#indie artist hustle

[trapangeles]

The West Coast Blueprint: 20 Essential Steps for Indie Artists to Build Their Own Brand

The West Coast has always been a breeding ground for independent hustlers. From Nipsey Hussle to Dom Kennedy, these legends didn’t wait for the industry to hand them opportunities. They created their own paths, built their own brands, and stayed true to their vision. For today’s indie artists, the message remains the same: independence is key to success.

In this guide, we’ll break down 20 actionable steps that indie artists can take to elevate their careers, take control of their brand, and thrive in the ever-changing music industry.

1. Perfect Your Craft

Before anything else, focus on making your music the best it can be. Invest time into mastering your sound, improving your songwriting, and staying ahead of trends. Great music is the foundation of everything.

2. Develop a Strong Brand Identity

Your brand is more than just your music—it's your image, style, and story. Make sure your social media, visuals, and overall vibe represent who you are as an artist. Consistency is key.

3. Be Active on Social Media

Social media is your direct link to your audience. Post regularly, engage with fans, and share behind-the-scenes content to build a stronger connection with your supporters.

4. Own Your Masters

Ownership is everything. Retain the rights to your music and make sure you’re profiting from your work. Don’t let labels or middlemen control your catalog.

5. Create High-Quality Visuals

In today’s music landscape, visuals are as important as the sound. Invest in professional music videos, creative cover art, and standout promotional graphics.

6. Build a Team

Surround yourself with a team that believes in your vision and can help you grow. Whether it's a manager, PR rep, or social media specialist, having the right people in your corner is crucial.

7. Stay Consistent with Releases

Fans want new content. Keep releasing music, videos, and other creative projects regularly to stay relevant and grow your following.

8. Collaborate with Other Artists

Networking with other artists, especially those in your local scene, can expand your reach and bring in new fans. Collaborations can help elevate both you and your peers.

9. Invest in Yourself

Whether it’s upgrading your studio equipment, hiring a professional photographer, or running targeted ads, investing in your career will pay off in the long run.

10. Engage with Your Audience

Take the time to respond to comments, DMs, and messages. Building a loyal fanbase is all about making genuine connections.

11. Own Your Merchandise

Don’t just stop at music—create and sell your own merch. Shirts, hats, stickers, and other products can bring in additional revenue and help promote your brand.

12. Perform Live Shows

Live performances are a great way to connect with fans and build your reputation. Look for local shows, open mics, and festivals to get your name out there.

13. Focus on Quality Over Quantity

While consistency is important, don’t sacrifice quality for the sake of speed. Take the time to craft your music and visuals with care.

14. Build a Website

A website is your online hub for everything related to your career. It’s a place where fans can find your music, merch, tour dates, and more. Make sure it’s SEO-optimized so people can easily find you.

15. Network with Industry Professionals

Attend events, reach out to DJs, and connect with media outlets. The more people you know in the industry, the more doors you can open for your career.

16. Learn the Business Side of Music

Understanding the business side of music is essential. Learn about royalties, publishing, and contracts to protect yourself and your music.

17. Utilize Streaming Platforms

Make sure your music is on all major streaming platforms like Spotify, Apple Music, and Tidal. Use platforms like DistroKid or TuneCore to get your music distributed worldwide.

18. Engage in Paid Advertising

Leverage the power of paid advertising on platforms like Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube to promote your music and reach a broader audience.

19. Build an Email List

Social media is important, but you also need a direct way to reach your fans. Building an email list allows you to stay in touch with your audience and share exclusive content, news, and updates.

20. Stay Independent

At the end of the day, independence means control. Stay true to your vision, retain your ownership, and make moves on your terms. It’s a longer road, but the rewards are worth it.

Conclusion

Building a successful music career as an indie artist requires more than just talent—it demands hustle, strategy, and a relentless pursuit of your vision. By following these 20 steps, you can take control of your career and create opportunities on your own terms.

Ready to take your career to the next level? Subscribe to our email list for exclusive tips, industry insights, and updates from trapLA. Stay ahead of the game, and let’s keep building!

Have you been spending all your money and time on making music and shooting videos, but still not getting any exposure? Tired of just spinning your wheels? You know to get exposure you need to get featured on blogs, radio stations, playlist, and get your music e-mail blasted out to the masses. Need help getting all that done? Then check out the Package we’ve made available for you below!

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The Latest Music, Videos, News, Entertainment……

[filmcourage]

Don't Use Money As An Excuse To Not Make A Movie - P.M. Lipscomb

Watch the video interview on Youtube here.

[ogdr3dd]

My New Album: Party Animal IS OUT NOW EVERYWHERE

this project took a very long time and it's the most i took on a project and i'm very proud of this body of work.

OV3RGODLYTILLDAEND

check the link in the bio to listen too it

#discover

#music

#newmusic

#overgodly

#upincomingartist

#spotify

#independentartist

#indie

#indiemusic

#hustle

[renthony]

A Quick Lesson in Royalty Payouts

I just made my 500th sale of The Queen of Cups! I'm genuinely thrilled, because that's a pretty huge milestone for my little fantasy story! I originally wrote it as part of a series of short stories inspired by tarot cards (hence the title), but it really took on a life of its own. The other stories are still sitting in a folder on my desktop.

The Queen of Cups is a $0.99 USD ebook, and while there is a paperback available, most of my sales are digital. I never planned to make a ton of money on this story, because it just wasn't realistic to assume I would. And I haven't.

These are screenshots from my Amazon dashboard (which is currently the only platform tQoC is available through, thanks to issues with other distributors):

I make an average royalty payout of $0.32 USD per sale. Most months, I don't make any money off this story, and when I do get a payout, it ranges from pennies to maybe a full dollar if I'm lucky. I once made $6 on a payment and was ecstatic.

Authors, especially indie/self-pub authors, are broke. Many have to work other jobs, cutting down on the energy available to write. I'm personally unable to work outside the house because I'm disabled, so I contribute to the household income largely via Patreon and desperate e-begging. I say often that I don't feel like a person, I feel like six side hustles in a trench coat.

Support your favorite small-time artists in whatever way you can. You need art in your life, and we need money to live. It's fuckin' brutal out here.

