Tag Archive for: Music Promotion

Self Awareness Steel Ball Reflection FEATURE

Self-awareness, you either have it or you don’t.

 

That’s a true statement.

Self Awareness Hiding

 

That doesn’t mean you can’t get it if you don’t have it.

 

In fact, we are all born with a certain lack of self-awareness. If you’ve ever seen a toddler who believes that by covering her eyes she becomes invisible because she can’t see you. This is a definite lack of self-awareness we all have, then some of us grow out of it, some of us don’t. To a degree anyway.

 

Simply becoming aware that you have no self-awareness is a huge step in the right direction; kind of like addiction, admitting you have a problem is 50% of the solution (or something like that).

 

Self Awareness

 

A while back I wrote an article on awareness with regards to you, the artist, and how you’re handling the music business.

 

This one is different.

 

Today we’re going to dig into whether you’re aware of how you handle yourself, how the world sees you, how you come off; essentially how you make other people feel.

 

sef Awareness Kidd Gypsy

 

When I was younger I was SERIOUSLY lacking self-awareness. Many of you know I was an artist. I toured with a hair band for about 7 years of my life.

 

I would be inside my own head at all times.

 

 

I would be thinking about God knows what, assessing the situation unfolding in front of me (and there were a lot of situations of every variety on the road with a hair band), thinking about my positioning, brooding about what Self Awareness Empty Pocketsjust happened, reacting to what just happened, contemplating my next move, thinking about a joke I just heard…you get the picture.

 

There was a lot going on inside my head at all times. There still is.

 

But one thing is different.

I now have some self-awareness.

 

What the heck am I talking about?

 

A lack of self-awareness manifests itself in many different ways, pretty much all bad.

 

For me, I had all that stuff going on in my head while I was engaging with other people, including my band Self Awareness Inside My Headmates, fans, girls, bookers, producers, managers, fellow artists, record execs, club owners, promoters, etc.

 

I was so wrapped up in my own world, I wasn’t paying attention to what the hell was going on, and would just go with the flow.

 

It made me look aloof.

 

It made other people feel like I felt I was above them in some way.

 

Which I didn’t.

 

Self Awareness Condescension

But that’s the way it looked.

 

That’s the way it felt to them.

 

 

Get it?

 

Mind you, I wasn’t a horrible person at all.

 

My character hasn’t changed, but my approach has.

 

Self Awareness Sad

You might’ve felt like this after dealing me when I was younger.

 

Some people had strong personalities and they wouldn’t give me permission to make them feel bad. These kinds of personalities usually became friends because they could endure the shit-show of getting to know me and get inside the circle of trust.

 

Sadly, some people are maybe not so strong and felt like crap after meeting me or dealing with me. I did not get to know them well. My loss on a lot of those, I’m sure.

 

Not too proud of that one. Ugh.

 

And that’s at least one big key to self-awareness. After meeting you for the first time, people won’t necessarily remember what you said as much as they’ll remember how you made them feel.

 

I had to be checked into the glass, so-to-speak.

 

Self Awareness Confrontation

My manager and I

 

 

One of those people with a strong personality who became a very close friend was our manager. I distinctly remember the moment she called me out.

 

 

We were at the Rock-It Club in Tampa, Florida. She came back to the dressing room after the show and kicked all our asses. She told us we better get our butts out there and work the room. Those people paid to come see us which means they’ll pay again if they feel welcome and special.

 

Here comes the part where I got schooled.

 

Self Awareness Rock It Club TampaAfter a little while, she’d had enough. Not just for that night but enough of my stupidity in general. She told me, “Johnny, I know you. I know you’re a good guy. You’re a funny guy. I know you have a big heart. I’m going to tell you something that you’re not going to like very much, but I’m your friend and you need to hear it. So here it goes.

 

“You come off like an arrogant asshole to these people.”

 

I’m like, “What? I’m NOT an arrogant asshole!”

 

Self Awareness Embarrassed

She agreed and said, “I know this, but you need to realize that you come off that way. You’re not listening to them. You’re off in your own little world so you’re not ‘in attendance’ with them when they’re talking with you. This makes them feel like you don’t give a crap. Whether you know it or not, whether you like it or not, you come off looking and feeling dismissive.”

