Written by Jesh Orquina / Photography by Katrina Mayuga

Being friends with a musician is an exciting experience. However, being friends with someone who plays music for a living or as a hobby is not as common and sometimes, the support they need from you is different from what your other friends need. If you’re unsure of how to support your musician friends, here’s a short list of things to keep in mind.

4 Easy Ways to Support Your Musician Friends

4.  Attend their gigs and performances.

Being a musician involves performing at gigs and numerous events. Whenever you can, show up at their performances to show your support. Your friend will surely appreciate seeing a familiar place in the crowd.

If you have time to spare, consider staying for the whole event. By watching other performances, you’ll also get to support other musicians. You might even discover your next favorite artist!

The UP Musicians’ Organization (UP MOrg) held MOrg Live VHS 12 last May 4, 2018. MOrg Live is an annual event that showcases UP MOrg’s homegrown bands, as well as other local artists. These kinds of events serve as avenues for musicians to share their music, as well as for other people to show their support.

3. Share their music.

If your friend has music online – maybe on Spotify, Soundcloud, or YouTube – make it a point to listen to their music and share it with other people. This will only take a few clicks and your friend is sure to be grateful for it.

For new musicians, word of mouth is very important. This is a quick and easy way for your friend to grow a fan base. Make the most of social media and keep sharing your friend’s music.

During UP MOrg’s event, free CDs containing recordings of the bands who performed during the event were given to the audience. All the songs are available on their Soundcloud page, so they’re really easy to listen to and share on social media platforms!

2. Give honest feedback.

Listening to your friend’s music also means you can give meaningful feedback.

If you didn’t like it very much or if you think something’s missing, let your friend know so that they can improve. Don’t just say you liked it if you really didn’t. Criticism is an important factor to a musician’s growth, so don’t be afraid to speak out. Just make sure you say it nicely. 😉

On the other hand, if you really do like their music, make sure you let your friend know. There is nothing more rewarding than creating music and having other people appreciate it.

1. Don’t ask for free stuff.

If your friend is selling their album, merchandise, or tickets for their next gig, don’t ask to get them for free. It’s important to remember that making music is also a job and that your friend has bills to pay, too. If you really want to show your support, pay for what your friend is selling. If you don’t have the budget for it, it’s okay to say so. Just don’t demand for free stuff.

If you want to discover and support other local artists or attend gigs and events, check out UPMOrg’s social media accounts below:

UPMOrg

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/upmorg

Twitter: @Official_UPMOrg

Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/up-morg-frontman