(If I happen to be one of your favorite small-time artists, there's a page on my website with info on how to help. <3)

[ladyveronikawrites]

AIN'T NOTHIN' BUT A GOOD TIME

Lady Midnight's Kinktober in the Concrete Jungle 2024

Pairing: Nicholas Ruffilo x Jolly Karlsson x OC x Noah Sebastian

Cw- masked men, roleplaying, sensory deprivation: blindfolds, scarf as bondage, unprotected vaginal sex, mean ex boyfriend, double penetration, oral sex (male and female receiving), mild thigh slapping, spitting, vaginal fingering,  jerking off, facial, cum eating,  revenge kink if you squint, getting caught, voyeurism, THICK DICK NICK, one hot foursome, If I missed anything please let me know!

AN: a little self-indulgent fic, Star Wars characters ahead - Nick as Kylo Ren makes me feral lol - pärla means 'gem' in Swedish

AO3 || Wattpad || Word Count: 3k || masterlist || Taglist sign up

dividers by saradika-graphics

Ruby swipes on her signature red lip as she looks over her outfit in the full-length mirror by the front door. She adjusts her boring brown Jedi robes Nathan insisted she wear to juxtapose his Darth Maul. She scoffs to herself knowing damn well he has no idea who Darth Maul is and probably found the costume at Spirit Halloween. Reluctantly she sighs, the distant dream of her Sabine Wren cosplay lying buried under clothes in her closet never to see the light of day.

Her phone chimes, ripping her from her brief moment of sadness. 

She frantically types ‘OMW’ as she slides into the Uber.

Nathan <Ru, I have been waiting for over an hour.>

She can hear Nathan’s anger through the screen, silently sending a prayer for the driver to go faster. Ruby and Nathan were high school sweethearts that turned into an on-and-off-and-on-again situationship while they were away in college, but when Ruby dropped out of college to pursue music full-time as an indie artist - things went sour really fast. He never understood her passion for music, too self-absorbed in his reputation at the Ivy League university he got into thanks to his wealthy parents. 

Her fingers freeze over the screen as her heart shatters into a thousand pieces. 

Nathan <You know what, since it seems like you don’t care about MY time, we are done. For real this time. Don’t even bother coming.>

Tears stream down her face as she powers down her phone and shoves it into her purse. He can go fuck himself, Ruby thinks to herself - and she gets an even better idea. 

“S-sorry but can you take me downtown instead?” she asks, her voice wavering slightly as the realization sinks in. She takes a deep breath, drying her tear-stained cheeks as the driver pulls up to Nathan’s most hated bar- which happens to be her favorite, Third Base. 

The bar is bustling as she walks in. It’s been updated since she had been there, all those months ago when Nathan was doing a semester abroad in Rome. Ruby instantly fell in love with the quaint charm of the dive bar. It didn’t help that the bar owner was ruggedly handsome, the kind of personality that was homegrown from a small town. She ached for the slow stroll of home instead of the hustle and bustle of city life. Festive Halloween touches add to the ambiance and that’s when she realizes other patrons are also adorned in costume.

“Haven’t seen you in a while,” his familiar twang wraps around her like a warm blanket. She should probably be sobbing into her wine glass in a rose-scented bubble bath in the comfort of her home instead she replies with “Whiskey neat, double.” She notices he’s the only one not dressed up, even his bartender is sporting a risque outfit. 

Ruby is about to mention the lack of costume when he asks “That kinda night?” Ruby downs the drink without a word, slides off the metal bar stool, and makes her way to the old jukebox in the corner of the bar. She scrolls through the CDs not really impressed with the selection. 

“Not finding what you’re looking for?” A distorted voice has Ruby turning. She opens her mouth to grumble about the lackluster music selection, but her brain turns to static. She’s met face-to-face with Kylo Ren. 

“I-” 

“Here, you might like this.” Another man dressed up as a Mandalorian pushes between them. Ruby stands in awe as the two men fight over a CD. Her awe turns into appreciation as she notices the small details in the homemade costume. Whoever’s in the suit spent hours making it.

“Can I buy you another drink?”  A deep voice comes from the bar.

She turns and freezes. “N-nathan? How’d yo-” She is silenced by a red-painted finger as the man towers over her. Realization strikes her that this man is too tall to be Nathan. 

“Nathan isn’t here Jedi.” Boldly, the stranger spits in her face - playing into the villainous role - yet Ruby can’t help but be even more aroused. 

Ruby finds herself being shoved into the back seat of an SUV. Not in a kidnappy way but in a rushed I-want-to-devour-you-way. The look Darth Maul is giving her has her pussy throbbing. She slides her way in as Kylo and Mando hop in the front. Warm lips pressed against her and; at this moment, she couldn't care less if she was covered in red and black body paint by the end of this. She pulls him in closer as his gloved hand teases the waistband of her leggings. Her head thuds against the window when he slips his fingers inside her as his tongue explores her mouth. Suddenly, his long finger slams into the sweet spot and she bites down on his bottom lip, hard. 

He groans, “You gonna surrender, Jedi?” 

“Fuck, don’t stop,” she whines as he finger fucks her all the way to her apartment. By the time they get to her apartment, his gloves are drenched and the back seat is damp where she was sitting, but Ruby could give a single fuck as in the span of 30 minutes she had already had more satisfying orgasms than Nathan could ever give her. Maybe it’s the adrenaline or the thrill? Probably both. If one of them can satisfy her alone with his fingers imagine all three of them.

“You wanna do this Jedi?” Kylo Ren asks once in Ruby’s apartment.

“It’s not every night you get three masked men in your apartment,” she smirks her hands roaming over his black robes. 

“You’ll have to wear this,” the foreign Mandalorian slides a blindfold over her eyes. 

“That’s fine,” her breath catches as her hands drift up to grip Ren’s mask. “Can I take this off?” 

Abruptly, she finds herself pressed against a solid chest behind her and warm lips devour her own. She tangles her fingers into long hair and he groans when she yanks. 

“I was not expecting long hair, but it’s so soft.” Ruby twirls a strand around her finger. Her hand cups his cheek and pulls him into another kiss.

