Death To The Artist Bio

Author: Andre Mullen - 3 min Read

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I have noticed something and wondering if you have too.

Have you ever noticed that an artist bio isn’t compelling?

They can be cold and oftentimes, fail in giving us the artist’s full story.

Have you ever noticed that startup founders have a compelling backstories?

It’s a narrative of how a company came to be. It often helps build deep brand loyalty among the company’s user base.

In the case of a creative, creating their own backstory can deepen the connection with their audience.

When I say “create” a backstory, I am not suggesting or meaning “make a story up.”

This is about telling your true and authentic backstory in a format that is most likely to resonate with your audience.

Here are 7 simple steps to do just that:

Step #1: The Obstacle

There is one critical thing that is very relatable and that is overcoming an obstacle.

Everyone has overcome an obstacle in their life.

What obstacle have you overcome?

Example: I was a background singer in the music industry but wanted to work on the business side and couldn’t find a job.

Step #2: The Internal Struggles

How we feel inside is our internal struggles. This is a result of the obstacle faced in Step #1.

Internal pain is captured with words like “fearful” & “insecure”.

What were your internal struggles?

Example: I had zero confidence that I would ever work in the music industry other than being a singer. I wanted to help artists. I was worried that I was never going to be to do that.

“Your backstory deepens your connection with the audience.”

Step #3: The External Struggles

There are things that we fight against – situations, circumstances, and people are examples.

These are external struggles.

What was stopping you from achieving?

Example: People ridiculed me and thought that I should focus on being a better singer. I was always told that I didn’t have what it took to be in business.

Step #4: The Change Event

Everyone has a change event that causes a critical decision to be made.

This critical decision is necessary.

The change event leads you from struggle to newfound transformation.

What was your change event?

Example: I was in a studio session and a friend of mine who was interning at a label at the time gave me a management agreement to read. After I read it, I knew this was what I could do to help artists.

Step #5: The Spark

Have you ever had that moment?

The moment when you realized everything was about to change?

The moment you went from feeling completely disconnected to charged up?

Tell your audience about it.

Example: My spark was an intersection of four things that changed my life: meeting Andre Harrell, hearing his love for music and artists, many of my friends interning at labels, and my own maturation and readiness to change.

Step #6: The Guide:

We all have at least one person who lifts us up.

The one person who helps us see our potential for what it is.

That’s your guide.

Who is this person for you?

Example: After a few years of trying to get a job in the industry, my friend Anthony introduced me to James Maynes at Jive Records and we talked about artist management.

Step #7: The Result:

The result is the continuation of the story.

Where did it take you?

It should lead up to your present situation.

Example: I never looked back. I interned at Jive Records and went on to start my own management company and represented numerous artists with their careers.

Stitching the steps together to tell the story

I stitch together the 7 steps to tell my backstory on a podcast, video, or speaking appearance I make. I tell the full version, and other times I shorten it or use snippets where and when it makes sense.

Takeaways

  1. The traditional artist bio doesn’t tell the real story of the artist.
  2. Creating your backstory deepens your connection with the audience.
  3. Your backstory will give your audience your real and authentic self
  4. Practicing your backstory gives you a consistent answer for platforms and your own content.

Go and start building your backstory today.

See you next week.

Whenever you’re ready, here are two ways I can help you:
  1. Let’s set up a Strategy Call, talk about your business, and see how I can help you.
  2. Work with me 1:1 to grow your brand or business

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