 

I was pissed to say the least.

 

Nobody likes it when someone holds up a mirror to your face. You have to deal with all the flaws.

Self Awareness Arrogant

It was however, one of the most pivotal moments in my life.

 

She was right.

 

I was pissed because I was mortified. Embarrassed.

 

It was true.

 

I suspect there’s remnants of that unwanted trait in my constitution and I suppose it rears its ugly head from time to time, but generally speaking, I worked really hard to correct that.Self Awareness Cracked Glass

 

I certainly never felt like I was above all these people in any way, but my lack of social skills was painting a different picture and I just became self-aware.

 

Ouch!

 

I’m not going to lie, it took a lot of work to untie that knot but it would’ve never happened had I not been checked.

 

I’ll bet you know somebody like this, yes?

 

Self Awareness Cracked Mirror

Maybe it’s you.

 

I’m paying it forward now.

 

I want you to win.

 

 

Self-awareness is mission critical to your business dealings, your team building, and your relationship with your fans in person and on social media.

 

I was always a little coveting or maybe even jealous of people who just had a natural affinity for making people feel good and special. Somehow they seemed to have this self-awareness thing licked and I was CLUELESS!!!

Self Awareness Covet

 

They always came off warm and fuzzy and I came off like a jerk, when I wasn’t a jerk at all. This was so frustrating.

 

I’m telling you this because I learned, so you can learn too.

 

How do you come off?

 

How do people perceive you?

 

What are people’s first impressions of you?

 

Self Awareness Scared MEME

 

If you ask honestly, with an open heart, and you make sure to communicate to the person you’re asking that you won’t be mad at them if they deliver the cold, hard, truth…you’ll find out.

 

It may not be pretty.

 

They uglier it is, the more people you’re going to need to ask as nobody will want to share their true feelings about you.

 

Self-awareness leads to all kinds of awareness.

 

This awareness leads to success in all aspects of your life.

 

Listen, there is something else you need to know.

 

Something real.Self Awareness Perception

 

I just described my transformation of sorts. You got the tip of the iceberg with regards to experiences that drove that transformation.

 

Many were painful.

 

All were humiliating looking back, now. That’s NOT the person I wanted to be.

 

So here goes another free value bomb:

 

Self Awareness Annoyed

 

People who have found self-awareness are largely intolerant of people who haven’t.

 

 

They’re prejudiced of the non-aware because it’s a painful, awkward moment in their life that they don’t ever want to be reminded of again.

 

It’s behind them and they like it like that.

 

They earned it.Self Awareness Love is Knowing

 

The takeaway is this:  If you’re lacking self-awareness, you’re not going to get a lot of love even from the most compassionate, self-aware people.

 

They’re going to be annoyed with you.

 

If you’re getting that in the business, go find that mirror, take a deep breath, and start your new journey.

 

It’s time.

Self Awareness Yoga

Stay

In

Tune.

 

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Music Manager Feature 2

The answer to “how to find a music manager” or “how to find a producer” is easy.Music Manager We are Here

 

I’m going to answer it, but first we need to dig a little into what makes you tick, ok?

“For the past 33 years, I have looked in the mirror every morning and asked myself: ‘If today were the last day of my life, would I want to do what I am about to do today?’ And whenever the answer has been ‘No’ for too many days in a row, I know I need to change something.” — Steve Jobs

 

Music Manager Steve Jobs Photo credit Kremlin DOT ru

Photo Credit: Kremlin.ru

 

I want you to ask yourself this question for the next 7 days. If you answer “No” for too many days, then you need to CHANGE something immediately.

 

Follow me here.

 

 

 

 

 

Remember my article talking about the quote (inaccurately attributed to Darwin) that stated, “It is not the strongest of a species that survives, it is not the most intelligent that survives. It is the one that is most adaptable to change.”Music Manager Darwin Strongest Quote

 

If you’re stuck you have to change something.

 

If you’re broke you have to change something.

 

If you’re broken…you have to change something.

 

Music Manager Broken

 

Too many of you right now are defaulting to the damage causing software loop in your heads, “I’ve gotta do this before I do that.”

“I need more money, then I can do this.”

“I just have to perfect this thing before I can be serious about that thing.”

