If you are polarizing, some people will dislike you.
If you try not to be polarizing, some people will dislike you for being boring, vague, or wishy washy.
If you are confident, you are too much.
If you are thoughtful and careful, you are not bold enough.
If you are too extraverted, you are annoying.
If you are too reserved, you are wallpaper.
No matter what you do, there will always be someone who thinks you are too something.
Most musicians I work with are not afraid of hard work. They are afraid of judgment.
They are afraid that showing up on video or sharing a real story or taking up space on a stage will make them unlikeable.
So they stay safe.
They post what feels neutral. They tell the polished version of the story. They avoid the uncomfortable truth. They blend in.
And then they wonder why their content does not connect and why their audience feels distant and why growth feels so slow.
Here is the truth I want you to sit with.
You cannot move forward into a new level of visibility without making peace with being disliked.
Not because you want to upset people.
But because authenticity always filters.
The right people lean in. The wrong people lean out. That is not a problem. That is the point.
The musicians who build real connection online and on stage are not the ones everyone agrees with. They are the ones who are clear about who they are and who they are for.
So here is some practical guidance as you think about showing up more consistently and more confidently.
Before you post or hit record, ask yourself if this sounds like you or if it sounds like what you think will be safest.
Tell one story this week that feels slightly uncomfortable but honest. Not dramatic. Just real.
Stop trying to earn approval from people who were never meant to be your audience.
And remember that being memorable is more important than being universally liked, which in my opinion, is a virtually impossible task so you may as well stop trying and focus your time and attention on the people who naturally gravitate toward you and your music.
As we move into some conversations about clarifying your brand and your message on social media over the next week, this mindset matters more than any strategy.
When you are willing to be seen clearly, your content finally has something to grab onto.
You do not need everyone. You just need your people.
Always in your corner,
<3 Bree
You're reading the Profitable Musician, your guide to growing your fanbase, increasing your income and becoming more profitable. Shared with ~16,000+ readers every Wednesday. Was this forwarded to you? Subscribe here so you don't miss the next one.