[NoHo Arts District, CA] – This month’s Soaring Solo blog talks about “Branding Yourself as a Solo Artist.”
“Your business is the body. Your brand is the soul.” -Ashley Chymiy
As a solo artist, you likely see yourself as an actor and a writer, but do you also see yourself as a business person?
Well, unless you are solely performing your solo show as a form of creative expression with no concern about the financial or career-building aspects of producing art, then yes, you are a business person. And every business person must give thought to their brand.
Having to consider your brand as a solo artist, might make you throw up a little in your mouth. The notion of selling art can feel like selling your soul. Yet, in today’s blog I invite you to reframe the idea of branding yourself as a solo artist and learn to find your authenticity in the business side of show business.
Let’s dive in with four tools you will need in successfully branding yourself as a solo artist.
- Create Promotional Materials
There are many things that fall under the umbrella of promotional materials, and these items are a very important aspect of branding yourself as a solo artist. After all, things like your merchandise, postcards, flyers, graphics and posters represent you and your show to the world even when you are not physically in the room. What do these items say about you? Do your materials reflect your show’s overall vibe?
The last thing you want is for someone to pick up your postcard, be enticed to go see your show, and then walk out of the theatre feeling like it was false advertising. You want to deliver what your brand promises.
So, how do you do this?
First, you want to get in touch with your own creative intuition which holds priceless insights and ideas. To tap into that space within, I suggest that you really slow down, and get into a quiet and meditative state.
Ask yourself what the personality of your show is? Is it a quirky comedy or a dark comedy? Is it a drama? Is it a family show or is it sexy and provocative? Is it a social justice piece or a coming-of-age story? Is it a real tearjerker or a piece of historic edutainment?
Next, ask yourself what colors come to mind when you think of the world of your show. Is it light and airy or dark and sinister? What images do you envision that encapsulate the world of your show? Do you see bold neon shapes or natural outdoor elements? Do you see yourself? If so, what are you wearing? What are you doing?
Another great exercise is to create a vision board of sorts for your solo show. You can do this on sites like Pinterest or you can go the old school route grabbing a bunch of magazines, a posterboard, some scissors and glue and start cutting out anything you see that speaks to you.
The point is to be uniquely you with every piece of promotional materials. Don’t try to please others and certainly don’t pretend to be something you are not. Authenticity is key.
Here are some show graphics illustrating a myriad of unique styles that other solo artists have chosen to represent their brand.
- Build a Website
I often get asked if a solo artist should make a website for themselves or for the show or both. I look at it like this, your solo show is just one aspect of you as a creative person and as an artist.
It is likely that you have other skill sets in addition to your solo show. For example, you might also be a creative coach of some sort. Maybe you have other forms of entertainment you partake in such as television, film, web series or ensemble theatre. You might even have multiple solo shows.
All of that said, I think it is best to create a website for you as a creative person that captures the wholeness and totality of your offerings. While these things might be quite different from one another, the common denominator is you. As long as you are staying true to the essence of you, your website will feel cohesive.
Here are some of my clients’ websites below to give you some examples of how they have chosen to brand themselves through their websites.
- Have a Strong Social Media Presence
Some people love scrolling on their phones and posting religiously, others detest it.
If you fall into the latter category, I strongly advise you to build a following online even if it pushes you outside of your comfort zone or you strongly dislike it. Think about it this way, memorizing lines or signing contracts with theatres isn’t usually something solo artists enjoy doing, but it is the business side of things that must happen regardless if you want this to be more than just a hobby. The reality is, if you want to tour, if you want butts in seats, you must build your audience online so that you have an audience in real life.
To make it a little less painful, think of engaging on social media as sharing more of who you are and inviting others to do the same. A lot of my posts are, of course, for the solo shows that I am directing, but I also sprinkle in posts with my romantic partner being my plus one, or a picture of a post-show dinner that was super yummy. Mix it up. Try to enjoy yourself.
Besides, social media content should not just be posting your show graphic over and over again when you have a performance coming up. That will be boring and redundant for both you and your audience. Instead, be vulnerable, be playful, think outside of the box and most importantly, be yourself.
Post quotes that inspire you and even better if the quote can somehow trace back to themes of your show. Take a video of yourself touring a potential theatre you might perform your show in. Put up a collage of action shots taken from your most recent rehearsal or performance. Go see other solo shows and post a positive review and tag the person.
It’s also crucial that you be consistent with your online interaction.
Don’t just post once every few weeks and think anyone is going to notice. Weave social media into your regular routine. I would suggest posting multiple times a week. And don’t forget to engage on other people’s social media pages as well. You are building a community online and that means being interactive and reciprocal.
