0:21 (1) Have something to say 1:34 (2) Represent an Audience 2:34 (3) Be Original 4:10 (4) Be Instant 6:06 (5) Focus on the Experience 8:11 (6) Learn by Experimenting 9:43 (7) Practice, Practice Practice 11:23 (8) Be a great story teller 13:12 (9) Take control 14:44 (10) Understand What GOOD looks like BONUS TIP - Always put your audience first
Success in music was simple for me. I just had to play for 10,000 people and then the flood gates opened because I started to getting good enough to play for 2 or 3 people at a time. Cheers Damo! 🐒
Number 5 about enjoying the journey is so fucking real about life in general. Most people wish their life away waiting for the 'next' thing to fulfil them. Gratitude for what you already have (both materially and skill-wise) is where it's at. Remember, you're whole and complete in this very moment. I feel like aspiring musicians especially can easily forget this.
Dude I’ve been following your Channel for a while. And I must tell you that you inspired me so much! Especially during this difficult times! I'm an actor and a musician, and due to the situation I found my self without a job stuck at home. Watching Your videos inspired me to start developing and working on my youtube channel, and I must tell it improved my days and my life. Thank you so much!!❤️❤️❤️
"this is who this is for" and NOBODY FOLLOWS THE MIDDLE THEY FOLLOW THE EDGES!! TRUE! and I have A LOT Of people hating me!!! I'm on a great path! thanks so much, Damien! LOVE your channel !
I haven't watched your videos since I decided to stay home for the coronavirus. I'm so happy I came back! You are literally making history Damian. It's amazing the love and enery you put on what you do. Viva la música!
Can't agree more. Most of the music coming out these days is so dumbed down and generic. But the good ones shine. Just look at lewis capaldi.. His story was his heartbreak and gave the audience his experience on an entire album. Every song tells a story. Morrissey, Damon Albarn, Cobain, Alex Turner all had something to say and went against the grain and still remembered to this day. Modern pop music is regurgitated with the intention of it lasting as long as a pint of milk. It's a gamble to go against the norm and be different but if it pays off you can go global. Great video mate 👌
You are very good presenter, Damian! But.. all what you're talking about has nothing to do with me... I don't give a damn about all these goals which described and ways to achieve them. Yet I was living in and by a music all my life. It is great that I have folks who listen my music, but I didn't make it for them... I just had something to say by it. For whom ? Whatever. I never made no plans, no preparations, all what I did- just instant, spontaneous stuff. Because I couldn't hold it inside of me. That is it. Nothing else.
Definitely got the brain going with ideas!😀 With lockdown, we have been taking the time to re-evaluate how we are using social media and your content is a massive, massive help! Hopefully, once this pandemic has washed away, we can keep up the momentum alongside gigs and bring value to our audience whilst they are at home (and not just when they are watching us!) Anyway, just wanted to mention how grateful we are for your videos and the educational value we are getting! Hope the lockdown isn’t getting you down 😂 Kind regards Regards 😉
Thanks so much for this!! My favorite video of yours so far(haven't watched all, though, but working on it). I find a lot of RU-vid videos to repeat themselves and be quite vague... But this one was great:) Favorite: "Represent an audience". I find this difficult, but feel like you explained this in a new way, a little easier to comprehend. Cheers, Eli
I'm not a musician, I create guided meditations. I'm absolutely IN LOVE with your channel. You are so authentic. You motivate me and your advice is so helpful. Thank you so much, please keep videos coming so I can continue to binge watch and grow!
The part about being a good storyteller is even more important for instrumental musicians, since there's literally no lyrics to tell the story. Way too often do I see good instrumental-artists who put out really killer music, but then there's no story behind the songs, so you're kinda left wondering "why should I care?". Personally, I'm not a very good storyteller at all. I don't have any vintage-gear that can tell those stories for me either, although I have modded 3 of my 4 electric guitars to better fit my tastes, which I suppose could tell some kind of weird story? I have a very clear mental image of what "good" or "successful" looks like to me. The challenge lies in getting there. I've wasted enough time on RU-vid for today. Time to get shit done.
Thank you. I am getting ready to release music and I need people like you for advice in how to do it. Weather it is just me hearing what you are saying for a points of references to use them or just as white noise. What I mean as white noise is just hearing you I might think that will not work for me. Even though I will be working on something and I remember something from the white noise and go yeah lets give this a try. There are a few people on youtube that I watch and hear what they have to say. I am a Pop/Rock singer and I listin to how everyone who make music does it from Country music to Death metal bands because we all face the same thing, "OUR AUDIANCE" I have learned from one artist Dolly "do what feels right if it does not feel right do not do it and stay true to who you are. It was from an interview she did decades ago but it is still true to what we as artist are facing today." That woman has ben true to herself the most fake real person you can look at.
