The most important piece of career advice I can give you is that your work has to be of supreme high quality to succeed. Quality rules! See my blog post from August 2nd for more on Rule #1.

But let’s assume you’ve done all you can do to make your work the best it can possibly be, then how do you get people to listen to you, record in your studio, or hire your services? After all, you may be magnificent, but if no one is aware of it, you’ll have no work.

The artists in McNally Smith's Sound Bite Series are successful because they know their audiences!

I face the same challenge with my blog.  I craft messages carefully and try to provide helpful insights on education, creativity and the music industry. But the critical question is: helpful to whom? Who is supposed to be reading this stuff? Are these written for college students contemplating a career in music or high school students choosing a college? Am I writing to music teachers, performing artists, composers, music industry entrepreneurs, or parents?

It’s easy (and a huge mistake) to respond, “I’m writing for all of these audiences.” That audience is far too broad. Content that strongly appeals to high school students is not the same content that appeals to their parents, their teachers, or even current college students. It is absolutely critical that I be clear whom I want to read this blog so I can make the right content choices, set an appealing tone, and promote the blog where it can be found by my intended audience.

So what about your songs, your recordings, your performances, your business model? Your music will not appeal equally to country or rap lovers, jazz heads or heavy metal aficionados. Sure, there is overlap, successful crossovers exist, and artists grow beyond their original genres. But be savvy in determining who your primary audience is and concentrate your efforts to grab their attention and gain their respect.

After you define them, know where to find them. What do they read? What do they love? What do they avoid? What topics do they talk about on their Facebook pages and Twitter accounts? Where do they hangout, both physically and online? You absolutely need to know your audience, where to find them, and how to attract them so they become your biggest fans, clients, and satisfied customers! Know thyself, and Know Your Audience!