00:00:09  Hello everyone and welcome back to The Rave Social Podcast. I’m your host, Jaiden, and today we have Sarah. And I’m gonna let her just kind of introduce herself, and then we’ll jump into what we’re going to talk about today. Okay. Hi, I’m Sarah, I am a DJ slash producer slash artist. and recently I’ve really been, I don’t know, kind of making big jumps and at least the local music industry. She killing it. Thank you. I only started DJing last April, so that’s only a year and six months ago. Yeah. That’s crazy. it’s it’s literally wild how much has happened in the last however long that is. but I think that I can attribute a lot of it to social media and my background before music was all social media marketing, graphic design, content creation, all the things I worked in agencies for three years, and I’ve been doing social media professionally for like seven years. So it’s just interesting how it’s all kind of like play together. And I feel like you always meant well.

 00:01:22  We met on social media, which is funny. Yeah, I remember lemonade. Oh my God, it’s crazy because you’re like my boyfriend’s show. And we posted about it. And then I was like, wait, I was there, that’s my boyfriend. I actually forgot about that in a while. Yeah, that’s so crazy. But you I followed you for a while now then since we met. And it’s just been crazy to see, like your evolution. And like, you have always used social media as a tool. Like, even when you were working in the agencies, like if even when you were just doing like freelance, which I think you still are like design and stuff like that. you’ve always just used it so well. I am like addicted to it. Like Instagram is my second language. Yeah, I mean, it’s just such a powerful tool. It’s like you get like people that get it, get it and people that don’t. but we came up with this idea to do this podcast to really just honestly help like creatives and specifically like creatives in the music industry, DJs, producers, musicians, artists, whatever you want to call yourself.

 00:02:25  You know, just for a minute, it all goes together. Yeah. when Sarah posted a thread and she said it was kind of like a spicy opinion, but she said hot take. But without a social media presence and a strong brand, your music and DJ skills won’t take you anywhere. Which is like she was like, oh, she could like it is spicy, but it’s also so true. Then I actually like have experience with this because my I guess he’s my fiance now. I don’t really know how to like stuff, but he is also a producer and artist. Whatever. I think he likes artists. Yeah, but I have experience with him, like actually getting like opportunities just through social media, like he has done so much outbound engagement with other artists that when he goes to big shows like they’re DMing each other, like come backstage, like he is able to connect with these big artists and has even had opportunities like mix and master for them, which is psychotic. Yeah. That’s crazy.

 00:03:24  All through Instagram. That’s wild. That’s it. So I’ve had some experience with that and I’m excited to hear your experience. So, yeah, let’s just start from there. What do you what do you feel like when you posted that thread? What were your thoughts behind that? What did you think of that? Okay, so I was I was literally typing it up. I was like, well, first of all, I was like, let’s be problematic today. And then and then I was like, I know that I like. I want to stir up a little controversy. It’s a it’s a controversial topic in mostly in the DJ world. I don’t I don’t know if it is in like all of the music world. I’m sure it is a little bit. But in the DJ world, oh my gosh, it’s a lot. So, I, I knew I wanted to like, stir the pot. Yes. I want to say it in a way where I was stirring the pot and where the like, it would stir up some conversation.

 00:04:21  And so, like, do I literally believe that one for word, word for word, like in my heart and soul? Not exactly 100%. Like there’s so much else that goes into it. Yeah. I mean, if you like, suck, but you have a good personality that’s you’re not going to get anywhere. Like you have to be good. Yeah. You have to show up to people’s shows. You have to make connections. You have to build friendships. Like there’s so much that goes into it. Yeah, but if if you have like, nothing else, if you don’t have the connections and all that and it’s only you and your DJ skills. Social media can take you really, really far. Yeah, I think it just can be, like, so powerful. Like it can be the difference of your career. Like not taking off or taking off. Yeah. And I think that there’s also we live in this time where there’s what people, I think like to call social media DJs.

 00:05:16  and like I, while I have built a lot of my, I don’t know, career as a DJ on social media, I wouldn’t put myself in like that category because, I’m using social media entirely to get shows and play bookings and like, playing live is like my real goal. And my goal is not to grow on social just to have like a following on TikTok and Instagram because that for me, doesn’t get me anywhere. That’s on my goal. Like I want to play in front of people in my life. It’s just like the tool in which you can get closer to that goal. Exactly. Yeah. And I think that, like, the reason why it’s controversial is because when people started DJing in the 70s and 80s, whatever, obviously there wasn’t social media. No, there wasn’t social media until 14 to 20 years ago. Yeah. And even with that, like the music industry is completely different. Like they’re at that time, like when it first started. In 1970 years and years ago.

 00:06:21  I mean, even like when the big rock bands were coming up and all of that, it was it was like you just would create a local community and like, it’s all word of mouth. Yeah, it was just word of mouth, like, and honestly, you had to be lucky. Like, who knows what other really, really good people were out there that just didn’t have that opportunity because their network was small or whatever. And now, like, it shifted. I feel like in the early 2000, maybe like 2005 to 2015. It was like you could post a YouTube video on using like, Justin Bieber style. Exactly. And then someone would discover you get discovered, and then you also wouldn’t be this celebrity. Like it kind of went through that phase. And now it’s like there are so many good artists, musicians, DJs, producers, everything. But there’s also you have the ability to put yourself at the top and put yourself on the map. Whereas like before, it was more just like luck, luck and money or something.

