Written by: Angelea Hengle
There’s no place like home, especially when you’re an emerging artist. If you aren’t sure where to start, look no further than your own community. There’s a multitude of resources, whether through social media or your own personal network.
Go through your social media, such as Instagram! Social media is a great way to connect with others and check out local artists, recording studios, venues, and even your next manager.
Attend local shows. There are plenty of small venues to accompany venues like the National in Richmond. Venues like the Black Iris Social Club and Gallery5 (@gallery5arts) are an excellent opportunity to check out your local music scene in an intimate and inclusive space. While attending, also check out an artist’s merch. Showing your support through buying merch can help the band out financially while also showing them off to other people when you wear their name. To keep up with shows in the RVA area, checkout @rvashowcentral and @restlessrva on Instagram.
Don’t be afraid to use your skills. You don’t have to be a musician to get involved in your local music scene. Focuses such as photography, graphic design, writing, and even event planning are just a few skills that can help you build your resumé and offer up to different artists.
If in college and looking to break into the industry, see if your school offers a music business club, or start one yourself! This can help in connecting with like-minded people and jump-starts your networking. In addition, many up and coming artists continuously look to perform at colleges to get their names heard and reach a new generation of listeners.
Check us out at HearRVA! Whether you are coming from our IG or from checking out the Liner Notes podcast, we have a multitude of resources for all of your needs. To access Richmond music venues, recording studios, record stores, and music equipment, head to www.hearrva.com/music-resources.
Already on the website? Click the tab “More” to see a compiled list of resources.
Breaking into the music scene and introducing yourself can be intimidating, but there are people right outside your front door that are likely in the same boat.
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Blog Author - Angelea Hengle: Hey y'all! I'm Angelea and am super excited to be a part of this great team! I'm a recent graduate from DePaul University in Chicago, IL, and am so happy to call Richmond home again. I received my Bachelor of Science in General Management with also a double minor in Psychology and Music Business. In college, I was President of DePaul Dance Company and Co-Event Coordinator for DePaul Music Business Organization. Creativity and artistry have always been a part of who I am and I am so grateful to be in this amazing community.