Here are a few handles to check out and see how these solo artists show up on social media.
https://www.instagram.com/thecyrusdeboo
https://www.instagram.com/amyveltmania
https://www.instagram.com/bexmcglex
- Be Mindful of Your Reputation
Your brand is also what people say about you when you are not in the room. It’s how you make people feel when they interact with you or what message they take away from coming to see your show. The theatre world is small and people talk, so be mindful of how you come across.
The last thing you want while branding yourself as a solo artist is to be known as is difficult to work with, a diva, a jerk, etc.
You want the people on your creative team to feel seen and valued for their contributions to your solo show. You want your audience to feel appreciated for giving you an hour or more of their time to hear your story. You want the crew at every venue to feel respected and treated well by you. You want your fellow solo artists to see you as a team player who doesn’t just promote yourself and beg them to come see your show but also comes to support them on their big night. And, most importantly, ask yourself what the gift is that your story offers the audience and then unapologetically give that gift over and over again.
Share resources. Connect people to one another. Be grateful and generous. Act like a professional. Have an abundance mindset rather than one of scarcity and your reputation will attract the right people to you and your work as a solo artist.
Well, folks, I could go on and on with a multitude of other things to consider when branding yourself as a solo artist and your solo show. However, this should be more than enough to chew on for today.
I hope today’s blog helps you to see yourself as not only a talented solo artist but also see yourself as a savvy business person with a powerful brand.
Please continue to persist along on your solo journey. It may not be easy, but it is so worth it!
Jessica Lynn Johnson
Founder & CEO of Soaring Solo LLC
SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com
www.SoaringSoloStudios.com
Enjoy these Solo Theatre Resources to further guide you on branding yourself as a solo artist but also on your solo journey!
Tune in and support the Soaring Solo Community as we share our stories from stage!
Award-winning director and developer Jessica Lynn Johnson hosts a slew of powerful solo show script readings and full staged productions addressing various impactful and inspiring topics.
This enticing lineup can be found by CLICKING HERE FOR MORE INFO.
Start writing your own solo show one freewrite at a time with “FREEWrite Friday”!
Join BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST WINNER Jessica Lynn Johnson for FREEWrite Friday!
Utilizing thought-provoking writing prompts, Jessica will lead you in writing exercises that are sure to assist you in the development of your solo show.
A one-person play is not typically written in one fell swoop. Rather, the Soaring Solo Methodology teaches that the creation of solo art is much like that of creating a Mosaic…one beautiful piece at a time.
All that is required to attend this inspiring event is a willingness to explore, having a pen, paper, or some other means of capturing your thoughts, the ability to access Zoom, and signing up on this page as your official RSVP.
We look forward to having you join the Soaring Solo Community in this event because your story matters!
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No matter where you are in the creation of your solo show, idea phase, curiosity phase, full draft written, touring the festival and college market, BEST NATIONAL SOLO ARTIST and founder of Soaring Solo, Jessica Lynn Johnson, will meet you where you are at and take you to the next level! All that is required to attend is a willingness to explore, a pen, and some paper. No previous writing or performance experience necessary, and no need to have written anything to bring to class. Each week Jessica will guide you in exercises to help generate and stage NEW material! So come and meet other creatives in a supportive space for expression and exploration! The class is ongoing and so you may pop in and out as you please as long as you RSVP BY CLICKING HERE for this FREE ONE PERSON PLAY CLASS.
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation
Schedule an Online Coaching Consultation with Jessica Lynn Johnson to discuss the possibilities for your solo show!
Jessica brings her 15+ years of solo theatre expertise to work privately with solo artists from all over the world on an as needed basis.
A one-on-one consultation is for you if…
-You are curious about creating a solo show, but you need writing prompts to help you generate material.
– You are tossing around ideas for your solo show, but you need some accountability and encouragement to commit those ideas to the page.
-You have already written some material, but you need expert feedback on editing, story structure and play formatting.
-You have a great first draft, but need guidance on how to utilize multimedia and solo theatre technique in order to make your show a dynamic piece of solo theatre.
-You already premiered your solo show and now you want some tips on how to tour colleges and festivals, and garner accolades and great reviews!
-You have heard great things about Jessica’s work and you’re curious about hiring her as a Director & Developer for your solo show, but first, you want to feel her out and see if she is the right fit for you and your project.
Wherever you may find yourself on your solo journey, Jessica will help you overcome whatever immediate obstacle stands between you and your solo success.
If you resonate with many of the things on this list, then take the next step by emailing SoaringSoloArtist@gmail.com for more information.