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DIY MUSICIAN SUCCESS BLUEPRINT: ONLINE COURSES & TRAININGS  

The DIY Musician Success Blueprint™ is a 6-Week transformational business coaching program that shows you step-by-step how to lay the groundwork for a successful music career in today’s industry.

COURSE 1: Getting Started

GETTING STARTED focuses on the fundamental elements and methods that are needed to build your music career, specifically PLANNING and ORGANIZATION. The strategies and techniques provided in this course are essential when creating the foundation for your personal music business and will be used regularly throughout your career.

Video sessions included in this course:

BUILDING YOUR CAREER: FUNDAMENTALS

This introductory session provides an overview of the Artist Canvas, (i.e. the tool you’ll use to organize your business plan), a brief walkthrough of the Lean Startup process (the methodology used to build your career) and finally The Customer Funnel, which is the framework of your business and is used to help grow your audience and encourage current fans to become paying customers.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Possess a general knowledge of how to create a business plan tailor-made to fit who you are as an artist using an Artist Canvas, which is our proprietary management system used to develop, organize and track every aspect of your career.
  • Have a clear understanding of the Lean Startup process, which is the business methodology you’ll use to discover the desires of your audience and how to use those insights to create attractive sales and promotional content that will lead you down the path to success.
  • Discover the importance of a Customer Funnel, which is the framework of your business and is used to grow your audience and encourage current fans to become paying customers.

DEVELOPING YOUR BUSINESS PLAN:

During this session, you will create your business plan using an Artist Canvas. Your primary goal during this process is to identify the facets of your current career so you have a clear understanding of where you are at and to get an idea of where you will go in your professional journey. This session will help shape how you go about building your career, provide you with an overview of your business and will assist you when making decisions on the things you will incorporate into your future in music. 

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Downloaded your Artist Canvas.
  • Created your business plan and organized it on your Artist Canvas.

WORKING EFFICIENTLY

This lesson covers techniques for being productive and staying organized, so you can maintain your focus on building your career. 

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Created a music filing system to organize all your songs and their related files, such as their lyrics, demos and recording sessions.
  • Created a business filing system where you can organize all your career files, including your MIC program files and materials.
  • Created personal filing system for all your personal needs.
  • Set up a web browser dedicated to your career.
  • Stored your passwords in one location for easy reference.
  • Organized all your contacts and made them accessible across all your devices.
  • Established an online calendar, so you can easily coordinate your schedule.
  • Designed an optimal working environment, so you have a space where you can be productive.
  • Acquired key techniques for time management and increasing your productivity.
  • Learned the steps for setting specific career goals and how to achieve them.

GOAL SETTING & EXECUTION

This module covers how to develop your career through the use of Goal Setting & Execution and introduces you to a few additional forms in the Artist Career Management System (CMS).

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Set 5-6 Short-Term Goals that will bring you closer to achieving your Long-Term Goals.
  • Created a To-Do List for achieving each Short-Term Goal.
  • Learned how to use your Goals Board and Mind Maps to clearly display the methods and items needed to accomplish your goals and to prioritize any urgent tasks.

 

COURSE 2: Creating Your Customer Funnel

Creating Your Customer Funnel walks you through the process of setting up and customizing your online presence, so that all your channels work together. This entails learning about the different services that will make up your funnel, making decisions on which services you will use, understanding what assets will be needed to set up and maintain each service and then systematically constructing everything online. Next, you’ll work on developing your brand, so that you have a professional look across all your channels and present yourself in a way that makes you relatable to your audience. Finally, we will cover content creation, which addresses the need to create consistent and timely content to keep fans engaged with your career and maintain the services that make up your funnel.

Video sessions included in this course:

WEBSITE

Building Your Website covers all aspects of setting up and maintaining your website.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the 3 types of website visitors and how to construct your site to engage them.
  • Learn the types of content, features and pages you can include on your website.
  • Understand the basic techniques for branding your site.
  • Acquire the knowledge needed to drive traffic to your website and provide those visitors with a positive user experience.

NEWSLETTER AND EMAIL

This module covers capturing your audience’s email addresses and using your newsletter to engage with fans.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the importance of having an email list.
  • Know how to capture email addresses.
  • Learn the basic principles behind automation.
  • Discover the types of newsletters & emails you will use to connect with your audience.
  • Understand the different ways you can segment your email list.