“Ren’s not the only one here Jedi.” Her heartbeat skyrockets at the memory of Darth Maul in the backseat of the car. The way he towered over her, his eyes dark with lust, and his voice made her pussy flutter.

 The mattress groans with the added weight and Ruby’s mind begins to spiral. She yelps with teeth and stubble brush against the skin on her inner thigh. Fuck, Mando has facial hair that's fucking hot. Ruby giggles as he inches closer to her core and at the same time remembers how Nathan can only grow a pathetic and patchy beard. She squirms, aching for roughness against her pussy..

“Oh you’re a feisty one,” Maul whispers in her ear as he settles down beside her. Suddenly, her hands are bound loosely with something smooth and soft. Her brain rationalizes one of her summer scarves that hangs from the hooks over the door. A part of her hopes it’s her favorite one, the black one with skulls. 

“Our red hot Ruby.” he nips at her ear and at the same time one of them pinches her nipple. Ruby yelps at the sudden pain, endorphins surging through her body. “You like a little pain with your pleasure, hm?” 

Smack

A large hand makes contact with her inner thigh. “Fuck! Yes,” Ruby yelps. “Yes, I like pain ‘n pleasure!”

Lips brush against her cheek. “Our little pain slut.”

“Our little pain slut,” Mando mumbles against her throbbing clit as he sinks two thick fingers inside her. 

“Fuck,” she groans as her pussy walls stretch from the invasion. 

“God Ruby… have you ever- “ he trails off, lost in thought. He sucks her clit between his lips and thrusts his fingers into the spongy sweet spot. Ruby writhes as the coil winds tighter in her core. Large hands clamp down on her shoulders to keep her steady as her body starts to tremble. In a silent scream, the dam breaks, and euphoria floods through her body as she releases herself onto Mando’s face. She writhes oversensitive and overwhelmed as he laps up everything she gives him. 

“Little, pärla” Mando pants, “You are divine.” 

Ruby finds herself being pulled gently to sit upright. “Here’s some water,” Ren says softly, handing her a glass of water.

“Thank you.” Her cheeks warm to the kind gesture. “Nathan never took care of me like this.” Her lips press into a thin line and her shoulders slump forward as her mind flashes each disappointing experience. 

A warm hand settles on the small of her back, gently rubbing up and down. “Ain’t nothin’ but a good time, hm?” Mando whispers seductively, his breath is hot against the shell of her ear.  

Ruby briefly wonders if that would have been the track he chose at the bar. Her heart flutters at the parallels and she enthusiastically adds, “Hell yeah!” 

She squeals at first when hands grip her hips and hoist her onto his lap. His hard cock

“You ready for a good time, sweetheart?” Ren asks before pulling her into a heated kiss. His free hand roams over her tits as another set of hands rubs up and down her thighs. Sandwiched between the two men her heart races with anticipation. 

“Got any lube, darling?” Mando asks as Ren pulls her up onto her knees. 

“In… the… drawer…”  she replies between kisses. Her heart leaps into her throat when a cold and wet finger circles the tense muscle of her asshole.

“Can Mando fill you up back there while Ren plays with your pretty pussy?” Maul’s baritone makes her spine tingle. Mando’s finger stills at her back entrance and Ren nips at her other ear. 

“Can I watch?” Maul asks, pulling the blindfold off and Ruby’s eyes widen, taking in the sight before her. Ren’s stormy blue-gray eyes captivate her first, then his soft smile and tint of pink on his cheeks. She can’t resist carding her hand through his hair, so smooth. He leans into her touch, entranced by the gentleness. The world around them darkness slightly and she briefly forgets about the other two. She could stay here, locked in his gentle gaze but her eyes begin to wonder. Her other hand traces the tattoos on his shoulder to his wrist where in the corner of her vision she spies his large thick cock. 

Suddenly, a gloved hand grips her wrist and twists her sideways. His fingers entwine with hers as the other grips her chin. “Don’t forget about us, Jedi.” His deep brown eyes are piercing and she notices that his face is the only exposed skin free of paint. His abdominal muscles flex as her gaze lowers, she huffs disappointed that he is clothed from the waist down.

Her eyes widen at the sound of a deep moan. Maul tilts her head back so she can see the man behind her. His grasp loosens completely and she twists her body more to see Mando better. 

“Hello, pärla,” he moans her nickname, his eyelids flutter closed as he strokes himself. 

“Looks like Mando’s ready. Are you?” Maul asks. 

Ruby remains fixed on watching Mando touch himself. She mutters a breathless, “Yeah.” 

“Come back to your supreme leader.” A tinge of pain pricks at Ruby’s scalp when Ren fists her hair and tugs. She moans as the pain melts into pleasure. 

“Finally showing me your dark side, Ren,” Ruby smirks. “I like it.” 

“Good.” Ren crowds into Ruby’s space, thrusting his hand around her throat. He squeezes slightly then releases pressure completely. “Lean back.”

Ruby adjusts her stance to straddle Mando’s hips. Together, Mando and Ren guide her to lower herself onto him. Maul groans beside them.  The stretch takes her breath away, if only for a moment as the hand tightens around her neck and lips crash onto hers. Ruby succumbs to the sensations letting Mando set the pace while she battles for breath with the fallen Jedi. Ren shoves her back against Mando’s chest by the throat. She sucks in the air when he releases his hand, chest heaving with every inhalation. 

“My turn,” Ren growls, nipping at her earlobe. He squeezes the soft tissue of her breasts as his mouth trails kisses down her torso. Grinning he spreads her legs apart wider and his lips gently kiss her tummy before descending through her silken folds. Mando thrusts into her as Ren teases her other hole with his tongue and then sucks at her clit. She’s teetering on the edge of bliss when it is abruptly ripped away.

“No cumming yet darling.” Mando stills inside her just as Ren flattens his tongue licking one final time before pulling away. 

“Do you want a taste?” Ren asks, his lips ghosting over hers. Her mouth drops open to respond but without warning, fingers slide their way in. Disappointment sours her stomach when Ren leans over and kisses Mando. Greedily, she flicks her tongue around Ren’s fingers in hopes of vying for his attention. 

