Taken at the Rhythm! Discovery Center in Indianapolis, IN, where I premiered Paul Lansky's Metal Light via social media. Who would have thought something like this could've been possible?
With any new trend or fad, there will surely be a wave of backlash from the general public (and particularly those entrenched in old ways) before acceptance begins to take hold. But whether you/we/I like it or not, social media is here to stay. Why?
Because it is no longer a trend or fad. It is now a part of our daily lives and culture, and it saves us from overusing the one resource that we can never get back: TIME.
It’s astounding to me that over a decade later, we are still moving out of the “denial phase” into the “acceptance phase,” but eventually those still staunchly opposing it will come to their senses (or at least to terms).
Do I think social media has addictive properties and clear disadvantages? Yes, of course, and I hope that we begin to really study its effects and educate people on how to use it safely/reasonably/effectively. I also hope that we learn how to parent our children for it, so that they don’t spend their entire lives staring at phone screens. That would be a shame.
With that said, it doesn’t change the fact that social media is the single-most underpriced, effective, and direct-to-audience form of communication that we have. If you’re a musician and you’re not utilizing social media, you should heavily reconsider your stance. I usually balk at “you have to do _____ to be successful” or “if you aren’t doing ____, you’re wrong” statements, but I genuinely think this is an appropriate thing to say. How else could some of these online superstars build such massive careers, if not for the exceptional and awesome reach of the internet?
Everybody’s presence on social media is different, and yours should be uniquely you. If you’re wondering where to start, start with what you’re good at and move outwards from there. Maybe that means you start with simple pictures and simple captions, and then move towards more long-form captions that include practical tips/advice. Perhaps you’re comfortable performing in front of the camera, and you post practice clips each day with your personal goals for the session. Or, try simply talking into the camera about topics that you know well enough to defend, once the internet trolls come along to challenge you. And trust me, they will.
People who themselves aren’t comfortable with the idea of putting out content on social media will always try to tear you down, for no other reason than their own insecurity. What’s worse is that many times, you’ll know them by name or even consider them friends. It’s tough, especially if you’re pursuing a path that others don’t understand or vibe with, but that’s okay. Keep doing your thing, humbly and honestly, and let them fall away.
Who am I to tell you this? Nobody. Honestly, I have about 1,900 Instagram followers and 700 Facebook Page “likes.” Those aren’t the highest numbers! But I work everyday to bring value to those people who have stuck by me, and I’m building my audience steadily. I'm continually upping my social media game and finding better ways to engage my followers, to get my message out, help others, and see through the career goals that I’ve set for myself.
If you have any thoughts, questions, concerns, tips—anything, shoot me an email or private message.
Thanks for reading,
Cam