SOCIAL MEDIA 

This module focuses on providing you with an overview of each social media network, their benefits and how to set up and use each service. 

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the key elements behind each of the main social media platforms and their primary uses for musicians.
  • Understand the basics for creating content for each platform and building your following.
  • Discover the importance of analytics and how to use the information to manage and grow your channels.

The platforms we cover include: 

  • Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, SoundCloud and Twitter.

SIGNATURE SALES STORY

This module addresses designing your brand and developing your Signature Sales Story, which are the key elements for marketing you and your music.

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Created a professional artist/band name and logo because the cornerstone of your brand is what fans see first.
  • Chosen your brand colors, fonts and wardrobe, so you look as good as your music sounds.
  • Selected brand themes that will make you easily relatable to fans, so that your promotional messages don’t feel like a telemarketing call.
  • Crafted your Signature Sales Story to make fans care, so they’re willing to support.
  • Created your Signature Sales Story Brand board on Trello, keeping all of the elements of your brand organized and easily accessible.

CONTENT CREATION: SETUP ACTIVITIES

This module focuses on setting up your Customer Funnel and provides you with step-by-step instructions for creating everything from your website to your social media pages.

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Secured your online name and URLs for your website and social media channels.
  • Selected the channels and services that will make up your Customer Funnel.
  • Constructed each channel of your Customer Funnel.
  • Designed your email signup form and added it to your website and Facebook page.
  • Written your Welcome Email and set up your email automation.

CONTENT CREATION: ROUTINE ACTIVITIES

In this module, we tackle the challenge of developing a content creation system that will provide your audience with timely and consistent content, so you are able to keep your fans continually engaged with your career.

By the end of this module you will determine:

  • How many songs you will release over the next year.
  • How many music videos you will release over the next year.
  • How often you will post to social media on a daily or weekly basis.
  • How often you’ll release newsletters.
  • How often you’ll update your online channels.

BONUS COURSES

COURSE 3: Finance and Legal

Finance and Legal addresses all the aspects of your career that pertain to money and legal documents. (i.e. Two things that can literally make or break a musician’s career) 

Video sessions included in this course:  

FINANCE MANAGEMENT

This module covers basic money management, the ways musicians can earn money and creating your financial goals.

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Created your financial goals and know how to track your finances.
  • Learned about the importance of creating and working within a budget.
  • Been introduced to the types of revenue streams available to musicians.
  • Opened a bank account dedicated to music-related income and expenses.

TAXES

This module covers the different expenses musicians can write off and the basic taxes they will need to pay.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the types of expenses you can write off as a musician.
  • Understand the tax implications for working as an independent contractor and the purpose of a 1099-MISC form.

CONTRACTS

This module covers the importance of understanding contracts.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the importance of contracts.
  • Know the common elements of a contract and some common types that pertain to musicians.
  • Have basic guidelines you can follow when hiring an entertainment lawyer.

MUSIC REGISTRATION & COLLECTION

This module covers registering for copyrights and the different organizations that help musicians collect their royalties.

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Registered your songs with the US Copyright Office.
  • Signed up and submitted your music with a Performing Rights Organizations.
  • Created a SoundExchange account.
  • Selected a publishing administrator to collect your international performance royalties.

TRADEMARKS

This module covers an overview of the trademark filing process.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the process for filing for a trademark.
  • Know how to select a trademark and the elements that make a strong trademark.

FORMING A BUSINESS ENTITY

This module covers an introduction to the types of legal business entities and how and when to set them up.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know when you should form a legal business entity.
  • Understand the 4 types of business entities and which is most appropriate for you. 

COURSE 4: Growing Your Audience and Team Building

Growing Your Audience and Team Building covers techniques for growing your fanbase both online and in person, promotion and how to develop your internal team. Additionally, we show you ways to connect with industry professionals, so you have the contacts you need to grow and sustain your career. 

Video sessions included in this course:

PARTNERS AND TEAM MEMBERS

This module covers the importance of having a team and the roles its members play in a musician’s career.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the difference between a team member and a partner and the value each provides.
  • Know when you should add team members.
  • Have a clear idea of the roles you will need to fill when building a team.
  • Know the importance of a band agreement and how to create one.