“I just need a music manager or a good music producer to be successful in my career.”

“If I could just meet that one huge record label executive, she would hear my music and love it! Once I get my deal I’m going to get paid.”

 

 

Music Manager Waiting

 

 

All these statements translate into this: “Here’s my excuse why I can’t do it or why I’m waiting to do it.”

 

 

 

Here’s a quote that actually is from Darwin.

“We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were inside of us.” – Charles Darwin

 

Ooooh, read that one again and let it sink in.

“We stopped looking for monsters under our bed when we realized they were inside of us.” – Charles Darwin

 

Music Manager Joker Meme We stopped

 

That’s right. You’re the monster!

 

All these obstacles are in your head, man.

 

 

The catch 22 is this: You think your career will launch with good industry pros and industry pros want to see a career that’s already launched.

 

Once you truly realize that and change your outlook from “here’s what I need to get ahead” to “How can I help you get ahead?” your world will change.

 

Here’s another real strong Darwin quote.

 

“It is always advisable that we perceive clearly our ignorance.” – Charles Darwin

 

You have to know that you don’t know. You have to admit that you don’t know, develop a thirst for the truth, and then focus on a plan to do something about it.Music Manager Questions

 

You’re not asking enough questions, man, and you’re probably asking the wrong questions.

 

When you find yourself in the right “lane”, and you’re doing what you’re supposed to be doing, for real, it’s literally breathtaking how quickly the tables turn. The amount of supremely positive energy you attract into your life will be overwhelming.

Music Manager Energy your way

 

You will always question it because it’s so ABUNDANT.

 

You’ll always be thinking, do I deserve this? Is this for real? And the answer is a resounding YES!

 

 

Hey.

 

It won’t happen until you make a change though.

 

It won’t happen until you jump.

 

Those monsters inside your head got you scared to jump.

 

  • They’re telling you you’re not ready.Music Manager monsters
  • They’re telling you your parents were right and music was a stupid career choice.
  • They’re telling you to focus on Plan B…to be safe.
  • They’re telling you to deal with this pain tomorrow so have another drink today.
  • They’re telling you good things will happen to those who wait.

 

Your monsters are correct in that good things do come to those who wait, but only that which is left behind by those who hustle.

Music Manager Those who wait

 

 

 

 

So if table scraps is your idea of paradise, keep listening to the monsters.

 

 

 

How do you find a manager?

How do you find a killer booking agent?

How do you get a big time producer?

 

The first part of the answer is you’re going to have to pay.

 

Music Manager Dodge Dart

This is NOT a Ferrari.

 

If the cost is too high, then you don’t want it enough. Which is ok. I’m not judging. Just accept the reality and don’t cry over the outcome.

 

Crying over an outcome you haven’t worked to achieve would be as silly as paying a few hundred bucks for a rusted out 1967 baby blue Dodge Dart and bitching that it doesn’t look, sound, feel, and perform like a Ferrari. You didn’t pay for a Ferrari!

 

 

You’re going to have to pay with your time, which many of you are not willing to give, at least not enough.

 

When I was an artist, my band practiced 4-7 hours a day. No joke. We all had part-time jobs and every other minute outside of that stupid phone sales room was devoted to band rehearsal by all members.

 

Music Manager TIME

 

If you’re thinking, my band will never commit to that, get a new band. I went through tons of band members in lil’ old Delavan, Wisconsin before I assembled the lineup that would gain the serious traction.

 

 

 

If they don’t want it enough, find somebody who does.

 

Maybe they do want it enough and they just need to be checked into the glass. Help them reevaluate their priorities.

 

If you’re thinking but these band members are my friends and I don’t want to hurt their feelings, get over it. They’ll be OK. You clearly want it more than they do.

 

Music Manager Beehive

Truth is, each of you will be happier surrounded by people with the same goals. Life is good when you’re in the right beehive.

 

This is show-business, not show-friends.

 

If you’re thinking I don’t have time for that, then you’re right. Which is fine. But you have to stop stressing over a lack of momentum. Music is not a profession for somebody with little or no time to devote to it; it’s a hobby. You enjoy making music, so enjoy it. But let’s call a spade a spade and set clear realistic expectations.