“Is our Ruby a little jealous she is getting attention?” Maul laughs. In the heat of the moment, Ruby had forgotten all about him. “No… you aren’t jealous, but your needy little cunt is.” Desperation flashes through her as she bites down on Ren’s fingers. Ren huffs a laugh against Mando’s lips, 

“I heard that cunt is still needy, hm?” Ren tilts his head, his gaze scanning over her body. A small whine leaks out of her mouth. He slides his fingers out of her mouth and onto her throat. His lips curl into a devilish smirk, “You want more?” 

“Yes, yes, yes, please!” Ruby’s lashes flutter when Ren sinks into her dripping pussy. 

“So tight-” Ren groans.

“Dude, I can feel you,” Mando gasps when Ren bottoms out.

“This is the hottest thing I’ve ever seen,” Maul muses.

Ren holds her steady as Mando slowly thrusts in and out of her. 

“Feeling good?” Maul whispers lowly in her ear.

“S-so good, so full.. he's so big” Her words melt into nothingness when Ren flexes inside her.

“Fuck fuck fuck, I’m gonna come… don’t-” Ruby whines as Mando and Ren alternate thrusting into her ass and cunt.

“Ru, you home? I saw your car out front.” Her ex’s voice booms through the apartment, his words slur together in one long word. But she can’t be bothered as pressure builds in her core. 

“Shhh,” Mando shushes her with a hand to her mouth

“Maybe,” Maul leans over and whispers turning Ruby slightly towards him. Grinning he offers his eager cock to her and she eagerly nods. Ren smacks Maul in the arms when he moans as Ruby takes him into her mouth. 

The bedroom door swings open and Maul’s cock throbs between her lips. Ren and Mando are too far gone to care when -

“WHAT THE FUCK!”

Ruby sighs against Maul’s softening cock slipping it from her mouth while she is still being pounded between two beautiful men. It takes all of her strength not to come when she leans around Ren to stare Nathan dead in the eyes. 

“Fuck! You!” she groans as she comes, flipping Nathan one and then sucking on each of her middle fingers. Her eyes roll back as she catches a glimpse of him stalking out the door. When the door slams shut she sinks into Mando as euphoria floods her body.

“Damn, that was hot!” Maul says impressed. Ruby peers up through her lashes at Maul who’s stoking his now hard cock. 

“Yeah?” Ruby cocks an eyebrow. Without hesitation, she pulls his free hand and sucks on his middle finger. 

Maul sucks in a curse. “Damn girl, fuck.” Ruby bites down at Maul’s finger, not painfully hard, but enough when her hair is yanked back and she is pulled off. 

“Wh-”

“Open up,” Mando commands as he grips her jaw forcing her mouth open. Ruby opens her mouth wide and sticks her tongue out with anticipation. Mando lowers his hands to rest around her throat squeezing gently. Ren tucks a loose strand of hair behind her ear before leaning down to suck on her nipple. She jolts when he bites down, her pussy walls clenching around his semi-hard cock. Mando slides his hand down her middle to circle her clit as Ren plays with her tits. 

“Fuckfuckfuck,” Maul curses as he splatters his cum all over Ruby’s face. Small whimpers come from her open mouth as another orgasm wrecks through her. She swallows then licks her lips and smiles up at Maul before pulling him closer to lick and suck at his softening cock. She hisses when Ren pulls off her tit with an audible pop. 

Ruby hums satisfiedly, leaning back against Mando, as Ren slides out of her. Before he can say another word, she mumbles, “Baby wipes in the bathroom down the hall.” 

She doesn’t open her eyes but sinks further into bliss as Mando rubs his hands up and down her arms. “You did so well for us Pärla,” he whispers in her ear. All she can muster is a hummed agreement. 

“Let me clean you up,” Maul offers when Ren returns. She blinks to find soft brown eyes and a dazzling smile to greet her. “Thank you,” she whispers. “All of you,” she adds when Ren takes Maul’s place in front of her to press a gentle kiss to her cheek. As Ren and Maul redress, Mando steals more kisses as he helps Ruby up to dress her. 

“Here,” Maul hands Ruby her glass of water. “You can call me Noah.” 

“Hi, Noah.” she flashes him a dazzling smile in the afterglow.

“Food?” Ren asks before adding,” The name’s Nick and he’s Jolly.” 

“No please- you guys can go, I’ll be alright.” Ruby dismisses, gesturing to the door.  

“Please?” Jolly wraps her up in his arms. “Dinner and a movie and we will leave after that.”

“We just don’t want you to be alone,” Nick adds. 

“Fine.” Ruby relents as her stomach rumbles. “Thai food and the new Deadpool movie.” 

The four of them settle on blankets and pillows in the living room with Ruby in the middle. She finds herself leaning against Jolly’s shoulder and for the first time in a long time has finally felt at peace.

👑Royal Readers👑

@deathblacksmoke @mysticdoodlez @sitkowski @snarkysolaris @collapsedglasshouses @shilohrosechicken

@cookiesupplier @iknownothingpeople @dominuslunae @agravemisstake @the-ancient-fae

@itsafullmoon @philomenie @th4t-em0-k1d @baddestomens @rumoured-whispers

@blackveilomens @sorrowsofsilence @collisionofyourkissmakesitsohard @tearfallpixie @nerdraging4point0

@omensbrainrot @99png @awkwardalex @fadingangelwisp @theanarchymuse95 @lobolocaamo

[welcomingdisaster]

inspired by the polls, i think i will share, context-free, the occupations that the finweans have in the urban fantasy au i am have been compiling for a while now. (note they're still elves in this au, so the guys born in the 1800s definitely had more time for career changes)

finwe: head of a joint-stock company

indis: trust fund kid turned farrier turned poet

miriel: fashion designed turned novelist turned private detective after faking her own death

feanor: head of a joint-stock company during their real unethical years. world-famous writer

fingolfin: naval officer turned senator . won a lot of money betting on horses once and is very shrewd about investing. owns a museum the second half of his life.

