The Biggest Networking MISTAKES all music producers should avoid

Networking is something that can tremendously help your odds of ‘making it in the music industry’, so here are a few mistakes that you should avoid at all costs when developing your connections…

4 THOUGHTS FROM ME

1. Make as many connections as possible and nourish the ones you value.

In the music industry, the more people you know, the more you’ll increase your chances of becoming friends with producers and industry members who can eventually help you in your music genre. This is, for example, what can help you get an email from a label, meet big artists, collaborate with artists, and many other things that can boost your career.

Therefore, here are a few things that have helped me build relationships in the industry:

1. Genuinely become friends with the people you value and try to move away from a simple ‘business’ relationship, and the best way to do this is by meeting them in person and just have a good time with them;
2. Talk to everyone and not only the producers who are bigger than you. Not only would this leave an arrogant image of you to other producers, but you’ll probably miss out on loads of amazing producers that could eventually collab with you, introduce you to someone important, or even become good friends with you;
3. Show interest in their careers and their progress. Nobody likes a friend who only talks and only wants to know about themselves, and the same applies to producers.

2. Stop being only in your DAW and get out there physically or digitally.

The best way to meet new people is to go to places and make connections, especially when we’re talking about large events. However, it’s not only attending a festival but trying to get backstage and meet the people who could help in the future. In that scenario, going to smaller events makes it a lot easier to meet whoever you’re trying to meet because huge events would require a lot more from the organizers and artists would be often shielded in their minivans.

But, you don’t always have the possibility of going to these big events, but, luckily, the internet has also given us a lot of resources to talk to big artists while at home. Therefore, here are a few things that I found useful over my years in the industry:

1. Develop a relationship before the event happens and schedule things in advance. For example, after talking to Le Youth for a long time online, I was able to meet him by letting him know that I was coming to an event he was playing days before the event, which made him expect me at the event and allowed me to come into his trailer;
2. Connect with an artist who has the connections you would like to have, and then you’ll be able to join backstage alongside them. Actually, that’s the best way to meet new people;
3. Participate in forums from these artists and try to contribute to them, which often leads to you having access to the people you want to meet. For example, one student became good friends with Daniel by Fatum by playing Among Us with him on Discord;
4. But, most importantly…

3. Treat them like a person, not an artist/A&R, and act like you’re one of them, not just a fan.

Whenever you meet someone that you value in the industry, which could be an A&R or a big artist, act like you’re one of them instead of a fanboy/girl. When you meet someone, treat them as an equal and talk to them about random stuff that would make them feel you’re a good person, and not a crazy fan, since these are the relationships that tend to stick.

Not only this but when you talk to them like a friend, instead of an artist or A&R, your conversations will stand out, and they will think of you as a nice person, which can open doors for you to build a relationship with them which can eventually benefit you in the future. Here are a few things I like to do when I’m around people that I’m a huge fan of:

1. Talk to them like you talk to your best friend, and possibly about something beyond music as that can take you away from the ‘just another fan talk’;
2. If they are in a group, talk to the other people in the group and not only the person you’re trying to meet. It’s a lot easier to get closer when you have the group on your side;
3. Don’t nag and respect their timing. Some people are busy and constantly nagging, picture requests, fan facts can turn them off and put you in the ‘fan zone’;
4. Become friends with the artist’s manager more than the artist as he/she is often ‘forgotten’, but he/she is the one that can easily put you in touch with the artist in the future.

4. Be helpful!

I’ve already commented in many posts that you need to give more than you take in the industry, and this is true whether you’re trying to talk to a huge label, an A&R, or any other producer in the industry. Why? We tend to help those who help us back, right?

Not only this, but we tend to remember those who help us more, and that is something that can eventually get you a backstage pass, an email from an A&R from a producer friend, and many other things. But, how?

1. Most labels have Discords nowadays, so get in there and start being active. The more you participate, the more the label will notice you, which can eventually make you a moderator in the Discord, which can give you easier access to the label or get you backstage in one of their events;
2. Send a sound pack, video, a remix you made of their song, or anything that you’ve made that could interest a big artist as an ice-breaker and start talking to them. That’s how I started talking to Adriatique, Cristoph, Cassian, Enamour, PRAANA, Sultan & Shepard, Le Youth, and many more;
3. Give feedback to an artist and develop a conversation afterward. That’s how I met a few DJs that later introduced me Le Youth, Jody Wisternhoff, Pete K, and many more.

1 QUESTION FOR YOU

What things can ruin a relationship or prevent you from forming one in the first place?

1. Not following up.
When you build a connection, follow up. Don’t let it be forgotten, but also don’t be a pain in the ass. Again, follow up like you do with a friend.

2. Being awkward or silent when you meet.
If you don’t talk, you don’t get to build a connection with whoever you’re trying to talk to. Therefore, put any shame away and just talk. Just participate in the group conversation they are having, and your fears will go away.

3. Stop asking too much from people you’ve just met.
When you meet someone, if you try to force a conversation it can sometimes throw that person away, especially if you’re constantly asking for something. Remember that networking is more about giving than taking.