 00:07:20  And now it’s like, no, can you build a brand that people want to be around? And like it’s such a massive shift. I think people struggle or struggling. People are struggling with it. I think that we’re kind of in a I don’t know, we’ve been over the last, I think since Covid. Yeah. We’ve really been in kind of a turning point of it all where it’s like you, you can choose to jump on it or not. And, and if you choose not to jump on it, that’s fine. But you. If you want to keep getting bookings, you need to be really good at other things like have really amazing connections or live in Ibiza or like, you know, something, or Australia or Australia, like literally it doesn’t matter. But okay, so my question for you is like, if you’re not going to use social media to do it, like what should you plan on just it being hard or it’s yeah, it’s going to be hard. And like, here’s the thing, it’s hard no matter what.

 00:08:17  It’s true on social media, it’s also hard, but it’s a different kind of hard. and I think for a lot of people, the social media side of things comes easy. You where it’s really challenging. And I think that that’s kind of what makes a difference for people. but if you’re not going to go to the social media route, you need to be building connections. Like, yeah, I’m, I’m not really that old, but considering that I’m only 26 and I’ve been in the like rave scene for 11 years. Like, yeah, that’s a really long time. That connection. Right. So I’ve been meeting talent bookers. I’ve been meeting like the club owners, I’ve been meeting the people who are running the festivals, and I’ve been hanging out with them for years and years and years. So that along with all my social media stuff, goes really far, like helping. Yeah. How do you feel? Okay, so you probably know about Zandra. Is that her name? She’s like Alex.

 00:09:09  Earl’s like anime or something. I don’t really know. I don’t really know. I don’t know the whole story. Okay. Basically, she I’m wondering how I feel about this, so. Okay. She blew up on TikTok kind of alongside Alex IRL while they were still in college in Miami. I followed both of them. She didn’t really post anything about like, DJing, but like supposedly she had been deejaying all through college, whatever, blah blah blah. She never posted about it on TikTok. She graduated and then somehow no shame. This is awesome for her, but I am suffering how it happened. Got booked to go to a visa or visa offer to fucking sign with Kibo. So then she immediately like topped off. Now she’s playing like Lollapalooza. Like all like she played like an offshoot of Coachella. You know how they have, like, other things going on? She played like something like that. and all those things. And I’m watching her. And it’s hard for me because I see how hard my fiance works.

 00:10:11  And I’m like, he is so talented that I’m like, wait, how did she just do that? Like, who does she know? Is it funny? What are your thoughts? Do people sometimes sneak to the top when you’re like, maybe you’re maybe there’s other people that should be where you are? Oh yeah. Absolutely. Okay. So okay, there’s another name for this. It’s she’s an influencer DJ. Yeah. So social media DJ is like the kids who are making mashups on TikTok. And now they’ve been making videos for a long, long time. But like nobody, they’re not playing real life shows. They’re just doing social media. She’s an influencer DJ okay. Literally are not DJs. And then all of a sudden they are and they’re playing massive clubs around the world. They’re playing all the shows that we want to be playing that literally pop out of nowhere. They have agents, they have managers, they have a whole team. All of a sudden they have merch. Like it’s like the hot tub girl.

 00:11:08  Same, same kind of story, right? Like someone sees them and they’re like, you’d be so good at this. Or they’re like, they have these connections. They’re like, I have this idea. I want to, I want to do this. Someone teaches them to TJ and I’m like, I don’t. I hate to say this because I’m like, it’s not about her bankroll. It’s not about like any of this. But it’s like, does she actually is she actually deejaying? You know what I mean? Yeah. And like I think this maybe is but my thing that I struggle with and like this is probably like a scarcity thing I’m doing with and work through that. But it’s like you just see other people that feel like they deserve it. Don’t cancel me for that. I don’t even think that the town saw something like, it’s like, well, that’s crazy, because, like, it was handed to you and I don’t know everything. So maybe it was, maybe it wasn’t.

 00:11:57  But I think it’s just interesting. And that just also shows like the power of social media, it’s just like, okay, well, you can literally do anything if you build yourself a personal brand. Congratulations. You can do whatever you want. You can literally do whatever you want, like you can you can run for candidacy for whatever. Like the government, you know, like if you have a really big social media, not just a following, but people who are engaged with you. Yeah. And I think you have an agent and a manager, you could do literally anything. And this isn’t the exact reason why this is such a controversial topic. Like in the music scene, it’s because there are people who really deserve it who maybe aren’t on social media, like that? Exactly. Or they don’t understand it. Or like, as musicians, there’s not a lot of money until you’re really, like, playing hard stuff. That was so cool. It was like, have you been able to, like, get shows and bookings off of social media that have actually made you money? Like, so crazy? It’s crazy.