 

Music Manager Hobby

 

 

Btw, every awesome job comes with crappy paperwork that nobody likes to do but has to be done. I hate accounting but I have to do it for Daredevil.

 

 

 

Your crappy paperwork is probably manifesting itself in the form of music marketing. Decidedly different animal than making music but mission critical if you plan on being a professional.

 

You also have to pay with money.

 

You’ll have to either pay someone to help you create solid recordings, good images, PR, social media, videos, promotion, etc. OR you’ll have to pay someone to teach you how to do it for yourself.Music Manager Paperwork

 

You’re not going to magically absorb this knowledge from the Universe simply because you wish it to be that way and you were born to be an artist.

 

 

You’re going to have to get off your ass and get in proximity with a mentor of some kind. The least expensive method to benefiting from a mentor is a webinar, a consultation, or a book!

 

 

If you’re thinking I don’t have money for that right now, I got bills, you’re right again! You’re spending your money on the things that matter to you the most. If your career isn’t one of these things, then you have no money for it. Therefore music is a hobby right now, not a profession.

Music Manager poor

 

 

I’m constantly listening to podcasts, reading books, watching webinars to learn about music marketing online.

 

 

 

What am I studying?

 

Social Media marketing, online marketing, consumer psychology, purchasing psychology, story branding, sales copy, Latent Semantic Indexing (I know I’m a total geek), music industry trade mags, ecommerce technology, and more.

 

Books are the most AMAZING deals, man. Direct proximity with the best minds the world has to offer for around $15; the cost of an expensive cocktail.

Music Manager Books

 

 

Why do I spend money and time on these books?

 

 

 

Because nothing is more important to me than cracking the code to helping my artists find their audience, connect with them, and create cash flow from them.

 

 

Once I’ve mastered this, I’ll be able to mathematically predict cash flow. If you’ve ever seen the movie “Moneyball”, that’s the ticket. Daredevil Production is architecting “Moneyball” for the music business.

Music Manager Moneyball

 

If you’re pissed right now, I’m not trying to trick you.

 

The question: How do I find a music manager?

 

The answer: You don’t find them, they’ll find YOU.

 

 

 

 

Music Manager Alone

 

You don’t sit around wondering, wishing, hoping, that you’ll meet the right person who will agree to go to work your day job for you so you can collect the paycheck and focus on music, do you?

 

No.

 

That’s a job you have to do on your own.

 

You don’t sit around day dreaming about the day you find the right person to wipe your butt after your done taking a crap either, do you?

 

No.

 

This is yet another job that you deeply understand is for you alone.

 

You think these questions were silly because they were.

 

You KNOW that you don’t get paid unless you get your butt to work.

Music Manager Hide

 

You KNOW your butt won’t get wiped unless you do it yourself.

 

Whether you want to believe or not, whether you understand it or not,

 

 

The music business is no different.

 

You won’t find an audience and make great music unless you do it yourself. All the people you seek will make your existing audience (business) bigger. They won’t find them for you.

music manager sheep

 

Put in the time. Put in as much money as you can (intelligently) and become an undeniable force of business.

 

All the managers, booking agents, and producers will come out of the woodwork once you prove to the Universe that you’ve taken ownership of your own career.

 

They’ll flock to you, I PROMISE.

 

Until then, you’re just another wannabe who naively believes that you need them to make you.

 

They won’t.

You don’t.

 

Stay

In

Tune

 

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Promotion rotating promo image

We often hear from artists inquiring about marketing and promotion services for their music project.  They want some guidance on the best way to spend their money.  Today I thought I would share some of the most common mistakes indie artists make for their marketing and promotion budgets.

First, I want to point out that these mistakes are shared equally amongst indie artists with small budgets and indie artists who have investors with big budgets.

It’s mind blowing.

You must be careful to separate the emotion from the event.

You must separate what you think is “cool” i.e. a promotional tactic that serves your ego from strategies that will be far more effective in exposing your artistic effort.Promotion Bang for your Buck n 2

 

 

More bang for your buck.

 

Marketing and Promotion is the act of influencing buying decisions.

 

 

This is where you expose your masterpiece to consumers with the intention of creating a deep enough relationship to inspire them to buy your music.

Promotion should be the largest part of the indie artist budget and yet it is the most overlooked.

