THE PRESSURE TO BE PERFECT: NAVIGATING SOCIAL MEDIA AS A MUSICIAN-Part 2

SOCIAL MEDIA IS A DOUBLE-EDGED SWORD FOR MUSICIANS. IT CAN BE A POWERFUL TOOL FOR PROMOTING YOUR MUSIC, BUT ALSO IT CAN CREATE A LOT OF PRESSURE.

For us anxious over-thinkers, it’s easy to get stuck in a downward spiral of comparison.

It can feel like everyone around you is living the most glamorous life while yours feels pretty dull in comparison.

What we have to remember is that the people we see on social media are carefully curating their lives to make them look good. It’s easy for us to get lost in that world of perfection and forget about our own lives, and it is easy to feel like you’re not good enough or that you need to be perfect.

This can be especially true when you’re a musician and your job is to promote yourself online.

Being a musician myself I definitely fall into the comparison trap from time to time. Here are a few things that help me keep my head on straight:

1. BE CAREFUL WHEN LOOKING AT PROFILES/PAGES OF OTHER MUSICIANS-

WE OFTEN LOOK TO OTHER ARTISTS FOR INSPIRATION, BUT SOMETIMES THAT CAN BACKFIRE WHEN WE SEE JUST A MAGNIFICATION OF GOOD QUALITIES (OR BAD! ONES) BEING DISPLAYED FOR US TO REACT TO.

Try to find a role model who is helpful to you in your journey as an artist while avoiding toxic ones.

They can only make you feel worse about yourself or your career.

The first thing you need to do is figure out what exactly you are looking for in a role model. What qualities do they have that you want to emulate? Do they have skills or attributes that you lack? Are they successful in their field, and passionate when talking about it? If so, maybe they can help teach you something new.

This isn’t about becoming someone else-this is about revealing the real you. There are plenty of people I thought I wanted to be, and then realized no… not really!

SOMETIMES THE MOST INSPIRING PEOPLE DON’T HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOUR INSTRUMENT AND GENRE (MAYBE THEY AREN’T EVEN MUSICIANS!), AND ARE JUST BADASS IN WHAT THEY DO!

2. BE CAREFUL WHEN COMPARING ONESELF TO THE UNREALISTIC “PERFECT” PERSONAS POSTED ON SOCIAL MEDIA-

SOCIAL MEDIA IS A TOOL, NOT A GOAL.

We all know of the social media mega-stars and their larger-than-life feeds.

AND WE ALL KNOW THIS IS UNSUSTAINABLE AND UNHEALTHY FOR MOSTLY EVERYONE AND CAN LEAD TO FEELINGS OF EMPTINESS AND THE LOSS OF ONE’S PURPOSE.

INSTEAD, TRY LOOKING AT SOCIAL MEDIA AS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR SELF-EXPRESSION.

A chance for you to show off all sides of yourself (not just your best side).

The more authentic you are with your followers, the more they will relate to you on an emotional level as well as an intellectual one.

KEEP IN MIND: HATERS WILL ALWAYS HATE, AND IT’S JUST WATER OFF A DUCK’S BACK.

REMEMBER: YOUR LIFE ISN’T DEFINED BY WHAT OTHER PEOPLE SEE ONLINE.

Being led to believe that one should be constantly working, posting, and sharing in order to “succeed” as a musician.

A lot of people are made to feel like they’re not following the right path if they’re not spending every waking hour of their day doing something that other people find valuable- whether or not it’s really meaningful to them personally.

This can lead us down a dangerous path of feeling unworthy unless we’re constantly proving ourselves (which is exhausting), and it also leaves us feeling like we need to be constantly “doing” in order to succeed.

I’ve seen this happen time and time again with musicians who have been told that they need to constantly be posting on social media, working on music all the time, and spending every waking moment following a strict schedule in order to “be successful” as a musician.

These people are never satisfied with what they’ve accomplished because there’s always something else that needs to be done (usually at the expense of their personal relationships).

THE MOST SUCCESSFUL MUSICIANS IN THE WORLD AREN’T CONSTANTLY WORKING, POSTING, AND SHARING; THEY ARE FOCUSED ON MAKING PROGRESS TOWARD ACHIEVING THEIR GOALS (I.E., WRITING MUSIC THAT MATTERS).

MAKING MUSIC THAT MATTERS, AND SHARING IT IN A WAY THAT MAKES PEOPLE WANT TO CONNECT IS THE MOST IMPORTANT GOAL.

3. BE MINDFUL OF THE CONSTANT COMPETITION WITH OTHER ARTISTS-

This is a problem for many artists because it means you have to constantly compete with other artists for attention on social media platforms.

If you’re not careful, this can cause serious stress and anxiety — especially if your career has just started out.

I KNOW THIS STRESSES ME OUT!

The truth is that there’s no way around this one. Music promotion is a competitive business, and unless you have millions of dollars to spend on advertising, your best bet is to focus on doing things that make people want to connect with you.

Instead of trying to force people to like your art, focus on creating something that you are passionate about, and that reflects your own unique style.

Spread your work around and allow others to find it organically. Engage with other creatives in your field, be open to constructive criticism, and don’t be afraid to ask for advice.

Doing these things can help to build a natural appreciation for your art from those who are truly interested in it.

SOCIAL MEDIA CAN BE A GREAT TOOL FOR MUSICIANS IF USED PROPERLY.

It can be a great platform for promoting your music, connecting with fans, and finding inspiration.

However, it can also create a lot of pressure when dealing with the various expectations that come with it.

It’s important to remember to take breaks from social media to reduce the stress and pressure it can cause.

ADDITIONALLY, IT’S BENEFICIAL TO SET BOUNDARIES FOR YOURSELF AND BE MINDFUL OF THE CONTENT YOU’RE POSTING.

With a little bit of self-care and being mindful of your online presence, social media can be a great asset for any musician.