Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Bri Bagwell. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Bri, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Have you been able to earn a full-time living from your creative work? If so, can you walk us through your journey and how you made it happen? Was it like that from day one? If not, what were some of the major steps and milestones and do you think you could have sped up the process somehow knowing what you know now?

I’ve been a full-time performing singer-songwriter and musician since 2010! I had a day job right after graduating college, and I was also trying to play music. I quit that marketing job fairly quickly to dive head first into performing, because I thought there was no better time than at age 21! I’m so thankful I went all in when I did! Since then, I’ve just “made it work.” I feel like when you HAVE to find a way, if it’s truly your passion and your calling, you simply….find a way!

I’ve incorporated different tools over the years such as Kickstarter and Patreon, playing private shows, starting a 90’s country cover band, “selling” song sponsorships (credits on the back of the record) to fund my records, partnering with a clothing boutique for a portion of their revenue… you name it! I think the most important – and fun! – part of being an entrepreneur is that the options are really limitless. It allows you to think as far outside of the box as you need to make your business work financially. It has never been easy; even still, I’m fundraising for records and constantly seeking different forms of revenue.

What I wish I had learned earlier is that people are so willing and excited to create paid sponsorships/partnerships. Working with a big brand who has a marketing budget can be mutually beneficial if negotiated and presented (and executed) properly, but it can be game changing for your pocketbook. I wish I wouldn’t have been afraid to ask companies and products that I love to partner up early on. My sponsorships now are a giant source of my income! That being said, I’ve worked steadily to grow my social media for years; that gives me a lot of leverage in the negotiations.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your background and context?

I grew up in Las Cruces, NM, but moved to Texas when I was 18 and was accepted to the University of Texas at Austin! It was a dream of mine and my folks for me to go to school. I’ll always be thankful for my parents’ encouragement and financial help for furthering my education. Even though I graduated with a marketing degree and management minor, I only participated in the work force for a few months before becoming a full-time musician. It turns out that understanding marketing, management, accounting, and finance would all play a role in my business.

I have been on a few TV shows including CMT’s Next Superstar, The Voice (my audition did not air), and USA’s Real Country on Team Travis Tritt. These appearances really helped my fan-base, and have allowed me to have a full-time band (The Banned) that travels with me year-round. I have 4 records out, with my fifth record “Corazón y Cabeza” coming August 26. I’ve been named Texas Regional Radio Female Vocalist of the Year seven times, and have received other awards; however, most important to me is having a career that has survived the rollercoaster of the music business (and a pandemic!).

I was a singer-songwriter for Sony ATV from 2012-2015, and I learned so much about co-writing songs. I am most proud of the fact that I have written songs religiously for the past few years. Even when I don’t want to, I write every week. My newest record is a product of songs that I would have never written unless I had sat down and found the discipline to do so. Learning that songwriting is a muscle in the brain, and treating it as such, has changed my life.

I guess you can’t really know anything about me without knowing that my whole world revolves around a chihuahua I found in the middle of the road three years ago. Her name is Whiskey, and she’s perfect (and loves the stage!).

How can we best help foster a strong, supportive environment for artists and creatives?

As musicians, we understand that the landscape changes daily. Even if we don’t like it, we know that what is popular and necessary today may not matter tomorrow. Take CDs for example; the bulk of my revenue used to come from CDs, and I’m not even sure I will print more than 500 CDs for the lifetime of my upcoming project! Streaming has really changed the way that we make money, and it has created some very interesting and intriguing challenges/opportunities for independent artists.

However, the one thing that is unchanged is LIVE MUSIC. The best way to support a creator is buying a ticket to a show, and purchasing a t-shirt/sticker/vinyl record/etc. That is money that the artist directly receives (after the percentages owed to agents and managers). Still, it is the best way to support a musician!

My Patreon account is also a direct way for me to communicate with fans and share behind the scenes video, audio, and photos with those that want to directly contribute to my recording projects. I couldn’t do it without my Patrons!

How did you build your audience on social media?

I’ve tried to outsource my social media, and it fails with the fans. It also fails with me. People see authenticity; they feel it. When I am truly myself on social media, it shows in the growth and the response. I am not saying that you should never post photoshoots and dolled-up versions of yourself; I do that too, but I balance it with natural photos, photos of my dog, and downright silliness that is the core of who I am. I feel that if you’re going to show your life – what has worked for me anyway – you should show the good, the bad, the ugly, and the very shiny! People that fall in love with your presence will buy your products and listen to your music.

I now can afford a PR team that knows the ins and outs of social media, which is very helpful. The algorithms and rules and trends are fleeting, and it’s important to have people that study that for you. I did it for a LONG time on my own though, so don’t be discouraged if that feels a long way off!

Contact Info:

• Website: www.bribagwell.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/bribagwell
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/bribagwell
• Twitter: www.twitter.com/bribagwell
• Youtube: www.youtube.com/bribagwell
• Other: www.patreon.com/bribagwell

Image Credits
Haley Hays Photography, Jodi Cockrell, Jordan Fischels, Melanie O’Neil