finarfin: main income from a carefully-invested trust fund. side hustle being a minor yet influential food critic

maedhros: army officer turned ill-fated arctic explorer turned accountant turned small business owner

maglor: world-famous violinist turned fighter pilot turned indie rock artist with a cult following

celegorm: too many odd jobs to list

caranthir: owner of a moderately successful watch company

curufin: head of a joint-stock trading company during their "crash and burn" years

ambrussa: tik-tok prank-based influencers

(celebrimbor: getting really good at slamming his bedroom door and screaming "i hate you")

fingon: naval officer turned unsuccessful artist turned head of museum security

turgon: owns a hard-to-find mountain resort with his sister's ex buried in his backyard

aredhel: travel writer & blogger

(idril: a pleasure to have in the seventh-grade classroom)

finrod: professional explorer turned magic shop owner

orodreth: army nurse turned electron microscopy technician

angrod: army officer turned prosecutor

aegnor: museum tour guide. hyper-realistic painter on the side

galadriel: chemist turned politician

(finduilas: bikes to finrod's magic shop every day after 1st grade to "help cashier")

(celebrian: really good at tummy time. ahead of all benchmarks for when she should be lifting her head according to her mom)

[internetprincess420]

what i think knb guys music preferences are in 2024

cw: none!!!!!

tetsuya kuroko

- lofi radio

- indie fan

- neo jazz fan i think

- listens to boa, berlioz, joji

- songs: duvet by boa, yeah right by joji, any pop song lofi cover

- uses spotify and soundcloud

ryota kise

- pop, house music, cloud rap

- apple music supremest (and he’s correct)

- listens to charli xcx, a$ap rocky, early childish gambino, blackpink

- songs: rush by troye sivan, hustle that cat by rupaul, rockstar by lisa, lvl by a$ap rocky

- big fan of concerts

daiki aomine

- rap, hip hop, cloud rap, drill

- i think he’s a big fan of female rap

- listens to carti, uzi, ken carson, sexyy red, travis scott, chief keef

- songs: get it sexyy by sexyy red, iloveuihateu by playboi carti, flooded the face by lil uzi vert, laughin to the bank by chief keef

- uses apple music and soundcloud

atsushi murasakibara

- grunge, 90s indie, punk

- listens to the cranberries, the cardigans, tv girl, the smashing pumpkins, pearl jam, nirvana

- songs: better in the dark by tv girl, sunday by the cranberries, you’re not the only one i know by the sundays, tonight tonight by the smashing pumpkins

- uses soundcloud

- sexyy red is his guilty pleasure (canon in my head) and his favorite song is looking for the hoes

shintaro midorima

- new wave, alternative, pop

- listens to the smiths, the cure, arctic monkeys, fall out boy

- songs: dance dance by fall out boy, half a person by the smiths, just live heaven by the cure, cornerstone by arctic monkeys

- apple music enthusiast and has a private account

- believes his music taste is superior (and it is!!)

seijuro akashi

- podcasts.

- listens to deftones, frank ocean, childish gambino, lana del rey, charli xcx

- songs: pink + white by frank ocean, bonfire by childish gambino, west coast by lana del rey (and he’s the type to put on a performance when listening to it), 365 by charli xcx

- uses apple music and spotify for podcasts

taiga kagami

- alternative, drill, rap

- listens to comethazine, outkast, travis scott, flo milli, baby keem

- songs: honest by baby keem, prototype by outkast, highest in the room by travis scott, hellcats srts by sexyy red

- uses spotify and follows 500 different artists on there

- can’t sit still when listening to music

[shit-talk-turner]

She just wants instant success. She doesn't wanna pound the pavement and put the groundwork in. A legend in her own mind. She dines off The Voice label signing like she was the second coming of Joni Mitchell when she wasn't signed on talent or songwriting skills, just embarrassing covers of other female singers. That cursive sad-girl indie girl warbling died a death ages ago. I think had she released that album in 2014/2015, she would have done better - when it was hip. It's no longer style over substance. Plus it's terrible to see woman of her age always using face tune, constant pouting/posing and seeking attention/validation which I'd expect from a 21 yr old (or a Kardashian) but not at her age. She seems stuck in a rut, where I sympathesise a bit, she really doesn't help herself.

it’s not about her age really though, but about her lack of hustle and drive. We agree she seems to want instant success and based on some of the interviews she gave in the early days of the Alex relationship, has a deluded image of herself as an artist on par with him.

[ryanclaremont]

on the town.

Being back in the city definitely has some adjustments. There's a vast difference from the serene ocean to the hustle and bustle of the city. Though after one night's sleep Ryan's already back into the motions and typical schedules she's usually on. She gets her life in order, sorting out her place and gets back into the routine of things. Breakfast at the cafe, lunch at the bistro, dinner at her brother's and so on. She does love the city, she would be fooling herself if she didn't.

She's got friends besides her little circle, she knows people who know people. And when she sees there's some afterparty at one of the clubs for some indie recording artist, Ryan thinks that might be something up her alley. It would be nice to have a night out, and she'd invite Luci if Aiden wasn't wining and dining her as if it's their first date every Thursday.

Ryan dresses, calling a car as she zips up the side zipper of her dark plum mini dress and grabs a purse, heels and gets herself downstairs when the car pulls around to the front. She thanks her doorman and slips into the car, heading off to the club. It seems to be a hot commodity as the driver has to wait in a small line up of cars, people waiting outside to get in the club but when Ryan exits the car, she strolls right ahead to the security. No verbal indication needed, the rope opens up and Ryan moves into the club.

[cherrygirlystuff]

Who Is The Dare - The Man Behind Guess by Charli XCX and Billie Elish

Hey Bestie! 💖 Let’s Talk About ‘The Dare’ – The Guy Behind Those Iconic Tracks by Charli XCX & Billie Eilish!

Hey babe! 🌸 Grab your fave drink, get cozy, and let’s spill some tea on the music world’s latest obsession: The Dare! If you’ve been vibing to Charli XCX’s and Billie Eilish’s latest bops, you’re probably wondering, “Who is this guy?” Well, girl, I’ve got you covered.

First things first, who exactly is The Dare?

