Written by Katy Goshtasbi
Posted on: March 12, 2019
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Music is meant to move people to action, so they can be better versions of themselves and serve their purpose. That’s my belief and that is why I love working with artists on their own brand development to generate a “movement”. To move your fans into action, as an artist, you must grow your brand by finding ways to build influence.
Everyone wants to be influential in life. Why?
Because we want to feel like we matter and can assert power. This works as long as your motives and mindset are sound.
Control versus Controlling
Just being influential for the sake of feeling powerful as an artist isn’t good enough. I always say brands with integrity win. As an artist, your brand following, and movement, will grow if your audience feels you are authentic and have integrity.
How do you achieve this result?
The answer lies in the difference between an artist being “in control” versus being “controlling”.
Being “controlling” stems from our fears of not being wanted and loved. It manifests when we take control and essentially manipulate and force people to be subservient to us. The result is not a movement that’s sustainable. A movement that comes from fear cannot last because it is not naturally developed but forced.
Being “in control”, on the other hand, is exactly the opposite. To be in control, we don’t often have to “do” much. We just have to figure out who we are, own it and naturally spread this message outwards to our fans with integrity. We are not coming from fear, but affinity for our art and our audience. A movement that comes from you, as an artist, being “in control” grows at a healthy pace and is sustainable because it is organic and genuine.
What does this mean for you? Stop and consider:
• Why do you want to be an artist?
• How do you feel about your audience?
• What is your plan for building a movement and how can you do so by being “in control” of your brand?
• What is one step you can take to build your self-awareness around when you are being “in control” versus “controlling”?
Need more support? Download this guide.
Here’s to your amazing brand,
Katy