If you set up your MySpace page to help launch your music career but fame and fortune haven’t automatically followed here are some additional ideas to consider:

1. Be really, really, really good

Work extraordinarily hard at perfecting your craft. Write some great songs. Quality matters more than ever, make sure your songs are exceptional and the recording sounds good as well. You will often have only one chance to get heard. Don’t put any of your work out for public consumption unless you are sure it’s ready. If you are not really, really good, different or unique you will never be able to get noticed among the thousands of bands competing for attention today.

2. Support local music in your community

Supporting local music in your community is the right thing to do if you truly love music; it is also a great way to build important relationships. Regularly attending (and actually paying!) at local shows will get you noticed by the bands and venue staff and can provide a good opportunity to meet others in the local music community. When you are one of only a handful of people to attend a local show it will be noticed and much appreciated. Building relationships and helping other local artists can be a critical component to your success. You need local support to launch your career before having a chance to grow regionally or nationally. You never know who might be willing to help you out, facilitate an important introduction or need an opening act at some point in the future.

3. Play live shows as often as possible

Regularly playing live shows is probably the most important thing an artist can do to help their career. Performing live is the best way to build a local fan base and having an active fan base willing to pay for your shows is the best way to attract the attention of venues, booking agents, managers, distributors and record labels. Of course, the challenge is to get booked (even in an opening slot that doesn’t pay) when you are just getting started. Venues expect artists to bring paying fans to their shows, they book bands with an established following not “great” acts no one has heard of before. When you finally get booked do everything possible to bring a crowd with you. Getting gigs is very important but also very difficult, see item # 2 for some helpful hints.

4. Get a website

MySpace is an important part of every artist’s online marketing strategy these days but it should not be your primary web presence. MySpace should be one of the many places that helps drive fans to YOUR website. Like it or not an important part of being an artist today is building a brand. As a brand you need to have your own domain name that you control and can keep forever. Having your own website also allows much more flexibility and choice in selecting tools for reaching fans and selling music. Today there are several website solutions available for artists that are extremely easy to use and don’t require any HTML or programming skills. One website solution specifically tailored for artists is Hostbaby. Their websites include an email tool, blog with RSS feed, concert calendar, streaming audio, the ability sell music through your existing channels and costs only $20.00 per month. Let us know your experience with other artist website solutions and recommendations.