Imagine this: you’re at a party, the lights are low, and suddenly a track comes on that just makes you feel alive. That’s The Dare’s magic. The man behind the music is Harrison Patrick Smith, a multi-talented artist and producer who’s quickly making waves in the music industry. The Dare isn’t just a name – it’s a whole vibe. ��

The Man Behind the Music 🎶

Harrison has been hustling in the music scene for a while, but it’s his work as The Dare that’s truly putting him on the map. He’s got this knack for blending genres, creating sounds that are both fresh and familiar – kinda like your go-to lipstick that just works with every outfit. His sound? It’s this delicious mix of edgy pop with a sprinkle of indie and a dash of that raw, gritty energy that makes you want to dance like no one’s watching.

Why Charli XCX and Billie Eilish Are Obsessed with Him 💖

Okay, so we all know Charli XCX and Billie Eilish have amazing taste in music. These queens don’t just collaborate with anyone – they pick artists who bring something new to the table. That’s where The Dare comes in.

For Charli, it’s all about pushing boundaries. She’s known for her experimental sound, and The Dare’s bold, unapologetic style is a perfect match. Together, they’ve created tracks that make you want to strut down the street like it’s your personal runway.

And Billie? We know our girl loves those deep, haunting beats that make you feel all the feels. The Dare’s ability to create moodier, atmospheric sounds is a dream come true for her. Their collab is like dark chocolate – rich, intense, and oh-so-satisfying.

The Dare’s Hits: "Girls," "Good Time," and the Latest Bop "You’re Invited" 🎤

Let’s dive into some of his absolute bangers. You’ve probably already had "Girls" and "Good Time" on repeat, right? These tracks are everything we love about The Dare – they’re catchy, a little rebellious, and 100% dance-worthy.

"Girls" is like the anthem of your wildest nights out. It’s got this infectious energy that makes you want to grab your girls and hit the town. The beat? Pure fire. And the lyrics? They just scream confidence and fun. It’s no wonder it’s become such a fave!

Then there’s "Good Time," which is all about living in the moment and just letting go. This song is your go-to for when you need to shake off the stress and have an epic time. It’s got that perfect mix of carefree vibes and a beat that makes you want to keep the party going all night long.

And guess what, babe? The Dare just dropped a brand new track called "You’re Invited." This one’s already shaping up to be a major hit. It’s got everything we love – killer beats, a catchy chorus, and that signature Dare vibe that makes you feel like you’re in on the coolest secret party ever. Trust me, you’re gonna want to add this one to your playlist ASAP!

The Future Looks Bright, Bestie! 🌟

So, what’s next for The Dare? If you ask me, I think we’re just at the beginning of his takeover. With his unique sound and the support of superstars like Charli and Billie, it’s only a matter of time before he’s the name on everyone’s lips.

So, next time you’re listening to one of those epic tracks, just know that The Dare is the mastermind behind it. And remember, babe, you heard it here first! 😉

Let’s keep our eyes (and ears) on The Dare – because this is one musical journey you don’t want to miss. Catch you on the flip side, bestie! 💋✨

Feel free to share this post, and let me know what you think about The Dare! Are you as obsessed as I am? Let's chat in the comments! 💕

[yvesdot]

QUEER INDIE-PUB BOOK TALK & Q&A!

Thursday, October 12th, 6:30-8:00 PM at the Santa Cruz Diversity Center

I am having a physical, in-person event in Santa Cruz for anyone interested in hearing about the queer self-/indie-publishing journey! I'll be talking about making queer-as-in-very-strange art, financing art as the deplorable "side hustle," and not losing your mind while publishing. Also, reading aloud from Something's Not Right! RSVP on Eventbrite!

If you're seeing this and you're not Californian, do me a favor—share this post to your network! Let's get this to the weird queer artists in the area. (And, hey, let me know if you'd like me to come to your town! We'll see what I can do ^__^)

[beesmygod]

i know this is totally naive but as a webcomics/ zines/ indie comix guy I used think that it was an artist industry that people went in on out of passion for the form and that we all knew full well that is was destitute and unpaying project for and by sick weirdos who just had to create something the recent era of just blatant, tribalist, social climbing GRINDSET where people are willingly exploiting themselves to make "careers in webcomics" (????) through webtoon and the ilk with transparent uninspired grifting just kills me man nothing wrong with getting the bag but it all feels very hustle grindy and a sense of entitlement or expectation to get money for just doing the work? does anyone understand what industry they're going into? the commodification of "well if i worked hard on this i should get paid" feels like such an insane capitalist brainworm leap from "take pride and respect in your work and price accordingly" artist communities are always manipulative insane echo chambers but now it feels so intrinsically tied to us vs them SEO hustle fandom bullshit in a way that just breaks me. bad! very bad! thank you for fighting the good fight, always makes me feel a little less insane and validated to see you talking about this

if you're naive, then i'm naive. i was under the same impression. i just don't get it. i feel like both the only sane person in the room and also like the biggest loser freak in the world. mostly the latter because like. man, even they didnt want me lol

[filmcourage]

What If You Want To Quit Your Day Job But Can't? - Viki King

Watch the video interview on Youtube here.

[unreliablestoryteller]

Baguio City: Life After Lights Out

There’s more to Baguio night market and dance clubs after five

For those who seek more than the usual tourist spots, Baguio offers a unique blend of music and drinks at Canto Bogchi Joint. Every weekend, the local indie scene takes over (thanks to Not Very Noise), filling the air with electrifying tunes. Forget the hustle and bustle of Session Road and the night market— the real action is on the dance floor at Canto, where homegrown bands unleash their music, shaking the city of Pines to its core. Whether you’re a fan of spine-tingling guitar solos or just want to warm up with a sick bassline, Canto is where the weekend comes alive.

You should be dancing

As the lights dim and all eyes focus on the corner stage, the air is charged with anticipation. The first chord sends a wave of excitement through the crowd. Soon, hips sway and heads nod to the beat of the song. The crowd, a diverse mix of students, artists, clocked-out workers, and tourists, becomes one as they press closer to the stage. It’s a melting pot of people—wherever you’re from and whether you’re a newbie or a patron of the Baguio indie scene, you’re an equal part of this community.