 00:13:00  It is like there’s so many things I can attribute it to. But but I know I’m good at social media and I know I don’t like, like so much love to all my other local artist friends. I’m so, so many here. But like, I know I’m one of the best at social media in the local scene, and I also do my best to help everybody with it. Like one of my fans. Thanks to you this morning, he’s like, I need your help. I don’t I thought you came because because like, especially in a local scene, we can all grow in it together. Yeah. But anyways, I totally even for everyone, but like, okay, so what would you tell someone when they text you and say, help me with social media? What do you say? I think he has a specific question here. He hasn’t asked me yet, but in this case, I think it’s like like I would do a similar social media audit to what I would have done in an agency.

 00:13:48  Right. So I look at not just like their Instagram because that that’s what I’m the best at. I think that that’s what I understand the most. But I’m like, okay, if you’re not good at Instagram, are you good at another app? Yeah. And so yeah, show me that. Does one of them make more sense to you than another? And I would say to start on that one, whatever it is. Okay. Because some people some people don’t understand the social media thing, but they’ve been streaming on Twitch and like streaming DJ stuff on Twitch. And although there’s so much money in that, I was just like you didn’t when you remember that Twitch exists, right? And I’m like, oh yeah. And then people take those twitches and they make them into YouTube videos and then they make more money. Yeah. And then you’re monetizing that, which, I mean, I’m kind of just getting into the YouTube, into posting on YouTube myself. Yeah, and it’s so confusing to me because like as a DJ, you’re playing other people’s music, you get flagged for everything.

 00:14:42  So I’m like, how are we monetizing anything on YouTube if we can’t, like, play the song? Yeah, because like, you can only play so much like your own music. Anyway, let’s get back to it. Circle back, circle back. I think that I, I would tell someone to focus on one platform and just, like, stay there for a while personally, for me. And I think, like at least looking at my friends and knowing the local scene in the clubs and talent bars and everything here, people are looking at Instagram the most because that’s so good to know. A lot of them are older than me per se, so they don’t understand TikTok. Also, I feel like Instagram is more of a locally. It’s easier to do grow local things on Instagram. I think on TikTok you can’t control as much on TikTok. If Salt Lake City or Denver or LA is seeing it, it kind of just feels like everywhere. So I think that’s also why Instagram is useful for like more local things.

 00:15:45  Yeah, and personally I use Instagram as my website, like like as a DJ until you’re really, really, really big as an artist, producer or whatever, you’re not going to have a website or one, you know? so Instagram is my website. Like that’s my landing page where someone can find me and they can find literally everything about me, links to every other social media platform, links to my SoundCloud, which have all my previous mixes and my music that’s coming out, and then it’ll link them to Spotify or link them to like, I can’t even, like think of all the things, just everything. Next show is coming up and I don’t really like with all my upcoming shows that are like within the next few weeks. And then I have highlights of all the past shows that I played, like any content that would have been on my story. Yeah, because now when I highlight they’re so they can be like, oh, I know this artist like you, that’s similar to the to the show we’re booking.

 00:16:40  So let’s look at that. That’s so smart. So like that’s actually like a low key way. Good strategy she just gave you I used to like use other artists names to get your stuff seen in books. I’ve seen there’s some like kind of silly ways people have used that on Instagram. I’ve seen for people like if you love Rufus Soul and XYZ and they had a baby, then you love my music. Yeah. And sometimes it’s okay, I wouldn’t post that, but like get it because truly, like that’s helping in so many ways. Like it’s so like anyone who is searching Rufus to soul, that content is going to be shown to them, which is like, well, great, now you can double dip into their market, which is like what you want. Exactly. And also it gives people really good idea of what type of music you’re creating to see if that’s their flavor or not. Yeah. I think you have like really good points here as far as like what you should have on your highlights, what you should have on your Instagram.

 00:17:36  Are there any other things, like what types of content are working well for like getting reach or views or engagement? I think that it’s different for everyone. And like I think that there’s also different types of DJs too. And like it really depends on your journey. So I, I would call myself a club DJ. Yeah, I want to play in clubs, I want to play festivals and I want to play like one hour sets. And I also love, like playing support for other big artists and that kind of thing. I’m not playing events, I’m not playing weddings, I’m not playing that kind of thing. But those DJs also, they make way more money than I do. They make so much money, so lucrative. It’s insane. So go off to the wedding, DJs on my wedding, DJ friends, they’re killing it. but they, they have kind of like their own journey with that and the content that works well for them as well there. And I think that there’s lots of DJs in between.

 00:18:35  Yeah. and and styles of DJs. But that being said, I think that for club DJs, the content that works the best on Instagram is high quality show content. Yeah. And also like GoPro content while you’re recording. More like a 360 style set just where there’s people behind you. Yeah, like I feel like you need to see the energy behind it in order to get the full. Like, yeah. So, you know, you see, like, what are the people doing. Like what? What’s your like stage presence. What’s all of that? so then that’s making me think like your Instagram. Are you mainly growing to find other talent agencies like other managers, other venues, other things going on? Are you trying to find that on social media, or are you trying to find an audience that wants to hear your music because I feel like what can happen is you just attract other producers, other DJs. Yeah, I think that that is like something that a lot of artists and DJs and producers are like, struggle with when they’re like starting to post on social media, because in the beginning it was definitely all DJ who were following me.

