How to start your music career in a new town.

Whether you’re new to music, new to town, or finally getting back out there after a long break, it can be really beneficial to make solid connections in your own hometown before you try to conquer the world.

Want to build a loyal audience in your local scene?

In this episode of the DIY Musician Podcast, we’ll discuss:

03:52 Where to begin when you want to make music in a new town
04:22 “Are you terrified? That’s normal.”
06:34 Be a student of your new music scene
07:47 Music scene research checklist
08:52 Be a local culture connoisseur
09:36 Don’t ignore the music stores
10:34 “Remember MySpace?”
11:47 Contact the local “cool guy”
12:10 Account for the quirks
13:11 Big city vs. small town
16:15 Every genre has its own entry point
17:22 The wackiest popup venues!
21:06 “The craziest night of the week”
22:43 Find the club that welcomes new acts
25:37 What do you want from your hometown?
28:15 Maybe you don’t need to build a live audience?
30:14 How to find bandmates & other collaborators
33:15 Places to search for good local musicians
34:07 Steady band vs. hired guns
34:40 People still pull flier tabs
35:32 What does your scene expect from musicians?
37:36 Concentric circles: Build outwards
40:14 You can shape the local scene
41:24 Help gatekeepers solve problems
42:21 “Your friends are not your fans”
43:07 Balance between playing too often and not enough
43:40 Don’t count on an unrealistic draw
45:53 Build a reputation — with video proof
46:30 “Don’t forget where you came from”
47:53 How to get other artists to promote you
50:01 What other skills can you offer your scene?
51:29 The “unhip” publications are thirsty to tell your story
52:17 Making inroads with local press
53:00 Bad press ain’t the end of the world
53:29 Our worst reviews
57:31 Be nice to everyone
58:05 Not every “sorry” is a rejection
59:59 Basic etiquette in your music scene