Networking isn’t only about socializing. There are all sorts of people who network for all kinds of reasons. In this post, we will discuss what reasons people have to network and what the benefits of networking with other musicians are for the people who do network. So here goes…

Benefits of Networking With Other Musicians, Bands, Artists and Producers

1 It is good to socialize

Socializing is always great. You can meet people who have the same interests as you and chat about everything. These people could be making music of a completely different genre. However, true musicians will appreciate all genres of music for what they are. Furthermore, real musicians do not hold a prejudice against musicians who prefer a completely way out genre. A real musician will be making trance music but will be completely happy to chat with death metal bands etc.

2 It can help you find bandmates

You can always find people to jam with. It doesn’t matter what you play. You could play the guitar and meet someone who plays the violin. As I recall, Whitesnake used an orchestra in Still of the Night. Do you think they networked prior to forming that union? Of course, they did! Whitesnake would not have had such a great song like that if they hadn’t used an orchestra.

If you meet someone else who plays a guitar and you play guitar too, then that is great. They may be a country guitarist or a folk guitarist and you could be a rock guitarist or a blues guitarist. It does not matter. This is just an excuse to widen your musical repertoire. Therefore, go with the flow. If you can play other styles, you have more to offer.

3 It could help you to find a record deal

You may also be able to find a great record deal. You never know what you will be offered. Therefore, go with optimism and maybe you will find a deal. However, don’t go out and hound the A&R man at a networking event if you see such a professional. You need to be relaxed. Remember, these days it is the artist who holds the power. It is the artist who makes the decisions and calls the shots. Therefore, don’t worry if you don’t get that record deal. When I was younger I would have jumped at the chance of a record deal. However, nowadays, it is not essential and you can be just as successful going it alone. There are many ways into the music industry and only one of those ways involves an A&R man (or woman).

One word of a warning: Don’t pay anything if they try and charge you. If they want to promote you so badly, they will pay you.

4 It can help you to find people who are looking for bands who want airplay

Firstly, let me just share with you a station who are currently accepting submissions from new and unknown trance artists. They only take top quality tracks, but if you make trance, techno, progressive house or electronica, you should go for it. Please click this link to submit your track to them.

You may of course find other radio representatives at a networking group, but it does not matter. You can approach and work with as many radio stations as you like. The Beatles did not only play on an English radio show. John Lennon would not be saying that he was as famous as Jesus Christ if The Beatles did only play on one station.

Therefore, meeting radio DJ’s and other radio professionals is one of the great benefits of networking.

5 It can help you to make better buying decisions

One of the benefits of networking and building friendships is that you can get product recommendations. Whether or not you are on the market for a new piano is irrelevant. You may go to a networking event and find people who are talking about their favourite pianos and suggesting that you give them a shot. When you get home you also get onto a YouTube video about the piano. Thus, you love it – you want a new piano. Why not? A piano is a lovely instrument to have in your home.

6 One of the great benefits of networking is that it is a fun way to spend your time

Would I be talking about it if it was dull? Maybe, but networking is a great way to spend your time because meeting new people and making new friends, is for most people a fun thing to do. Furthermore, you don’t have to be the most extravert person in the room to enjoy yourself. I am definitely not an extravert. I would rather communicate with people over the internet than any other way. However, when I went to a networking event for breakfast at 7am in the morning, I enjoyed it. In fact, I enjoyed it so much I went to other events too.

7 Another of the great benefits of networking is also that it is healthy

As musicians, we are used to our own space. We know that if we stay indoors making music all day, we will become recluse. Being in such a position leads to a negative impact on our mental health. If we are not careful, we become lonely and depressed. Therefore getting outdoors to meet other musicians is a great thing for us to do.

8 You can get ideas for merch

One thing that people like to do at networking events is to show off. Even if they have a great business card, they will show it off. Therefore, there is no reason why they should not show off their merch. By merch, I mean merchandise. These are items like T-shirts, hoodies, even pin badges – that have a brand name written on them. Notice I said “brand” name and not “band” name. You can promote any of your musical initiatives through merchandising. Another great aspect of merchandising is that people will also want to purchsae your merch. Therefore, you are making an income from advertising your own business. Not bad eh!

9 Yet another of the great benefits of networking is also that you can find places to gig

You may also come across venue owners or representatives, or you may meet festival organizers. These are the people you need to approach if you are interested in finding gigging opportunities.

Of course, you don’t need to gig. We don’t gig. Both Everhald and I have wives and children who we want to be around to support. Therefore, going on late night gigs or touring just isn’t us. However, we are open to sending our work to DJ’s if they want to add it to their sets. If you are a DJ, you would be welcome to play any of our records in your set. Just check out Krannaken on Spotify to find our music.

10 You could find great training opportunities

Finally, we all want to get better at making music. Therefore, we should look for all the training opportunities we can. I read all the magazines: Future Music, Computer Music, Electronic Musician and a lot of others. I can get access to them for free with a subscription to Readly. You can find them on Android and probably on Apple too. Just look in your app store.

Another site I recommend all the time is Sonic Academy. They have a minimal monthly fee, but have excellent tuition available and new courses are being released all the time. Simply click here to find Sonic Academy.

Thank you for reading this post. If you have had any interesting experiences while networking, please tell us about it in the commentse section below. Please also remember that at the same time you may be posting to Facebook – so telling us could be telling your Facebook contacts too.

Please remember your free Serum presets – these are only available until midnight on 1st November so you need to get in before the price goes up.