 00:19:49  Yeah. but for me personally, the more I played shows and like, met people in real life, then I started to grow an audience online of like real life people who would come. Yeah, they kind of support each other. Yeah for sure. But that being said, I think it’s kind of all encompassing. Yeah. because it all helps. Like it helps me on my, like real goal of getting really big bookings, playing in big clubs. So you’re like, I don’t really care. I would love to attract like an audience that just loves my music. But I’ve also loved to just attract, like, other venues. talent. Yeah. What do they call like, talent talent Myers, qualifiers manager, stuff like that, I think. So for me personally, my my target audience on Instagram, I’m speaking to like fans per se. That’s like who I’m making the content for. But I want my Instagram page to be really easy and like, beautiful and sexy and attractive to Tyler.

 00:20:46  Buyers who come across me like film buyers want you to be appealing to the audience because that’s how they make money. Exactly. You sell out. Yeah, but I think that that being said, something that people were literally fighting with me on threads about is like, they’re like, it doesn’t show anything about you as a DJ, like you being on Instagram, right? She’s like, shut up. You have to show that people are going to come to your set. I can show everything. Yeah, in my content. I can show my music taste. I can show my stage presence, I can show my mixing skills, I can show up my audience. Like, I can show how many people show up for me. Yeah, I can show my visuals. I can show like the size of the clubs I’m playing. I can show literally everything in content. I was like, oh my gosh, these are all old people that are like fighting with me. I’m like, you don’t feel like you just don’t get it because like, you’re not 26.

 00:21:36  Yeah, sorry. I used to pass out CDs and I love that. That works for you. But that’s not the case anymore. Yeah, like, if we could go back, we might. I would love to do that. That’s just not how it works anymore. so what other are there any other platforms you want to touch on or you feel like you could? Yeah, absolutely. I think I mean, I think for DJs and producers and artists, I think the main two platforms right now or Instagram and TikTok, yeah, one of them is going to feel better to you and make more sense for you. Personally, I haven’t figured out the TikTok content. Yeah, like I know the app and I know the app well, but I don’t know if I have the personality for the TikTok content yet. It’s way scrappier and scrappier and it’s like it feels younger, like I feel like I’m a year ago to just, like, be really good at, like, beans or like making yourself into.

 00:22:28  Or like, get ready with me. Touch it like I record. I wish I could tell you how many videos I’ve recorded on my phone meant for TikTok, but then it’s the editing. No, that’s what I really want to do. I’m just like, yeah, I can’t not, I’ll get through Monday. So anyway. But I think for a lot of people that comes a lot easier than the really like pretty high quality, higher budget content that I am creating, which by the way, it’s so worth it making that investment as an artist. but I think that so many of my friends are so funny and they record the funniest videos and like, they can tell the funniest stories and they can just do like day in the life stuff. And it would work really well on Tik-Tok. But there’s also YouTube. If you are the type of person who loves filming like full mixes, like an hour long mix. Yeah, and you can do it in a pretty location. Or you can even just record the mix and, like, put it over some visuals.

 00:23:27  Like, people have been doing that for 100 years since YouTube was invented. and that works really well. And I have a ton of friends who are also really good at that. and then if you are the type to understand how streaming on Twitch works like that works so well, and there’s so much money in that. Like, you don’t make money on TikTok and Instagram. No, you make money from opportunities that come from that. Yeah, but on Twitch you literally are making money from the platform. It’s wild. I’m going to try it. Yeah. Does anyone want to watch me? I work all day, literally. I just saw a video yesterday of Madison beer streaming, playing like a dress up game. And I’m like, I love the time that we live in, like like it’s crazy. So anyway, I’m going to stream myself to play with you. Okay. Awesome. handsome. Catch me on Twitch. Me on Twitch. Yeah, I love that. Okay, so basically the basis is find what works for you.

 00:24:27  So you might have to test out some platforms, test out some different content styles. It’s the same thing I tell my clients. I’m like, you have to just figure out what kind do you like to make? And then what kind of matches up with what your audience likes to consume. And once you figure that out, you’re good. So probably should have to play around and then figure out what you like and then just stick with it. It’s true. Stick with it. Don’t quit. Don’t quit. It gets easier the more you do it. I just tell everybody I know, like, the more you do it, the easier it feels. And then you find your style. And then it feels like second nature. Like if you don’t have to think about, you’re just like, oh, I’m ready to publish. Like, it’s not anything that takes any extra energy from your day. The thing I hate the most is like getting ready and like me too. Like I have to, like, get glam to like.

