"Too many entrepreneurs try to do it all themselves, and they do themselves a disservice" with Mella Barnes
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I had the pleasure of interviewing musician and singer, Mella Barnes.
Can you tell our readers about your background?
I was born into a musical family. My parents, grandparents, uncles, and cousins are all very musical, so it was pretty natural for me to “get into the biz” as they say. I was hanging out in recording studios since I was a small kid, and I started singing for my uncle’s friends around age 10. They were songwriters, but not singers, so they needed someone to convey their message. Since I just happened to be there, they would often have me do it.
Fast forward to adulthood, I’m now a full-time session singer, songwriter, and voice actor!
What inspired you to start your business?
I was exhausted with all of the work I was putting into singing other people’s songs and never getting paid. Singing is often considered a “hobby,” or that I should *WANT* to do it for free because I enjoyed it so much. I started asking for money (very small amounts at first) and to my surprise, people were willing to pay! It snowballed from there into an actual career. I now write about my experiences and the music industry on my blog, where songwriters, singers, and music lovers can get info about all things music.
Where is your business based?
I’m from Detroit, Michigan originally, but I’ve lived in Nashville as well. I’m currently back in my home town, where all of my family is!
How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?
The first steps were very nervously asking if songwriters would be willing to at least cover my gas money to get to their studio, haha. When they agreed, I started to kind of interview my market. I asked songwriters what they would be willing to pay for someone who had their own equipment, delivered high-quality, radio-worthy vocals in little time, and completed projects to their 100% satisfaction. There is a huge difference between “hiring someone who can sing” and hiring a pro who does it for a living, so that became my base.
What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?
My blog has been great for that. I don’t talk about myself often, but people find me through articles and posts I’ve written there. They usually contact me to ask about my services and we go from there! So I guess Google’s SEO is pretty important because that’s how a lot of people find my blog!
What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?
As I mentioned, people are often not willing to pay for “something you love to do anyway.” I try to meet clients where they are in their careers, but overall, you will get out of your music what you put into it. You can have your neighbor sing it and I’m sure it will be fine, but I have years and years of professional experience. I have pro-quality equipment, and I have business policies that keep you and your song secure also. So, just convincing people that my prices are worth it is tough, but usually, if they’re ready to take their songs to the next level, it’s not an issue! I also have a ton of reviews, references, and reels which they can use to decide whether or not it’s worth their money.
How do you stay focused?
This is tough, especially because I work from home! I also rescue animals (wildlife, dogs, and rabbits) so there is ALWAYS something going on. I have found that keeping a schedule is very helpful. If you treat it just like any other job, where you have a start and end time, it’s a lot easier to get your brain to comply. Especially when your scenery doesn’t change!
How do you differentiate your business from the competition?
Everyone’s voice is unique, so that’s typically how we differentiate in session singing. I can impersonate a variety of artists, but my natural voice is kind of soft and smooth. It works well with ambient, jazz, EDM, and folk songs. If someone needs a gritty or husky voice, that’s not me, and I’m always happy to refer work to my colleagues!
I also think my blog differentiates me a bit. Not too many people blog actively about the music industry, so that helps me find new people.
What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?
Blogging for sure, but I’m not great at marketing. I have a really hard time promoting myself. Blogging is a great way to write about what I love, not focus on myself, and then people find me through Google. I definitely could use some marketing help though!
What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?
Know what you suck at. Too many entrepreneurs try to do it all themselves, and they do themselves a disservice. I recommend making a huge list of all the things you do, then put a star by things you either don’t like doing or aren’t good at doing. How can you bring in someone else to help with those tasks? I know I’m being sort of hypocritical with my marketing answer above haha, I need to get on that!
What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?
App: Relax Melodies. It’s a calming, meditative app that just plays background sounds but you can make them yourself! You can add crickets, strings, a thunderstorm, whatever you want to create a meditative sound. As a music creator, I love the ability to make it myself! Blog: The Confused Millennial. Applies to my life, haha. Book: I have so many! I’m a big fan of Augusten Burroughs and David Sedaris, but I’m currently reading Dolly Parton’s autobiography. It is hilarious!
What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?
I use Wave as an accounting tool. It’s super easy and allows me to keep track of my finances, which makes tax season a lot less stressful.
Who is your business role model? Why?
My dad! He started his own business when I was very young, and I watched him work super hard into where he is today. I can bring him any of my business beginner questions and he always has some knowledge bombs for me!
What is your beauty routine? What are some of your favorite products?
Depends on the day - I’m very much a nature lover, hair in a wild bun type of gal. However, I also do make videos for clients occasionally and I have a vlog, so on those days, I glam up. I love Bailey Sarian on YouTube, she has great tutorials and she does “Murder Mystery Makeup Mondays,” where she does a full makeup look while discussing a true crime case.
As for products, I only buy cruelty-free things so that cuts down on a lot of possible products!
How do you balance work and life?
Keeping a schedule is a must. It’s so easy to just work whenever I feel the urge, and since I work from home, I can end up working around the clock. I have to force myself to take weekends and evenings off because otherwise I can get burnt out really fast!
What’s your favorite way to decompress?
I love to either read or go on YouTube and watch my favorite creators.
What do you have planned for the next six months?
I’m planning on ramping up my blog and posting a lot more and growing it into more than it is now. I have a massive project I’m undertaking on it right now, where songwriters will be able to buy “pre-made vocals” from me. It’s such a huge project and a labor of love, but I’m really excited about it!
How can our readers connect with you?
I’m on all of the social networks, but my blog/website is my hub: www.mellamusic.com
Here are the rest of my links!
https://www.facebook.com/MellaMusic/
https://twitter.com/MellaNation
https://www.instagram.com/_mellamusic/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mellamusic/
https://www.pinterest.com/MellasPins/