| from all those around you. | | | | you can be sure you are not marching in blindly. |
| 5. Use the forums to "subtly" promote your personal | | | | Exercise each of these suggestions in moderation, be |
| website or Artistopia profile, which will give you more | | | | patient as it will take time to build up your reputation, |
| exposure (brand name building) and help drive your | | | | and always act professional so others can respect |
| overall numbers (song downloads, profile views, etc.). | | | | you. Forums will ultimately teach you people skills and |
| Most forum administrators frown upon direct | | | | politics. |
| promotions and blatant advertising, but they will allow | | | | Once you perfect the above forum tactics, then it is |
| you to represent the website you are from. Always | | | | time to move on and fish out real life music circles by |
| consider yourself a visitor and respect the guidelines | | | | attending networking happy hours, conventions and |
| set forth because administrators will ban without | | | | conferences, and any other gatherings that |
| hesitation. Relation to professional development: | | | | congregate music artists and professionals in one |
| Identify and exercise all marketing opportunities that | | | | place. Most important is for you to keep in mind that |
| will promote your artistic talent without igniting a turf | | | | being a music artist in this business is a job and not a |
| war. Know your boundaries and how far you can | | | | party. Good luck and tread safe! |