NETWORKING AND PERSONAL RELATIONSHIPS

This module covers the significance of personal relationships in building your career and how to develop those relationships. 

By the end of this module you will have:

  • Learned the steps of effective networking, both online and in person.
  • Acquired the skills needed to target industry professionals.
  • Created business cards.

PROMOTION

This module covers the ways you can self-promote your music and how to get press coverage.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the steps for creating a promotional plan.
  • Receive self-promotion tips that can help generate income.
  • Understand how music discovery services can be used to promote your music.
  • Know the guidelines for writing a press release.
  • Have learned how to target music blogs.

AUDIENCE GROWTH TECHNIQUES

This module covers the different types of growth methods musicians can use to build their audience, how to track that growth and goal setting in relation to your audience size.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know how to grow your audience both online and offline.
  • Be introduced to the Audience Growth sheet, which you’ll use to track the size of your audience.
  • Have established short-term goals for growing your audience.

COURSE 5: Developing Revenue Streams and Growing Your Income

Developing Revenue Streams and Growing Your Income provides an in-depth look into the different revenue streams available to musicians and explains how to develop each form of income from the bottom up. We also discuss how to involve your audience throughout the development process to ensure you invest your time and money in the correct revenue streams, which will be based on the demand of your audience. 

Video sessions included in this course:

MUSIC SALES

In this module, we’ll cover the value digital music provides to musicians from both a financial and promotional standpoint, as well as a brief intro to physical music sales.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the financial and promotional value of your music.
  • Know the different types of digital service providers and the importance of sales coverage.
  • Have selected your digital distributor.
  • Receive our customizable Digital Sales Checklist that you can use whenever you release music.
  • Have the facts about releasing physical music, so you can decide if it will be something you will pursue.

LIVE SHOWS – 2-PART LESSON

PART 1: OVERVIEW AND TRADITIONAL LIVE SHOWS

PART 1 covers the basics of performing live, from developing your live show to building relationships within your local music scene, as well as the materials needed to promote your live show.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Understand the importance of live shows.
  • Know how to book your gigs.
  • Have learned how to plan a live show using our customizable Live Show Checklist.
  • Have established how you will collect emails addresses at shows.
  • Have created your Electronic Press Kit (EPK).

PART 2: LIVE STREAM SHOWS, HOUSE CONCERTS, COLLEGE GIGS AND PRESS KIT

PART 2 covers types of alternative gigs including Street Performing, Live Stream Shows, House Concerts, Festivals and College Shows.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the different types of alternative gigs, their benefits and how to book each type of show.

MERCHANDISE

This module covers the basics of creating and selling merchandise.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the different types of merch you can sell and how to develop and manufacture it.
  • Understand how to properly price your merch.

Learn tips for selling merch online and at shows.

PATRONAGE – 2-PART LESSON

PART 1: PATREON

This module covers an introduction to patronage as a form of income and how to use the Patreon service to grow that revenue stream.

By the end of this module you will have:

  • A clear understanding of how Patreon works and the benefits for using the service.
  • Created your Patreon page.
  • Set goals and designed rewards for your page.
  • Launched your page.
  • Connected your Patreon page to your Customer Funnel.
  • Established the routine activities needed to maintain your page.

PART 2: CROWDFUNDING

This module covers crowdfunding and the process for designing, running and promoting a campaign.

By the end of this module you will know how to:

  • Create a budget for your campaign.
  • Design fan rewards.
  • Craft your written and video pitch.
  • Select your crowdfunding service.
  • Conduct and promote your campaign.

SPONSORSHIPS

This module covers how to develop sponsorships as a source of income. 

By the end of this module you will know how to:

  • Find and contact sponsors.
  • Create a sponsorship sales package.

PUBLISHING

This module covers an introduction to music publishing, the types of licenses you can issue and the ways to use those licenses to earn money.

By the end of this module you will:

  • Know the types of licenses you can use to exploit your music and how to self-publish.
  • Have the steps for creating a Licensing EPK.
  • Decide if you will self-publish or work with a publishing company.
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