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

Tyler, appreciate you joining us today. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

Earning a full-time living being a musician didn’t happen overnight for me. At 16, I began singing professionally in weddings and restaurants around my home town but it wasn’t until recently that I was able to support myself and my family full time. I was able to do this by emailing new venues constantly and working hard on social media to get my name in the public eye. In hindsight, my biggest challenge while growing my music outreach was myself. One of the biggest milestones not only in my career, but in my life was overcoming my drug and alcohol addiction. In my early career, I felt I had to “act like a rockstar” to be a rockstar. However, after becoming sober, my music was able to reach so many more people because I was wearing my heart on my sleeve. It’s gotten me to where I am today. So although knowing this could have sped up the process of going full-time, I don’t regret having gone through what I did. It made me successful in my work today.

Tyler, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

My whole life I’ve had an affinity for music but it wasn’t until I was 16 years old that I started to take that passion and turn it into a career. I began singing in weddings and restaurants around my home town and got most of my contacts through word of mouth and recommendations. As my popularity grew, so did my business. Now, I customize my shows for my clients- for example, if a bride wants me to learn specific songs, I do, rather than giving her a list of songs in my repertoire like I used to. I also survey my audiences constantly and read the room to determine which songs in my set list will support the ambiance best. This has proven to set me apart from others in my field as well.

I ‘m proud of the music I’ve created and I’m dedicated to giving my best at each performance while sharing my story in the hopes it touches others and can help change lives.

What’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative in your experience?

The most rewarding aspect of being a musician is having the ability to not only have an outlet to express my emotions but also being able to share that with the community. In my past, I’ve struggled with addiction so my music tends to revolve around that struggle and the emotions that surround it. Initially, I just wrote about it to release pent up emotions but after gathering the courage to perform some of my own songs, spectators began approaching me with their own stories; some struggling with addiction themselves and looking for guidance while others have family members who struggle. It fills my purpose to know I’m helping others in the community of addiction by using my God given gift.

How did you build your audience on social media?

Building a social media presence is an ongoing project for any artist, in my opinion. I started off with posting about my personal life and as I began performing professionally, I took the opportunity to convert my personal social media accounts to a professional one for Tyler Herwig Music. My existing friends were a great launching point because they were supportive enough to share my music. Now, I am sure to mention my social media platforms at every show and I have a personal goal of gaining at least 2 followers per show. My favorite way of doing this is chatting directly with patrons during my breaks or after my shows.

My advice for those building a social media presence is to not be afraid to ask directly for followers. Sometimes just inviting someone to take a peek at your page is all it takes to expand!

Contact Info:

• Website: tylerherwigmusic.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tylerherwig/
• Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/tylerherwigmusic
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tylerherwig/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/TylerHerwig
• Other: https://linktr.ee/tylerherwigmusic https://www.tiktok.com/@tylerherwigmusic

Image Credits
KpixFoto