Canto’s stage isn’t just for local hopefuls looking for their big break. In fact, it has hosted known bands like Chicosci, who brought the house down riff after riff, turning what started as a laid-back jam session into a full-blown sonic rock out. Artists like Clara Benin included the sick joint on her Befriending My Tears tour stop and sang her heart out.

As much as big-name acts pull the masses, it’s bands like Rest Day Overtime, Amateurish, among others, that keep the true indie heartbeat pumping at Canto. These under-the-radar acts own the stage, bringing raw talent and unfiltered charm that can’t be taught — just felt. Miss them, and you’ll be missing the soul of the scene.

If you haven’t attended a gig at Canto, now is the best time to check the next gig date.

[rapperpakman]

No Time To Rest By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fOISB0ltJhs No Time To Rest By RapperPakMan #urbanrap Get inspired with "No Time To Rest" by RapperPakMan, a powerful anthem from the album 3 AM in Atlanta 12 PM in Pakistan. This lyric video captures the drive and hustle of the streets, with impactful lyrics that motivate listeners to keep pushing forward. RapperPakMan’s hard-hitting words and relentless flow create an unforgettable experience for hip-hop fans. Like, subscribe, and leave a comment if this track resonates with you! The video is about No Time To Rest By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video) but also tries to cover the following subjects: Finding motivation in rap music Connecting with powerful hip-hop lyrics Celebrating the hustle and determination in urban rap ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Songs is currently on your favorite platforms: 👉 Spotify: https://ift.tt/6hpCZoB 👉 Apple Music: https://ift.tt/9haILvm 👉 Distrokid: https://bit.ly/48HRMV3 👉 Audiomack: https://ift.tt/v28nSZw 👉 Soundcloud: https://ift.tt/NMw6SAt ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Subscribe To My Channel For More Official Music: https://www.youtube.com/@Rapperpakman/?sub_confirmation=1 ✅ Important Links: 👉 Cash App (Buy me a Coffee): https://ift.tt/uT6c5sx ✅Stay Connected With Me: 👉 Instagram: https://ift.tt/opeXbQG 👉 Facebook: https://ift.tt/podVRve 👉 Tiktok: https://ift.tt/YlKQ8vT 👉 (X)Twitter: https://ift.tt/Iej8yLi 👉 Linktr: https://ift.tt/8AnXt2p ========================= ✅ Other Videos You Might Be Interested In Watching: 📀 Flex Rest By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sqxmOTaDaZ0 📀 Daler Mehndi Rest By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l_OYFCVW-lk 📀 Government Assistance By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ij_bQ6GHDUU 📀 “Papa” By RapperPakMan - (Official Lyric Video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hRtFLfxb5LU ========================= ✅ About RapperPakMan: Welcome to my channel! I'm RapperPakMan, an indie artist living life one verse at a time. Here, you'll get an inside look at my creative process, music projects, and everything that fuels my passion for rap. Join me on this musical journey! For Collaboration and Business inquiries, please use the contact information below: 📩 Email: RapperPakManBooking@gmail.com 🔔 Subscribe to my channel for more great music: https://www.youtube.com/@Rapperpakman/?sub_confirmation=1 ========================= #notimetorest #rapperpakman #lyricvideo #newrapmusic #hiphop2024 #rapmotivation #streetanthem #pakman Disclaimer: We do not accept any liability for any loss or damage which is incurred from you acting or not acting as a result of reading any of our publications. You acknowledge that you use the information we provide at your own risk. Do your own research. Copyright Notice: This video and our YouTube channel contains copyrighted music and images. Any public, media and any other business usage is subject to business licence. Unauthorised usage and publications are prohibited. © RapperPakMan via RapperPakMan https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC_AwJnGuWldTFq-WVxoVg1g November 09, 2024 at 08:13AM

[yotko97]

Here are the ways you can maximise on marketing and advertise your next film

Artists and filmmakers, we can be honest with ourselves here. Marketing and sales is not our strong suit by default. Even with our producers there’s always seems to be this ick about promoting our short films for a lot of reasons. The main reasons I can pick out are to potentially coming off as a shill or a sellout, fearing that doing so can turn off our potential audience and people that surrounds us, thinking that word of mouth alone is enough and that by some miracle that doesn’t involve the actors or the director or the cinematographer that our short film will be most popular around the world amongst the rest . Another big potential reason is this air of cynicism that no one would be interested in seeing our films except fo other filmmakers or these small, niche groups of people who tend to go to film festivals; that your film has no place in a commercial sphere. This is especially true for filmmakers with their short films.

However, the reality is that without some form of marketing budget or plan in place with your short film, with the exception of applying to “insert film festival name here” then your short film will only be known by a few people at best and will get lost within this ever expanding pool of other short films being produced around the world. Now I’ll also give you the benefit of the doubt. Maybe you’re a first time indie filmmaker that is actually enthusiastic about getting your short film seen and known across the globe but not sure or confident in how to effectively do it or what the best methods are due to not being well informed in films school or whatever. In these cases, not to worry. I had the same concerns before I started on filming my first short film FULL CIRCLE. A majority of what I learned was from Alex Ferrari’s book “rise of the filmtrepeneur” as well as being an avid listener to his “Indie Film Hustle Podcast”, along with first hand anecdotal accounts of implementing these techniques you’ll know later on in this blog.

Here are the essential ways to maximise your marketing for your short film(s);

Know Your Audience

This is an imperative to know and learn for your productions here on out as every film and every genre caters to some sort of niches or even a group of niches. Trying to cater to most amount of people possible that is limited to a specific genre or two is only applicable to big budget features that already are already popular like the marvel cinematic universe or Disney due to having million and millions available in their advertising budgets and for being in the game for nearly a century. The trick for short films to have a fighting chance to get seen by people is to answer this question “Who is this film for?” It’s not enough to just say yourself. What would help is to analyse your script and uncover what key identifying features are present in your script, genre and plot, then correspond to existing or emerging niches that exist in this world. Here’s a personal example. For my short film FULL CIRCLE is about an assassin on the job who only realises something’s wrong when it’s too late. It was colour graded into black and white and the genres it fits into are noir, action and drama. My audience from my analysis were people who are interested in the following;

Noir films

Black and white videography

Hitman/assassin lore (from Hitman game series to Assassin’s creed series)

Femme fatale characters

Australian short films

Bloody scenes

Experimental and artistic

Short films

Guns

Action

Drama

Spies

That’s 12 niches I identified that I also marketed my short film to. Doing this will give a clearer direction in who are the right audiences for your short film and will be most receptive/loyal to your future productions.

