How do I get over the fear of sharing my work? – Aly
Aly, this is a great question, and I have to be honest: the fear of sharing your work never completely disappears. That’s why I titled this post “Dealing…” rather than overcoming. I’m not sure many of us truly overcome the fear. However, I’d like you to try and think of this as a good thing. It means you care deeply about your songs. When I was in high school, a friend and I would share joke songs that didn’t mean much to us. It was easy. But when I started sharing work I truly cared about, it was terrifying because it was personal and from the heart.
Practically speaking, I wouldn’t recommend jumping straight from creating in your bedroom to sharing on social media. That’s like jumping into the deep end before you can swim. You’ll likely expose yourself to unnecessary negativity from some guy in his underwear in Ohio.
Instead, start by sharing with one or two trusted friends or family members. Their support can help build your confidence. Once you feel ready, expand to a small group, like a text thread, email, or a private Facebook group. After gathering feedback and encouragement, present your work to a larger audience, (e.g., social media, open mic night).
Also—and this will be difficult because it’s your art—try not to take comments personally. Instead, think of sharing your work as a way to gather information. Put on nerdy glasses, tuck in your shirt and hike up your pants—whatever you have to do so switch your mindset from artist to statistician. This part of the process is all about collecting valuable feedback so you can figure out next steps.
Lastly, write at least ten songs before beginning the process of sharing. Why? Odds are, people will only like 2 out of 10. That’s just math reality. (Think of your favorite band. Do you really know all the lyrics to every song or just a handful songs?) If you write 10 songs before sharing the first one, you’ll have a better chance of persisting. You’ll be aware of the equation, reserving a pity party until all the data is in.
Imagine sharing ad hoc and the first eight are duds in the eyes of your peers. Even I at that point would quit and begin taking courses to get my real estate license.
Ultimately, remember fear is a sign that your work matters. Good luck, Aly, and thanks for the question.
Love,
Aaron
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