Using social media to spread the arts
SANDTON – Read up on how a musician is spreading her arts on social media.
Social media has completely changed the way in which musicians get their music out there.
Morningside-based singer, Demi Joan, uses social media to share her music and thoughts about the arts. She explained that instead of making CDs and sending them to music producers, she chooses to share her material on Facebook and Instagram.
“When I first started my social media accounts I was so nervous about posting stuff online. I didn’t know what people’s reactions would be. But then I realised that it wasn’t about me or what I wanted, but rather about the arts and expressing the music that I love. I then made a conscious shift, wiped out the negativity and shared my music online,” said Joan.
She explained that she does not focus on how she looks on social media and she said that she wears minimal makeup. “People so often focus on how they look online but for me, it’s all about the music and nothing else matters.”
According to Joan, Facebook is the most efficient way to share one’s ideas and music. She said that she can view details such as how many people have viewed her videos and posts and can monitor what her followers like or do not like.
Joan has used her social media accounts to celebrate others as well. She does a weekly Featured Friday whereby she shares the talents or ideas of others who are on social media. “I do the Featured Friday because I think that all musicians need to be humble and think about more than just themselves. I want to celebrate community and all musicians on my account. It’s about more than just me.”
Like all things in life, there is a negative side to sharing one’s music online. “The thing that hurts the most is that a lot of the people who have something bad to say are people that I know. I think that sharing things online takes more courage than people think because so many people are so critical and negative. We can never escape online bullies,” said Joan.
She ended off by saying that social media is the best way for aspiring musicians to self-manage themselves and make their dreams come true.
