5 Tips on How Artists Can Develop Their Personal Brand

The Beatles did it, and so can YOU!

RockBand Beatles Intro from Quentin Vien on Vimeo.

“On one hand, obsessing on flamboyant traits can camouflage core attributes. On the other, subtract even a trace core ingredient, and you can demolish the identity. A croissant doesn’t have much sugar, for example, but a traditional French baker won’t get very far baking one without it. Find the real core attributes and stick to them. Brands don’t live in isolated traits. It’s the combustion triggered by bundling them together that gives brands life and true ingenuity. The Beatles, after all, advised it best: “Think for yourself” . . . and do it “if just for your own sake.” (Article on Forbes on how The Beatles branded themselves.)

You may be wondering what this is all about. Well, it’s all about you…and branding yourself as an artist.

Just like any company, “product,” or service out there, your talent is something that needs to be advertised to gain the recognition it deserves.
If you were a brand, what would your logo look like? Would your name be bold? What font would you display it in? What type of audience would you target? How does your brand make a difference? Who would your brand be competing with? Ultimately, how will your brand last the test of time?

What? Objectify yourself and your talent? How? 

The Beatles did it. They out-did it. Not only did they create a brand name, start their own music genre, introduce a new statement hairstyle, a sense of humour, and create a revolution; but they redefined confidence during their era through their passion for music. Every decision that was publicized about them, said something about them. Every new song title, branded itself. They had a rush about themselves, and if it weren’t for that, they may just have been a good ol’ garage band.

 

 

An extreme example? Think again.

Here are 5 tips on how you can brand yourself:

1. Introduce yourself to yourself

Before you set out to let the whole world see your work, have a good look at it yourself and truly own it. The first step to branding yourself is to have enough confidence in not only yourself, but also your work. Your work is what will represent you, likewise, you-yourself should be willing to represent it too.

2. Imitate your idols, whilst out-doing what they did

Find out how other artists are doing it. Talk to people about it, search it online, heck, email your idols and initiate to buy them coffee. If you nail the opportunity, shower them with curiosity and take notes.
Once you have a sufficient amount of information about how the companies, people, and services you love branded themselves, address what’s common amongst them and what’s unique about you. Once you have your idea floating on the surface, dry it up and wear it. Every-single-day-until you make it.

3. Shout, don’t whisper

Recognize your voice, listen to it, own it, and then use it; because people won’t listen unless you talk. So allow them the opportunity to learn something new, to see things under a different perspective, to understand ideas that were non-existent before they heard you. A great example for this one would be Mr. Steve Jobs. One of the few unique voices that deserves to be considered a guru of branding.

4. Connect the dots

• Invest quality time in making connections with people within and outside your field of interest. 
  You’d be be surprised to know that more times than not, people are more than happy to help you. As the author Paulo Coelho beautifully put it,

  “… but I need his help, or might need it later on – there is, after all, that invisible institution called the Favor Bank, which I have always found so very useful”.

 A Favor bank is based on the concept of karma- where no good deed goes wasted. It feeds the notion, that if you ask for help in a genuinely kind manner, it is most likely that the person will help you, and feel good while doing so.
So, be open-minded, trust your intuition, and tie strong knots wherever you can.

• Understand how media works and use it to your advantage. 
  Other than introducing yourself to people at your hands reach, think big, and go global. Use your connections and their connections via social media to share your ideas and your work. Getting your word out there may just help you understand your own brand better. Showcasing your work to people that you don’t know, not only helps build  your confidence, but it also helps you grow via critiques and through the interests of like-minded individuals out there.

5. Aspire, be creative & think long term

Put a little of yourself out there step by step. Let your research and the perks of trial-and-error be your guide. Bottom line, just keep moving forward. You’re already a creative individual, so use this opportunity to challenge yourself further, and discover new ways to invest in yourself and your talent for the long run. Make your ideas last. 

 

 

Sure it will take effort, but you already knew that. If you work smart and work hard, you can be sure you’ll eventually pave your own path! And Starry Night is helping artistic individuals to catalyze their progress with just that.

If you’re an artist with a vision and have a rush for your talent, here’s a fortunate opportunity for you: A free application for your talents to be published in an Artist catalog!
Feel the itch? Go ahead & scratch it: FREE Application.