 00:25:09  Like I just want to rock that. Are you guys okay with that? No, I love that. Okay, so then on the flip side of that, what do you feel like people are doing wrong when it comes to marketing themselves on social media? She’s like, let me I’m like, let me pull it all down. Okay. number one, is it like not posting at all? Duh. So number one, not posting. Number one not posting. Why? Like, you just have to post. Like I’m sorry. It’s the time we live in. You got to you got to get used to it. And it’s okay. And it’ll it’ll be fine and everything is good. And you can like start like start slow. Yeah. Because I think that that’s like, you have to ease into figuring out people are like, all or nothing, like, I’m gonna post every single day and then it doesn’t work and then everything is cleared. It’s like, okay, just start slow and then build up as you feel better.

 00:26:04  Yeah. Okay. Number two, maybe they’re like sharing a little bit, but I think that they don’t understand the platforms. So number like number one, maybe they’re making the wrong type of content for Instagram. They’re putting TikTok content on Instagram. Number one, the app doesn’t like that to like people are not going to pick up on it. They go to certain places for certain kinds of content. And if you’re not aligning with that, they just will scroll past it. Exactly. And also, there’s so many people on Instagram who still haven’t made it to TikTok because they just can’t understand the app. Yeah, they want the Instagram style content. You know? Yeah. So I think that you have to be thinking about your audience on that platform, and you also need to be thinking about the platform and the algorithm itself. And it’s like one thing that so, so, so, so, so super easy if you are like confused about that and you’re like, I don’t even, I don’t know.

 00:27:01  Literally just go look at your competitors and just take your little comparison goggles off and just go look at their pages. What does our content look like? What kind of style like is it really high production content, like high budget content? Is it? Silly content? Is it? Get ready with means. Like what style of content is it? Because then you can just do that. Yeah. You can just say, oh, I need to hire a videographer to come get content of me playing this show. Like exactly that. It makes it so you don’t have to guess. Like other people have gone before you. You don’t have to reinvent it. You can just go see what it is and then put your own little flair on it. Exactly. And I think in our world, like competitors almost isn’t even the right word. Like, you can you can just look at artists who are bigger than you. Yeah, artists. What you look up to, artists who you love listening to. You love everything.

 00:27:54  So you want to see them play live, like, what are they doing that you are attracted to, that you can kind of replicate in your own way? Yeah, it’s like you’re not copying them. You’re going to be fine. Yeah, it would be impossible. It would be more to copy them because you’re you and you’re making the content about you, so you don’t have to worry about that. Yeah. About that. Number three. They don’t have a brand at all. Like there’s nothing people can resonate with besides the person themselves. And it’s like, if you are maybe like an apple baby, like, that could work. Or if you like, just make that your brand. Like, your brand is never a baby. But like, people need a little bit more than just the human to resonate with. Like, you’re you’re close homies, they know you and they they know the things you like. And they know the way that you talk. And they know that your favorite color is pink.

 00:28:52  And like all of this kind of stuff, they know how you dress and all that. But but if you’re not giving more people that information who don’t know you yet, they they don’t have anything else to grasp onto. There’s something to connect you and the music. Yeah. And it’s like you, I mean, you have to be really making like, good content to show off your music style or like you performing or something, but give them a little extra to like, see why you’re different from everybody else, you know? So what, like elements do you think that would be like? Do you think taking people a while, like if you’re working your full time job. So like, is it chill to be like what I do after work as a producer? Totally. Like, I think that kind of content works. yeah. What else like, makes a brand like, it’s not just a logo, although you probably have that, but like deeper than that. Like, what do you do on the weekends? Like what are your interests outside of being a DJ? Like, who are you? I think it you can think about it in the way that you’re building a personal brand.

 00:29:57  And I think, like, there’s not a ton of really big artists who are making content like that, that shows like the behind the scenes of their lives, and especially because, like the big artists we like are only doing the music stuff, you know, like this is the behind. Of course, they’re still regular people and they still have lives, but but they don’t have a day job, you know, because they’re doing the thing that we want to be doing. So I think you can think about kind of more like influencer style content. Like, yeah, people were in the age now where also personal brands are taking a dip. People want to know, like more about your community, like more about just like the behind the scenes of everything the other people you’re involved with or like the music scene that you’re in, or like the clubs that you go to. What can you show people outside of just you and the music that is going to keep them involved more, or like asking questions? I think especially on TikTok and now Instagram, where you can like reply to a comment with a video.

 00:30:59  I think that is almost one of the most genius marketing tactics when it comes to content. If you can make one interesting talking video where you’re kind of leaving people on the edge, like imagine telling someone talking in a ten minute TikTok video about like your past week, filling them in on all kinds of crazy stuff, but you can’t possibly touch on everything. People are going to ask questions in comments, and then you answer every single one of those comments and it just keeps going. Yeah, I’ve seen people use that as a strategy to grow where they just like make almost a little bit clickbaity, but it’s not really clickbait. It’s just there’s holes in the information they’re giving that they know people care about and they’re purposefully leaving it out. And then people leave comments and then they respond to those comments. And I love that they grow. Yeah, I love it. Especially on TikTok. I see that, especially on TikTok. And I think in in our world, in the music world, people want to know, like they do have everything.

