Published: Monday - October 15, 2007
Words by Donny Goines
Have you ever seen those commercials where the two men are comparing themselves and explaining how they are better than each other? You know what I'm talking about. One of them is old and stiff, the other is young and cool and there both speaking as if they are the two different types of computers. I love those commercials, very clever and I'm a Mac user myself, but no matter which type you prefer the point is you need to USE A COMPUTER!!!!!!!!!!!
I can't understand how there are still artists out there that don't really utilize this invaluable resource. The first investment I made into my career was the purchase of my computer and I swear to you it was the best thing I've ever spent my money on thus far. For starters, you can manage and store all your music (which is very important) and if you're smart, you will buy one that allows you to burn discs (I can't even tell you how many times this feature has come in handy). Another good thing is that you can use this device (along with other equipment) to start up your own studio set up if you want to record at home. These are just some of the things you can do to help you succeed. There's plenty more.
One VITAL resource a computer provides is access to the various social sites you can use to promote your music. There are too many to count and I won't even begin to suggest anyone in particular, but they are out there. A common mistake many artists make though is that they usually just focus on one (can you guess which one it is lol?) but like anything else "if you're not early you're late you," feel me? Simply put, certain sites are over saturated, so instead of focusing on just one, why not spread your name on as many as you can? It makes sense if you think about it. One thing a lot of people always say about me is "I see you everywhere" and in actuality I'm just in one spot (my bedroom) spreading the word on many different forums, websites, etc. Like my grandmother always told me "Never put all your eggs in one basket."
Another great thing about computers is the ability to research and find out information. As long as you got a good Internet provider (no dial up lol) and the determination you can learn whatever you need to know about the business for the most part. Many people think that you need to know someone or be in the industry (which doesn't hurt, but it's not necessary) to advance your knowledge, but when I started I didn't know a soul, nor did I have any real knowledge about the entertainment field. I just simply researched and read about various topics I found on the net. Many websites out there full of valuable information and I really studied hard. Something aspiring musicians need to understand is that you have to be educated before you even try to enter this game. If you're not, you can expect a lot of pitfalls and problems down the line.
Besides the things I've mentioned there are many other benefits using a computer provides. Emails (who actually mails demos anymore?), instant messaging (great for interviews), and accessibility (you'd be surprised who I've met online) among other things and you'd be a fool not to use it to your advantage. One clever analogy that commercial symbolized is the difference between the past and the future and if you're like me, I can only relate to the young dude.
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