MEMBERS ONLY

As a self-employed musician and singer songwriter, it felt like the very anthesis of what I should be doing. Having recently graduated from the University of Limerick with an Arts Practice PhD, it felt very risky to be withdrawing from all possible channels that might lead to new opportunities in terms of employment and further research. As a singer songwriter, social media was where I released new work, where I showcased videos, and also where I advertised gigs. Indeed during Covid, I had embraced the on-line concert platform wholeheartedly in the absence of being able to play live gigs, and I would perform regularly each day to hundreds of listeners in a series of short concerts on Facebook Live called ‘Busking from the Bungalow’. These concerts kept me connected and present in people’s minds through their social media feeds. Most importantly Facebook was where I engaged with my audience and kept myself and my music in peoples’ consciousness and awareness. Even though I rarely saw the enthusiasm (shares and likes) for upcoming gigs transfer into actual ticket sales and bums on seats, it was all I had ever known in terms of promoting and advertising myself and my music. How would I fare without it?

Deleting my account on Facebook was a bit like booking a Ryanair flight-all those boxes to tick….did I want to save my content? Did I want to mute my account? Did I want this, that or the other? In fact I am still not 100% sure I have completely removed my Instagram account and will have to go back in to get myself completely out!

As someone who has struggled in the past with self-belief and self confidence , often comparing myself unfavourably to others, the socials had become increasingly difficult to navigate in recent months and years. I often approached posting on them with a feeling of dread in the pit of my stomach, BUT, I was addicted to that hit of dopamine I got when someone liked or shared or commented on my posts…..all those red hearts – I truly felt the love.

The silence has proved to indeed be golden and although for the first few days I found myself automatically picking up my phone to check my feeds, the habit gradually waned. And now? Now I have more time but more importantly I have more peace. Fear of missing out has not been an issue. The only aspect of social media I really miss is posting photographs of this beautiful county (like the one above) or words and things that inspire me. I have subscribed to Substack, a writing platform where writers and creators engage in a mostly meaningful way. You can follow me on Substack at clairewattssongs.substack.com. I am still subscribed to Linkedin, an online social network focused on professional career development, but that is more than enough.

In the near future I am hopeful for my intention to create a more meaningful engagement with the supporters of my music through a monthly email or newsletter. Indeed, as I currently plan two nationwide tours; one a house concert tour and the second a concert to showcase the work generated from my PhD, it will be interesting to see how the promotion and marketing for these tours will go given my new absence from social media. But for the moment, I am happy with my new found peace. I wish I had done this along time ago, but it takes courage to step away, courage to listen to your heart and courage to carve out your own path in the busy world where so much clamours for our attention.

Grá & Solas

Claire
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