Artist Empowerment

A few posts ago, I wrote about how an artist needs a core message, a clear answer to the all-important question: Who are you and what do you stand for?

Here are 4 criteria to keep in mind when defining your core brand message:

1) It needs to be (at least somewhat) original.

I’m not suggesting that every artist needs to reinvent the wheel and come up with an earth-shattering concept that defines her, but you should be creative. At the very least, describe what you believe from a slightly different perspective than everybody else’s.

2) It should be authentic.

You must truly believe your core message because if you don’t, people will catch on. There is nothing worse than artists who try too hard to be something they are not.

3) It has to be something that people will care about.

If your brand message is irrelevant, your art becomes irrelevant. When people can relate to your core message, they will become true believers in your brand.

4) The concept should be simple.

“The metaphysics of the universe viewed through the lens of another reality” is too complex, unless your core fan base is comprised of only philosophy professors at Ivy League Schools. Make sure your message is simple and can be articulated in a way that is easy to understand.

Follow these general guidelines and you will be well on your way to crafting a message that people will care about!

As artists, one of the greatest aspects of what we do is to embody a message and communicate that message to others.

That is why the question, “What do you have to say?” is so critical.

Another variation of this question is: “What do you stand for?”

Finding an answer requires self-reflection and deep thought…and this takes a lot of effort.

Most artists are multi-faceted which makes committing to a core message that much more difficult when one has many messages to communicate.

But believe me, finding one main focus will set you apart because that will become what your “brand” becomes associated with and identified by.

You can then think of the groups of people who agree with or relate to what you have to say and build your base by reaching out to them.

At its core, branding is that simple!

In the coming weeks, we will be exploring the deeper aspects of a core message, the heart of a real, vibrant and enduring brand.