DIY Mixtape Basics: Catering to Your Audience

In order to make a successful mix tape you have to "Cater to your audience." This means "giving people what they wanna hear." In order to do that, you have to know and understand your fan base (people that listen to you.) If you don't know your fan base by now then you might want to note the kind of people that find your music appealing. For instance, evaluate the people that listen to you, meaning peep out the rest of their CD collection. If all of your fans have the same artists in common, than more likely you can decide what to give the people.

Remember that if it wasn't for the fans, you would just be rapping for a hobby. If you're really serious about the music industry and profiting in the long run, then the fans must always come first. Try not just giving them a mix tape, but making it into a movement. Always let the people feel like they can relate to you on a personal level outside of the music. Being down to earth pays off later on down the line trust me. If you plan on making appearances or doing shows, get the fans involved. Let them know how much you appreciate them and in return they will appreciate you.

Since a mix tape is the "raw" version of an album, meaning you can pretty much say any and everything with no censorship, give it your all. Give the people something they haven't heard from you already. If you talk about the same subjects and flow in the same pattern, switch it up! Feel free to give your all on the mix tape because if you don't, the next person will and they will defiantly overshadow your talents. Even if profanity and being vulgar isn't your style, definitely turn it up. Make your fans adapt to the "rewind factor" when they listen to your songs. The "rewind factor" is hitting the rewind button or back skip button on the player just to hear the last thing you said. The element of surprise would also be a way to describe it.

Basically if your audience are teens ages 13-19 or adults ages 20 and up then talk on things that matter to them. Touch on subjects going on with them despite if you go through it or not. Remember your making the music for the people not for yourself. Put your all into it, but remember the fans. Fans First!