How do young guitarists become known?

When you are young, talented and play the guitar, there are many ways to receive recognition. Do you know them all? Here's a rundown of where you can get noticed.

Where to play guitar in front of millions of people

It is on social networks that one can be seen quickly and easily. Be careful. We are not saying that you just have to post a video of yourself on YouTube to be sure to have millions of views. However, it is on this kind of digital support that you have the best chance to stand out. On the other hand, we can recommend that you, a budding guitarist, can post videos on TikTok. And who knows, maybe you will arouse the interest of a band or a producer.

It is surprising  to see the number of views on TikTok with the hashtag "guitar." The internet is a crazy place and many unexpected things have happened time and time again. Therefore, if some guitars can get lucky, why not you?

Smaller Festivals and Opening Acts

We must not neglect the local, the real life, that is to say that not everything is played online. There are young talents everywhere, guitarists who perform on stage for the first time. Put together a band, advertise for a drummer, a keyboardist and a singer. Then attend local events near you. Why not try music festivals? There's always the possibility of convincing organizers looking for local, new talent. Also, it's possible that you open as a new artist. Many famous musicians have become famous taking this route.

In any case, don't get discouraged, multiply your contacts, create an account on Linkedin. This will allow you to speak directly to the right people, to those who make the decisions. This way you will avoid the intermediaries, those who always tell you “no”, and if they tell you, “yes” they take a large unfair commission.

Old School, on the Street or in the Subway and Elsewhere

This may sound like a cliché, but it is by going out and meeting people that you can get the attention of an influencer. Taking your guitar to play on the street or in the subway is not a stupid thing to do, quite the contrary. Many musicians or singers have been noticed by performing in public places. Let's go back to social media for a moment, because while playing on the street you could very well cross paths with an Instagram, YouTube or TikTok  influencer.

Getting known can also start in traditional competitions and even weddings! There's no shame in it, everyone has started one day in a small group. One last piece of advice: be careful not to be fooled by a so-called golden contract where you are asked to contribute to any expenses. This happens everywhere  but remember you shouldn’t have to pay to work. It’s the other way around! And then let's finish with one last tip to get yourself known:  join a sports or cultural association. This way, you will be the one to play your acoustic or electric guitar at the parties, and there may be people with a “foot in the door” (into the music industry)  at those parties.