 00:31:59  Yeah, there’s there’s so much stuff that, like the average Joe doesn’t know about the music world. like the fact that people who aren’t in it call everybody DJs, and it’s like a DJ is someone who’s mixing music together and a producer or someone who’s making music from scratch. So I’ve been in the music industry like a Jason Lee for like eight years, and it’s so funny, like, everyone you meet just has like an opinion on that. And then you meet just like everyone else and they’re just like, oh yeah, like at TJ. And I’m like, like people will call like Don Dalla and don some DJs and like, well, they’re actually not. They’re like DJ producer. Yeah, I’m like actually not. But that’s okay. It’s okay. I mean, you’re just like, we just don’t talk about it. Like we just smile. We’re just like, you know, I’m sure there’s so many things I don’t know too. But yeah, I don’t know. Yeah, it’s funny, I think to go along with that, to circle back to the brand.

 00:33:00  a logo is important. You should have that, especially if you are playing live shows. Yeah, you have to put it on your logo. On the flyers. Yeah, exactly. and like for me personally, I do I come from a branding background, like I’m a graphic designer and I, and I do branding people for people, but I love having brand colors. I love having brand fonts like that. Stuff goes so far for me. And I also think that it’s important for me at least, to bring in other elements of stuff that I like. Like I just had visuals created for my Da set, and also the guy did it in like three days. They were so iconic. Thank you. I witnessed that, I thought they were so long round, really cool. Okay, well that’s exactly what I wanted and I, I love like florals and my everything I do is like pink and blue and purple. So he brought all of that in really well. But, I also love like space stuff.

 00:33:55  Also, my previous DJ name was supernova. She’s. She died. She’s dead now. unfortunately. But everyone said it was a gimmicky because it was like too spacey, so you can’t. On the branding too far, I guess. I liked it. Okay. What does that say about me? Nothing. I’m like, I’m like, damn, we’re just cute. It’s cute. Anyway, so I think that there’s so much that comes with, like, creating a brand. Yeah, that that you can pull pieces of, like, stuff you love, or you can even just show more about your life and like, the behind the scenes and like, just as much of yourself that you can show to people. Yeah. Is the better. Yeah. It’s just like it’s so uncomplicated when all you do is just take one step back and think about the content you like to consume, and then just reverse engineer that into whatever it is you want to do. If that’s growing your business, great.

 00:34:50  If it’s becoming a DJ producer, that’s great. Like all you really need to do is be like, what content is engaging, and then you just apply that to you. Yeah. And there’s so much there’s so much you can do with it. I’m a little behind the scenes content right now. I’m saying, wait, what do you do? Like every day, every second of the day? Like, I really am curious. Anything that’s not to like. As humans, we just want to know, like like it’s lowkey like a weird voyeur thing. Obviously not creepy like that, but like, we want to know what’s up in people’s lives. We’re just curious, actually. Especially if you, like, love someone as an artist and like, you love their music or whatever. It’s just so cool to see what they do in their real life. Like what? What are all the things that make you you that make it so you can do this? Yeah, there’s so many artists that I love to follow just for that.

 00:35:38  Like they’re on planes and their luggage is getting lost and their life is so different from mine. And I’m just like, oh wow. I’ve been just working on my laptop all day, and you flew across the country for 20 times, so I love it. Someone actually was really good on it. It’s if you’re like a small artist. You’re not gonna be able to do it on this level. But Diplo is so good at it. You have to think he has a team. His team. He has so many people creating this. He’s literally he’s not filming anything on his own phone or editing or doing literally anything. But like the style of it, I think you can kind of look at stuff and like get an idea of how to make that stuff, like, I agree, or Dillon Francis is also good. He’s a little bit funnier too. Yeah, yeah. These are like high, high production. Like low key. They’re actually so high production. Like, a lot of work.

 00:36:30  Yeah. It’s crazy. okay. Is there anything else I want to more add? Okay. Okay. Number four, people aren’t utilizing the apps to their fullest capability. Yeah, and they’re not cross promoting. I think about Instagram. A good example of this is like your bio is the easiest place for people to understand who you are, understand what you do, what kind of music you play, and how to book you. Yeah, all of that should be a while. It’s not hard at all. So, number one, check that box. Number two. Your highlights are so useful. I’ll never shut up about how I never shut up about it. It’s insane how useful they are. And you can utilize them in so many different ways. for me, I put, like, all my past show content on there because I think that people like to see that. Yeah, like people love to say like your story is on the last 24 hours, while only if you don’t add them to a highlight.

 00:37:23  Because like, for me and my plans, I’m always like, no, you should absolutely be using your highlights to sell your offers 24 over seven. And like I, I get like new leads, new clients, new everything on a daily or weekly basis. Just because like my highlights are, they’re showing what I do and how I do it. So exactly, adverts on there and it’s the same thing for you. And like any other artists where it’s like, yeah, show that you played for LA youth. Like, yeah, in your highlights. That’s immediate social proof. Exactly. Why would you not say that to a highlight? It’s so funny. It’s just. It’s so funny how easy it is. You know what I mean? and then, like, when it comes to cross promoting your linking bio, what are we doing? Like, so many people don’t have a Linktree. And I don’t understand, like like you don’t even need a link to your name. Or you can create links in Instagram, but you can create six links.

