The holiday season is all about giving back. A lot of musicians are so focused on how they can use this season to sell more merch or get more exposure. But giving with no strings attached is not only the right thing to do, but it can also engage your fans better. So here are some ideas on how to give back as a musician.
Matching Donation To A Charity
The most Christmas-y thing you can do is to donate money to a charity. While buying and receiving gifts is happening, it’s nice to remember those who don’t have that privilege. Helping people in need is a reminder that we’re all connected.
So you can find a charity that resonates with you and then announce to your fans that you’ll match their donations up to a certain amount. This is a generous thing to do (and it may also show your fans that you’re a good person and worth supporting in the future).
Give Away Your Merch
Usually, we give gifts to loved ones. But what about your fans? Do you love your fans?
Here’s an idea: give away a certain number of pieces of merch to your fans. You can tell people it’s a first-come first-get type of deal. No caveats, just a gift from you to your supporters. Maybe you could ask them to pay for shipping, depending on the item and how big it is. Or maybe you can afford to cover all expenses.
They’ll love it. Getting good gifts from someone somehow makes you like the gift-giver a little more. If that’s the case, your fans may want to stick with you for the long-run.
But that’s not the main reason you’d do this — it’s for that warm and fuzzy feeling of generosity.
Offer To Volunteer At A Hospital
Offering to volunteer your musical skills to play for people in the hospital can be rewarding, charitable, healing, and helpful. Young children and elderly folks, particularly, love being entertained for free. If you’re a well-known musician in your area, people may enjoy it even more.
You can either contact your local hospital and offer to do this, or you can team up with a company like Musicians On Call.
MOC “brings live and recorded music to the bedsides of patients in healthcare facilities.” They often work with famous musicians, but not exclusively — they work with a lot of musicians who love to volunteer in this way.
Offer A Free Lesson
If you’re a music instructor, giving away a free lesson can go a long way. You probably give new students one free lesson anyway, but try offering a lesson “on the house” for your current students.
Then just wish them a happy holiday or Merry Christmas and be on your way. No questions asked.
Again, not only is this a kind and festive thing to do, it may increase the chances of those students referring you to other people who want to learn your instrument.
Get A Gift For A Fellow Musician
Until January 2, 2019, VintageLogos is offering a 10% off coupon for all products. Just use the promo code XMAS2018. This is perfect if you’re looking to get something for your musician friend or family member.
If you’re not sure what product to get, you can pick up a gift card and let your musician buddy choose what they need or want.
Either way, you’ll be contributing to the career of your musical peer(s).
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Caleb J. Murphy is a songwriter and producer based in Austin, TX. He’s also the founder of Musician With A Day Job, a blog that helps part-time musicians succeed.