The same promotion techniques that made you aware of your #1 most-favorite-album-of-all-time were equally effective in making you aware of your most hated piece of crap from the artist that you can’t believe even got a record deal.

Both of those records created cash flow.Promotion Business Strategy

Think about it.

 

 

By far the #1 promotion mistake I see indie artists make is nonexistent promotion.

  • If you’re doing a crowdfunding project you must add funds into the budget for promotion!
  • Back in the heyday of the record business, labels would spend $250,000 on the recording of an artist’s debut record and $750,000-$2,000,000 in promotion
  • That’s a promotion budget between 75% and 87.5% of the overall funds.
  • How do your recording vs promotion ratios look in your business plan?
  • Do you have a business plan?

The #2 biggest marketing and promotion mistake is spending money on ineffective strategies.

 

Limited Budgets and Radio PromotionIMG_1605Listen, there is nothing cooler that turning on your radio and hearing your song coming through your car speakers.

 

It’s better than sex.

 

While it’s quickly dissipating, terrestrial radio is still, far and away, the most effective way to promote music to a mass audience.

But how much money is required to make it effective?

Radio only works when you have a BIG budget.DSC_5393

The reasoning is the magic number 7.

There is a psychological tipping point where a consumer internalizes a song and their buying decision is influenced.

That number is 7.

It takes an average consumer 7 listens to your song to be compelled to purchase it.

 

 

Here’s the thing, it takes a TON of spins to ensure 7 listens.

You need enough money to ensure that each individual hears your song 7 times which means you need to afford medium to heavy rotation or you have wasted your money.

Let’s not forget that radio promotion is all about relationships as well.  You will need money for a radio tour so you can visit every station.

globe_bw

 

Market Size Matters

Sometimes we see artists try to work the whole country at one time.  If you have a decent budget but not a MASSIVE budget then why not focus on a local market?

If the song is good and you can afford solid, steady spins in 1 or 2 markets then your marketing budget is going to be far more effective in a smaller region than the whole country.

More people will be influenced to purchase your music in 1 or 2 markets with heavy spins than in every market with light spins.

And we’re trying to sell our music right?

If you don’t have a radio budget then your money is far more effective with online marketing and socialPromotion Social Media Logos media marketing.

 

Spending money to appear in an online magazine next to a famous artist makes you look famous and important.

Perception is reality.

Now if you add a free download attached to a squeeze page you are growing your customer list.

Spend money building a customer list and monetizing it.

If you don’t know how, then spend money learning how or paying someone to do it for you.

If you spending $20 per month and you don’t know what you’re doing you are wasting your money.

Every artist is unique so what is the best way to focus on your strengths and minimize the weaknesses?  If you don’t know this about yourself then you need to pay someone who does…think of it as an education.

 

Touring and Tour Promotion

file0002005996090

 

One of the most valuable products you are promoting is your live show.

Spend money wisely on tour promotion.

Spend the budget on infrastructure that will allow you to capture the contact information from everyone that sees you play live. Always be building your fan base FIRST and THEN spend money on getting into new markets.

Trust me, getting your first big tour and going everywhere across the country once is not cost effective. That still stings just thinking about it. Ugh.

Start at home. If you can’t pack your local theater or least a decent sized club then your live show probably sucks.  Spend money finding out what needs to change.

If consumers perceive your show as an event they will come to see it

. darkedinburgh_ghostbus

Once you are packing a venue you are making money.

You have cash flow.

Then dominate a new market and so on.

 

 

Tour Busses Don’t Sell Records

Country artist Sam Hunt released “Leave the Night On” (destined to be #1) in mid-June this year.  This major label artist with major label money Promotion Sam Hunttoured in a van with a trailer from June through mid-October before they could financially justify the cost of leasing a tour bus.

 

 

 

Atco Records recording artist Dream Theater released “Images and Words” in 1992.  They had enough tour support for 6 weeks in a tour bus or 12-14 weeks in a van.  They begrudgingly chose the van at the behest of their tour manager.  The single broke in 10 weeks.  If they chose the bus, they wouldn’t have had the budget to support the single when it broke.

Promotion Dream Theater Images and Words

 

 

 

How are you spending your promotion budget?

 

 

 

 

Spend wisely and stay in tune people.

 

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