 00:38:16  Like, I don’t even need any software if you don’t understand that or exactly. But you’re thinking if you’re a DJ, you can do technology, you should have a Linktree. It’s really, really easy. like in your link in bio, I want links to all of your social media platforms. Every single one YouTube, Twitch, TikTok, SoundCloud, Snapchat, if you’re like one of those people. Literally everything. and then I want links to every music platform. I will link to your latest track. I want to link to your latest mix, or your favorite mixes, or a festival that you played or like any links to. like PR like I have been in some articles recently. It’s just cool for people to see, you know? Yeah, exactly. It’s just like, I’m legit. I’m legit. I’m just saying I’m legit and that’s all you need. Yeah. And I think that that is such a like that. We gotta put that somewhere because that saying your it shows that you’re legit, which is the reason why social media is important.

 00:39:26  Like proving to people that you are. It’s why it’s controversial. Yeah. Someone’s like if you’re social media DJ you’re not a legit DJ. But it’s like, no, I’m utilizing it to show that I am a legit DJ. Yeah. And that I actually have a massive resume. It’s the same thing you do anytime you’re trying to do anything. If you’re trying to find a restaurant, you’re gonna look at their Instagram and see if they’re legit. If you’re going to hire a cleaner, you’re going to go to their business account and see if they posted in the last 12 months, because maybe if they haven’t, you think they’re dead. Like it’s just social proof and you do it with everything. So like, why would you not think people are doing that to you? Exactly. They’re just checking that you’re. Yeah, legit. And it like I’m running a business. Yeah. So so so you want to treat it that way. And to add to that like I have a personal Instagram and my DJ Instagram.

 00:40:17  I don’t think that that’s necessary at all. I think it actually if I went back, I would have probably just kept my personal Instagram and just let that turn into it. but I think that whichever route you go, like you’re treating it as a business now at that point, and then you can have a close friends account, close friends story where you and honestly post your shit. It’s not your friend. They’ll tell you by unfollowing you exactly and by saying, don’t come to my show. Yeah, and they weren’t going to come anyway. So okay. What’s your last one? My last one is they don’t know their audience nor connect with their audience. Like if you don’t know who you’re speaking to on any social media platform, this goes for any business, whatever you’re doing as well. If you don’t know who you’re talking to, you’re talking to no one, and then your content is literally always going to mess. Yeah, it’s not going to hit anybody. No one’s going to resonate with anything you say or do, whatever.

 00:41:11  No one’s going to show up to your stuff. Nobody’s going to like anything you do. And I think that like it. You’re talking to people online like you talk to your friends in real life. Like, not just like their fans. Yeah, it feels weird for me to even say that word out loud. Like everybody I’ve met shows that comes to my stuff. Like, they’re really my homies. And like, I started to build relationships with all these people, and that’s what I’m talking to. You’re talking to your friends like, it’s okay, take the pressure off of yourself and, like, talk to your friends, don’t I think where people get mixed up as an artist, it’s like my mom calls me my blah, blah blah. Like they get, like, weird and in their head and it’s like, I don’t know if that’s holding you back block then. And also like you’re not talking to them. Exactly. They’re not paying your bills. Exactly. So sorry. And I think other people also get scared about like other artists and deejays following them and like judging their content.

 00:42:07  I think that’s a huge one. Yeah. It’s hard and I like a lot of my friends have actually like struggle with it. But I’m like, that’s not how you’re making content for it. No matter what business you’re in, you’re making content for people who are like a level below you if they don’t like your content, okay, I don’t really care. What are they going to do? Tell tell the booking agent that they don’t like your content. It’s like a weird social media, like, okay, big deal. That’s going to hurt your career. What will hurt your career is literally hiding away, not doing it. Yeah, because it’s the only way for people to discover you who don’t have any other way to scare you. Like a personal connection with you? Yeah. Yeah, totally. Wow. That was. That’s real good. We have a couple more questions and we’ll wrap up. But why do you feel like it’s so hard for DJs and producers and artists to get people to actually, like, listen to the music off of Instagram? this question is so crazy because I think, well, number one, I’m I’m new to producing my own music.

 00:43:09  I was a DJ first, and now I’m, I’m getting into production. My first song is actually coming out this Friday. Oh, yeah. We need to talk about that. It’ll be out already by the time this comes out, but we’ll make sure we. Yeah, listen to it. Please. Please listen to it. If you’re not going to listen from Instagram please. Anyway, so I’m excited about that. But because I’m new to creating my own music, I think that it’s not something I have a ton of experience. But yeah, yeah, but thinking about like, my friends and other stuff, it does seem hard. And I actually think that the, the apps like don’t. Okay, here’s what just happened. I just posted about my new track that’s coming out right? And typically when I’m posting, I try to make sure, like the first thing in a carousel or the first thing people see is my face. Yeah, because I know that that works well. Yes. In this specific post, the first, slide was like my album artwork.