Thanks always for your advice Damian. I do have a question if I may. Is it smart to post on social media things you did in the past like interviews or experiences from gigs in the past years like a throwback? Working on new music now but while I wait to come out, would it be smart to go back of the former experiences!?
I personally find point No. 1 very important. I almost only listen to bands and artists who really have something to say and with whom I feel that it comes from the heart. Everything else is a waste of time for me... (I myself also only write songs when I really have something to say, and one could certainly argue about this strategy). On the other hand, I have noticed more and more often in the last years that the statement of a song or an artist rather decreases in importance or does not exist. Basically it is less about a profound statement but about (mostly superficial) values, feelings and moods that an artist conveys. But yes, basically I also believe that an artist has to convey and transport something in order to be successful! Thanks for the Video!
@@DamianKeyes Yes, of course every artist stands for something - consciously or unconsciously. But in my point of view that is different than "Have something to say". Of course this is just a matter of definition. But maybe "Stand for something!" is a better advice for young artists than "Have something to say!". Or even better: "Be aware of what you stand for or want to stand for. But don't make something up out of thin air. Be yourself." (Sorry for my English. Greetings from Germany.)
Man, I just love your videos! The only problem is that they are all telling me not to quit my day job. Thank you for giving away your advise when I can buy some bullshit from ars**les all over the internet. yes I´ve done it, not proud :)
Hey Damian, do you ever feel like you're compromising yourself (maybe your values or beliefs) if you make the song for someone else? Maybe you say something that you wouldn't normally say in your lyrics but it works for the audience. What's your take on that?
I am 19 years old kid. One of my youtube videos of my rap music is trash so. I intended to stop making rap musics. I gave making one, not a good advice. I only use my iPhone to make rap with no studio mic and everything. It’s a good thing to give talent up. 🙂
Man if I had the money I would hire you as my manager/producer. Your knowledge of the music industry is absolutely amazing and for that I thank you so keep up the great work and be safe.
I watching yous video from London meeting with Bruce 2 years ago in The Garage. Still, I cant only understand why all these tips are not in use for 100 of bands, solo artist, etc.Now we in in Covid 19 era.No gigs no music shops etc . Internet is only 1 place where artist can show what he can do . How do you see industry after this all ?
Ah yeah I loved that little tour. Bruce is well we are talking most days. I think the industry will have a big knock and the big labels are going to need to change certain elements but people have short memories and are lazy and it won’t be long before it’s business as usual. I worry more about the economic effects as every gigging musician is going to struggle more as there will be less money and less gigs for a while. Venues will struggle more and it will push music more online which is a shame. What do you think will happen next?
Now that we're all locked up in our homes, it's so refreshing to get this kind of content. It always is, but specially now because it helps me focusing on what I can do now for the future, instead of how bad is the current situation. Thank you Damian for your valuable advise, I truly enjoy watching your videos. A fan from Spain 🇪🇦💪🏼🦠
I suggest that if you're in a band, you have every member of the band WATCH THIS VIDEO, have a giant sit-down meeting and GET EVERYBODY ON THE SAME PAGE. It's so frustrating when the band members don't all want the same thing. It's very difficult to get talented people, who are all driven in the same way to be successful, when people are all "wired" differently, and "success" means something different to everyone. You may have to rotate through different band members as your band becomes more successful, because everyone is excited in the beginning - until they see the volume of work and commitment needed. As your band becomes more successful, you will be able to attract the kind of person that is more appropriate, or that you need, to fill that position long-term. You are building a team for the long haul. Damian - as usual, you are RIGHT ON about everything that you are saying. Thank you for being here, and for your channel! - Andrew Colyer, New York
Rule 1) Don’t listen to this nonsense. Do you really think great artists are going onto RU-vid searching how to be successful. No, they simply know how to make good music and perform it. If you are watching this I highly doubt you will be that successful in the music world. Go out there, be creative, learn from your mistakes, and don’t listen to a guy who thinks the Foo Fighters are cool.
Hey! I’ve recently started watching all your vids and have noticed your subs growing! Congrats I’ve been sharing with all my friends that are artists! Thanks Many blessings! JUSTE
Ok, here's my first question? I recently started releasing music thru tunecore and I've watched countless videos about using Spotify to capture your fans and get streams. But here's the issue: I copied the Spotify link in my Instagram to share my music and when they click the link it takes them to someone else's song. They say they may have to listen to 3-4 songs before they get to hear mine. Can someone help with this? Because I'm torn between using a Soundcloud link that goes directly to my song and Spotify that puts my lead into a shuffled playlist.
Hi, this might be too late but hope this helps. If they are using the free version and listening on the phone, they have to listen to other songs first before they get to yours. If they are using a PC or use the premium version (which is paid) then they don't need to wait 3-5 songs before. Cheers! ♡
I'm already winning. Because I love the experience, and enjoying the process! I am already in the end game, I just hope my end keeps getting better :-).
