Are you a sellout?

 Selling my music makes me a sellout

To put it simply, nobody and I mean absolutely nobody will care more about your music than you will. So with that said, who do you think would be the best sales person for your music?

If you guessed yourself. Then yes! You are indeed correct and at the same time you are also wrong.

Because nobody can fully comprehend the meaning or the message that you are putting out, you are best placed to craft the positioning and the heart of the music.

There is however also a downside. Because you are so close to the fire so to speak, you are probably also the worst placed to punt your music because you probably cherish it too much and are afraid that someone will reject your little darlings.

The curse of too much knowledge and intimacy. This is why doctors don’t operate on family members.

So what is the answer then? Perspective. You really have to separate yourself from your creation. If you ask me, I think this is also the reason most creatives have a stage name or pen name. It clearly allows you to separate yourself from what you do. A mental game but very effective. You also have to become a student of marketing, to educate yourself on the simple ways you could be missing out on branding your music because it seems trivial or uninteresting to you but may appeal greatly to your audience. For instance, documenting your progress as an artist, or preparing for a show. This ability to peel back the curtain has always been an effective tool to market creative projects.

Are you inviting your customers into a story?

 Build it and they will come

This is the first myth that I believe is also a trap. We as artists and creatives can easily get sucked into the vortex of creating that we forget about everything else. Like food, water and the reason why we are creating this thing in the first place.

Most times if we are looking closely at the heart and motive of what we are creating it is often birthed out of a desire to share. To help someone else who feels, needs or wants something that we can give them. That is also why I believe it is so painful for a creative if no one buys or shows up to appreciate what we have labored on for so many hours. It feels like a rejection.

Often nobody knew that you were working so hard on your project to begin with and that they were invited to witness the journey and enjoy the fruits of your labor with you.

Build it and they will come - No they won’t.

Invite them. Remind them. Show them. Tell them then remind them again and then they might come. And when you are finished, learn from it and do it again.

Essentially this is what is at the heart of marketing. If people don’t know what you are doing, if what you are creating is not in the public’s eye how can they ever support you?

How can they share your story?

We all love sharing stories, so create your art and give people a reason to come.

Marketing Stealth Bombs

When it surprises and delights fans. That’s a good thing. When it surprises and delights even the creator. That’s a wonderful thing! 

Drake did it with the release of his album, Scorpion, unannounced. Pop up shops, art galleries and pop up concerts are now all the rage.  

In a world full of announcements, promotions and gimmicks. Isn’t it a refreshing change to just see a creative person say; “Hey, I made this. I put a lot of work into it and I hope you will like it. If not, then maybe you would like something else I am working on”

Then get busy creating the next thing. 

Oh, and this morning I woke up as a regular guy and tonight I go to sleep as a Published Author. Currently you can check out my latest book project, click here. Now available on Amazon Kindle.

Thinking Chair

It doesn't really have to be fancy in order for you to get the job done.  

"If you want to be a writer and you don't know how or when; Find a quiet tree and use a humble pen" - Paul Simon

Or in our case... A highly connected, fully charged, picture taking, Super Computer that can fit into your pocket.  

Times may change, Technology may change, But the key principles of discipline, consistency and focus are fundamental laws that are timeless.  

Use what you have. Don’t always think you need more, because generations before you have achieved a lot more with a lot less so we have little excuse. 

Operate using the Bare Maximum.  

One Hit Wonder

One Hit Wonder

It is easier to consume than it is to create. It is easy to say that that show is terrible, or that song just isn’t good enough. That that coach needs to be fired or that player should be substituted.

Easy, from this side of the fence.

But when you are the player, the coach, the producer, the singer, the artist. The creator. Your job is to create. You’re not looking to be a shooting star a passing fad or a one hit wonder.

You create. You do it again and again and again. Not for them, not for you, but because it’s what you were created to do.