 00:44:06  Yeah. And the audio of the track. And then the second slide was a video of me playing it live, and that’s all it was. But I’m. And I know that something that doesn’t show my face first is going to hit a little bit less. Yeah. But I posted it and within like and maybe it’s something in the copy too. But within like four hours I had four likes and I never saw it. And I always see your content. Yeah. And so the next day it got a lot more traction. Like it’s at like 200 likes. I noticed also that my post has been my post will literally be flopping and I’m like, okay. And then I’ll wake up the next day and it has doubled and it’s okay. Yeah. I’m like, it’s super interesting. So, the day that I posted it, it had been like an hour and one of my other artist friends sent me a DM and he was like, just, you know, Instagram has been like really flopping everybody’s music announcement posts.

 00:45:02  And I was like, whoa, okay. Like, that’s interesting because I was literally freaking out. I was like, everyone hates the song. Oh my God, I quit like, I’m done. I’m not making music. That’s the last time I try that because it’s like the first one is literally so scary already. I got four likes and so anyway, I was, I was unwell. and so it’s just weird because within the first hour I have 100 likes typically. Yeah, like my stuff gets pushed pretty far. So I was thinking at least 40. And, you know, I think a lot of people are struggling with it. I think the algorithm doesn’t like it. And I think I actually came to the conclusion that Instagram, because you’re pushing something off, tangible. Yes, off the app and something tangible. I think that Instagram wants you to pay for promotion on it. I’ve actually kind of had that same thought and then I’m like, but people aren’t going to like, people don’t like, just listen to a stranger’s music.

 00:46:02  Exactly. You know, so like, I’m just like, if I got pushed an ad from an artist, like, I’m not going to listen to that song, I have no reason to. And there’s like, a million other songs I would rather listen to. So it’s interesting. And, and my family’s had this problem. That’s why I would ask you. I’m like, why is it so hard? Like, we don’t honestly really know. I think you have to get people to, like, fall in love with you first. Yes, to get them to listen to the song. But then even beyond that, I don’t really know. It’s interesting too, because now you see really big artists creating music literally for the purpose of it being a soundbite on TikTok so that it can go viral, like Sabrina Carpenter. They are very good and dialed up this, Charli? Yeah. Our queen. So our queens, they’re very good at this because they have a team behind them, which is also exactly why I made an espresso remix.

 00:46:55  Like. Yeah, because for TikTok, 100%. Exactly. So yeah, it’s just interesting to see, like, the marketing of the actual song. Yeah. Not just the artists and the brands because like, they’re kind of different. Like, yeah, you can build your social presence and get shows and get bookings, but it’s like to get some of those in your music, I feel like is a whole nother beast. So it’s probably have to do a whole episode on that. Once we once I figure it out. Yeah, I and I think you can get creative with content like don’t only try to push the song, like get creative with the way you’re showing it to people and like be more subliminal with the way you’re asking them to listen to it. Yeah, and maybe the app won’t figure out that you’re trying to ask people. Get your friends to use the audio on all of their reels? Pretty much. Pretty much. Also, I made two extra TikTok accounts where I was doing that with my own audios.

 00:47:45  Like to see it works and also resharing all my own videos. So smart like I will. I am the algorithm. Really. I’m. I’m god. So. Exactly. That’s so good. Well, I’ve loved having a podcast, so it’s been so fun. I just always like to ask this question at the end, but if you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be? I think that it would be. My mom has always told me that like, you can literally do anything you say my to both. My parents have always said that to me and it’s so true. The when you get older, it’s like, Holy shit, they were so right. You can literally do anything. And also life just gets like so much more fun. The older you get fun and easy and hard at the same time. And magical. Yeah. No, I love that. That’s like a really fun response. I’ve never had anyone respond that way. And I completely agree with you.

 00:48:42  Like you can literally do whatever you want. It’s psychotic. You’re like a master manifester, obviously. And my parents did that. Like, my mom was always just like, no, you can literally have whatever you want. And I was like, oh, you don’t know the monster. You’re creative. Yeah. I’m like, what do you mean? Now I want everything, and I know we’re being princesses. Yeah. So totally working on that. And like, it does get more fun. I know, it really does. Like, I sometimes my fiance and I talk about this a lot. Like when you’re 16, it’s just like it’s so painful because you’re like, I want to be my own person, but I can’t be. And also, you have no idea who you are. No. Like, you know, like it’s just so, like, irritating, literally. And then as you get older, like, you get money and like, you can then do the experiences that you want and then you start to figure out what you are like, really just become like, honestly, whoever you want to be.

 00:49:37  Yeah. Which is so cool. It’s so cool. You kind of just blossom into yourself and then you, you attract like, more of the things that you like and more of the people who will like you. Yeah. It’s just that’s a real love it. Oh my gosh, thank you so much. Thank you for having me. This is so fun. Okay.

  00:49:53  Bye, guys. See you next week.

  00:49:55  First I want to say thank you so much for being here and listening to my podcast. It means the world to me, and I just appreciate this community more than you could ever know. If you love this episode or a previous episode that you’ve listened to, go ahead and head to the. Leave a review link in the show notes and leave us a review. We would really appreciate it and we’re so glad that you’re here. Thank you.