Have a budget for social media ads

This may sound obvious but I stress this as it’s essential for any project, for any production no matter the scale or type of film. Think about it. How else is anyone going to know outside elf your cast + crew that your short film exists. In any other project in any other business in any other industry, there are marketing budgets for brand awareness, otherwise they would go bankrupt or they would be rejected by every single investor before they could pitch their start up. For all films, including short films it’s no different. Luckily, more than ever before we have a wider reach of people to promote your short films thanks to the vast internet and social media where instead of the olden days you were limited to word of mouth, local film festivals and marketing firms that are out price range for the average indie filmmaker. Nowadays you can set the budget to virtually any capacity affordable in your budget. Here are the social medias you can place paid ads onto or to boost posts for wider promotion;

Facebook

Posts = min: $2 per day — max: $500 per day

Ads = min: $2 per day — max: $200 per day

Stories = min: $2 per day — max: $500 per day

Days = min: 4 — max: 36

Instagram

Posts = min:$2 — max:$1000 per day

Reels= min:$2 — max:$1000 per day

Stories = min:$2 — max:$1000 per day

Days = min: 4 — max: 36

Linkedin = min: $350

Days = min: 4 — max: 31

X/Twitter = min:$20 — max:$8000 per day

Days = min: 1 — max: 30

Tiktok = min:$20 — max:$74,000 per day

Days = min: 1 — max: 7

Tiktok Ads manager = min:$50 — max:$10,000,000

Days = min: 1 — max: 364

Google ads = min:$2 — max:$1000 per day

Days = min: 1 — max: 364

Reddit = $20-$10,000 per day

Days = min: 1 — max: 364

Create a marketing plan within your production at the start

It’s essential to maximise the marketing and economic advantages early on in your filmmaking progress, as boring and icky it night sound to creatives. Let’s make an analogy here. If we view a film production akin to a startup venture, then any businessman worth their salt would do their research and planning on how to sell and showcase their product/services in the most efficient way possible. It would be a display of great ignorance to skip this step or overwrite it due to lack of interest based in its antithetically practical nature compared to creativity that naturally comes to filmmakers. It’s all well and good to come up with a great and cool narrative, setting and maybe even a message underlying your film idea; after all, it’s the whole basis to filmmaking. However, marketing despite its recent lazy and borderline cynical, sleazy undertones in modern examples at its very core is just a way to tell the masses “Hey! This cool thing exists, this can benefit your life in this way, you like it?, here it is available for $X amount”. Marketing if done right and ethically is not a dirty word in my opinion.

Create Behind the scenes Content

You know how common this is right know growing with indie fans bug budget productions showcase what went on into making their films. This can garner interest and some educational insight for your audience to see the journey through and through your short film production. You can also in tandem release it onto your social media platforms across the board for maximum exposure as well as help you identify your potential audience for your short film at a deeper level.

Create unique content related to your short film

One interesting route is to create a certain type of content that’s related to your primary short film or production. One example is a short documentary of mine about a middle aged bodybuilder that’s also a stay at home mom. We created a cooking video detailing and cooking recipes in her book containing dishes she ate during her training period. This in tandem will help drive traffic to the short documentary once both are finished and uploaded for my audience.

Use indirect or unconventional methods to promote your short film

There are many, many ways to promote or showcase your film than ever before and it never hurts to think outside the box when it comes to getting the word out. Her are some ideas if you’re struggling to come up with examples;

. Podcasts = They have been booming in popularity since 2017 and have exponentially been listened to around the world since the global lockdowns during 2020–2022. There are ever-growing amount of podcasts existing around the world with each one fitting into multiple interests/genres, from filmmaking to medical podcasts. It would be wise to not just research and contact on filmmaking podcasts, but also podcasts who entire theme aligns with any niches/genres your short film fall under. My suggestion would be to listen to a few podcasts you’re interested to feature in, then try to contact them via insta DM or even better, email if you can, then see which ones are interested in interviewing you about your short and go from there. For filmmaking podcasts, I’ve developed a list here to save you the trouble and time. For other themed podcasts, Feedspot is a good source. Happy hunting.

. PR Firms/Radio stations = Just like in big budget films, there are PR firms around the world that specialise in promoting and exposing independent films, no matter the project and budget level. I’m also currently compiling a list of PR firms and radio stations around the world that specialise in film marketing and PR. Stick around for that soon.

. Merch = Yeah, you heard me. Indie filmmakers reading this might be turned off on this prospect due to uncertainty, no knowledge on how to make Merch online or may think it maybe a tacky and unfit decision to associate with your genre of short film production. Those can be understandable reasons but almost any film production, whether is a feature, short or even a documentary can attach a type of appropriate Merch such as the universal tactic of putting a films poster on a T-shirt and further spread the word by selling online or even in person. I did this with my first short “FULL CIRCLE”. Some good drop shipping sites like Printful, Printify or shopify are good Print on demand sites to use if you want to have a crack at it with a wide range of customisable apparel/accessories.

. Blogs/Articles = I know I sort of covered blogs and articles in my short film monetisation blog but they’re also a great way to further spread the word about your short film in text form to your audiences. Many filmmakers I personally know kinda sleep on blogs since they think its reserved for awkward fan fiction you’d find on Tumblr or were a passing online trend sometime in the 2010’s but died out. Rest assured people still like to read and potentially hear about your short film with would further grow and funnel your personal audience for your shorts in the near future. These are the blog sites I’d recommend;

Medium

Substack

Your own blog form on your own website

Ghost.io

Patreon

Buy me a coffee

Blogger

Tumblr

I hope these ideas help you in your next short film productions. Any feedback ,no matter how positive or negative are most welcomed.