Enjoying the journey tip is right on the money. It's definitely a hard one to always remember haha It's great to have big goals but staying in the moment is so important.
@@ericdavidwallace Generally have to remind ourselves of this most of the time. Finding a lot of joy in just reconnecting with music on a personal level. Because there is very little we can do right now, this lock down affords us this time to just play and sit with it.
@@ericdavidwallace Same here. We haven't been able to jam in the same room but I've, Ed Durocher (guitarist), have been reconnecting with the guitar in a more "honest" way. Its different to practice for a show/gig then just to play and create music for the pure joy. It's been a great reconciliation with the guitar. I really feel confident that it shine through when we get back to the hustle and road.
I get where you are coming from with the stuff about putting your audience first, but as an artist it kinda goes against what it is for me. It is me expressing my feelings, and i can’t base that off of what i think an audience will like, because that wouldn’t be me...
Jonathan J ah that’s great and makes complete sense, the issue lies if you want to dictate an outcome. If the art is for you and people love it, that’s great but if they don’t because it’s a personal passion then that would be on the artist for looking after themselves... many artists can do both so as long as you fit into that category 😊
Once again, Damian, you have accomplished sharing some very powerful content that we musicians & songwriters can create & share with our own fans/audiences in our personal music journey to build a wildly successful online business. I'm sure many of your followers, myself included, deeply appreciate your advice, information, and instructions regarding how to build an online music business. And Once Again, Thank You So Much!!!
Highly valuable points made as always (: I would say that it generally, most enjoy being a a musicartist, which is what cause most to go through the challenge of learning music. At least, it seems that way; but, of course, I don't know for sure, but I bet that the majority of us do enjoy, but are primarily focused on being able to create music full-time without supplementary income, and everything after that is just chasing clouds/affluence. Haha I think a lot of times others don't want you to manage their affairs if they know you're inexperienced 😅 Thanks so much Damian! I'm learning and growing quickly
I forreal wanted to listen to keyes' advice but on another video he claimed that he got a song on billboard and got signed by a label when he was 18 and he didn't give any evidence. When they asked him in the comments he said there's "no chance" he'll show people the song that got onto billboard. I feel like there's a lot of people giving industry advice without providing real proof that they actually made it. I looked it up and did a lot of digging and found no evidence of anyone named Damian Keyes being mentioned regarding a record label deal with EMI nor being on any billboard chart in the UK for any period of time. not saying that this guy is a fraud but that definitely takes all the credibility out of anything he says in my eyes
Thanks Oscar so are you saying that the video I made about me failing in my music career when I was dropped by a label at 18 after failing to sell records brings me credibility but the fact that I won't show you my terrible haircut in a music video would prove that Im not a fraud lol I don't understand your point? If you want proof of my history it's all over the the internet. I was a founder of the most biggest private music colleges in the world, with 2 world records and within the first 3 years of set up we had 25 top 40 hits from our students. I have performed on stages of 150'000 audiences (proof in my videos, even with the terrible haircut) and have been asked to teach at the biggest music education establishment in the world including Berklee College of Music. I own a music management company that provides paid work for hundreds of musicians, I have performed over 2000 times as a musician, I have 700 videos for free where I'm just trying to help musicians with ideas and strategies and on top of all of that I have a great looking ass! So this video of me talking about my failures as an artist is to help artists in the career not to flex about a failure. I'm here to help you not scam you. We want the same thing... You to be successful, I have been in music education for 24 years and it's my life's work. I love it and I love watching aspiring artists win. I'm not making courses for $697 or $997 I'm building communities for musicians to learn and develop. I'm here to help you dude not lie to you Damo x
@@DamianKeyes First of all man in my comment I said that you're NOT a fraud, not that you are one, maybe you misinterpreted that part. I know and respect that you have founded a music school and what you've done for the music community, but still saying that you were on a billboard for a short period of time is the kind of claim you have to back up with evidence. You would be the first person to know, because of your experience in the music industry, that there are tons of people claiming that they were big in the industry etc. and trying to use those false claims to get views. So all I ask is that you prove that you truly had a billboard hit and I'll say I'm 100% in the wrong. But without that proof how could I trust what you're saying? I've watched your videos and loved the advice, because it all makes sense from a logical perspective. But the billboard claim is a pretty massive claim to say without evidence, and if you do prove it that's the kind of thing that would bring you 10 times more credibility and add so much to the ethos part of your argument. It would add proof that not only do these arguments make logical sense, but that they've come from someone who's had an actual experience being in a band that almost blew up. My tone may have been harsh but that's really not how I meant it. About you being here to help musicians and not lie to us, I really WANT to believe you but there is just too much misinformation in the music industry right now for anyone to make it believing everything they read.
