The Americana and roots music authority
Self Promotion - Any artists out there have tips to share?
Maggie calls it "brag and gag."
I've been pretty self-righteous about folks who do it until I began doing it myself. Somehow, we've had a pretty good career in music and writing novels without a lot of work until recently. We released our latest CD last Fall, and I re-released my first novel as an eBook at the same time.
Since then, we've (mostly me) become a self-promotion machine. I've gone from hours a week to hours a day at the computer, talking about myself.
Do you self-promote? Do you find it possible to be both salesman and musician? Is the dark side of the new Indy movement the fight for time to play music for the fun of it?
For the first time in a busy life, I'm starting to wish I had a label, an organization behind me doing all the hard stuff.
If you play music for a living, how have you dealt with this?
Views: 280
Replies to This Discussion
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on -
I don't promote myself, but I heavily promote (as you know) my project Gram InterNational. It takes more time than I have, but it's the mission. Social media is job one of course, together with trying for radio shows and local and national press for the concerts when possible. An important byproduct of this is promotion for artists who are not otherwise getting much (and many of whom don't know ReverbNation from MySpace), in effect becoming their promoter. And believe me, the love comes back at you for this. Also the networking that goes on at Gram InterNationals is amazing. One example, GIN newcomer this year, Don Pedigo of Nashville, is now playing with Walter Egan's band (four-year GIN vet) after meeting at GIN IV Nashville last month. I'm not making any money, trying to break even... a labor of love. Good luck with the CD and novel; since this is slugged "Self Promotion," maybe you should take this opp to tell us about them, or direct us to a place to find out. Self promotion is all we have after all!
-
Permalink Reply by Lucky Mud on -
(Kim and Kyla - if this is against protocol, please correct me and remove this. Thanks, Mike)
Will,
I have a writer's blog at http://writinginbedsleepinginthechair.blogspot.com/
Our music is at CD Baby.....the latest one is at http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/luckymud8
Somebody told me how to make these links blue, but it didn't sink in.....
(and here I am, proving my point...blahblahblah)
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on
-
I believe this is an important topic on this site. So many discussions, such as the posts involved in the current Linda Chorney discussions, revolve around the necessity of self promotion in "our world." I'm not saying we should post ads here (and not pay Kyla for them;), but perhaps a discussion as slugged here could begin a positive discussion about how to get noticed, etc., without say resorting to Chorney's tactics--or perhaps by resorting to them. Talk amongst ourselves. So the question was, "If you play music for a living, how have you dealt with this?" And within that discussion, I see no problem (my opinion only) of showing an example, a link perhaps, of how you go about self promotion. It's something that's forever on my mind, and I do what I can for the bands I feel deserve it, but moreover I feel bad that they don't have better means of accomplishing this key objective of "making it," or at least a listen, in this business.
-
Permalink Reply by Kyla Fairchild on -
Great topic for a discussion! It would be appreciated if other musicians would share successful promotion tools and things they've done to help themselves get noticed.
It's no problem to post links to blogs, reviews, cd baby pages, etc. when they are asked for by others or relevant to the conversation. Kim and I often tell people that the best way to promote here is by becoming a part of the conversation as opposed to only pushing promotional links. Lucky Mud, you are a perfect example of that! (becoming part of the conversation, that is.)
When people come here and post self promotional links as blog posts, in the comments of blogs and forum discussions, on the walls of groups, etc. we delete them as soon as we notice them or they are brought to our attention.
The thinking with that isn't that we want to prevent artists from using the ND site to promote themselves, but that we don't want the site to become overrun with that. It's a fine line that we struggle with everyday.
Because of how frequently we get things like that posted already I'm certain that if we let that sort of thing slide, the site would quickly be overrun by artists, venues, publicists, kickstarters, festivals, etc. pushing their stuff rather than more in-depth reviews, interviews, articles, etc. And then we'd end up like My Space and people would stop coming altogether. For example if it was just one festival that posted a promotional blog it wouldn't be a problem, but when suddenly every street fair and regional music festival in the country starts posting about their great (or not so great) festival then we have a problem. We try to look at each instance of these posts as "what would happen if everyone posted these sorts of things" and act accordingly.
There is a forum post Advertorials on No Depression from awhile back with lots of comments and discussion on the topic.
If anyone has thoughts about what you do and don't want to see here on the ND site in terms of artists self promoting we'd be interested to read them.
-
Permalink Reply by Lucky Mud on
-
Will and all,
Just a cautionary tale, though....and I think this would be a great idea - BUT - I've visited writers' sites online and almost all of them are a bed of vipers, griping at each other like junior high students between classes and endlessly spamming. Either self-promoting, spamming or complaining about self-promoting and spamming. I'd much rather err on the side of caution, even if it means blocking my reply. This place has been way too friendly for me and I don't want to ruin it.
All that has made me appreciate even more the mediation of No Depression by Kim, Kyla and the regulars. Let's tiptoe around it first. Mike
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on
-
Mike, I totally get what you're saying, and I think Kyla's policy (and endless hours of enforcing it) covers that. I think free speech should rule when possible and I'd repeat that a discussion of artists' self promotion (hey, it's your blog!) or lack thereof is something that may interest and maybe help many here. But, whatever.
-
Permalink Reply by Lucky Mud on
-
Will,
If you're asking if I'm being wishy-washy the answer is, well....yes and no. Mike
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on
-
Kyla, pls put in a ticket to Ning for a "Like" button;)
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on
-
To me this should be the most important thread on ND. Self promotion is not a dirty phrase, and it may surprise many Americana artists that they're pretty much not going anywhere without it. But rather than have a thoughtful and helpful discussion about it, they're all over on the Linda Chorney posts having a field day. Chorney should be the catalyst for good, solid artists to discuss what they use, what works and what doesn't, etc. Maybe we scared them off with the caveats, but I think more likely they do think that self promotion is dirty or should be done by someone else. News flash: there is no one else.
-
Permalink Reply by Lucky Mud on
-
You're absolutely right, Will. For years Maggie and I ran on the fuel of energy and joy - every gig was a great gig, every gig as 'house band' was going to last forever. We'd come back from a month of shows in Europe and not have anything to return to. Without us there to promote 'us,' we ceased to exist. Now, tempered by a very long run, I look to find outside sources for that promotion and find, as you say, there is no one else.
So, time for a new learning curve. So it goes. Mike
-
Permalink Reply by Will James on
-
So, even if we keep this going until someone else joins in... Just found you on ReverbNation, that's a good start, I believe every band should be there. I'm making it a "requirement" for GIN bands (unless they're clueless and I have to have them, even then I offer to do one up for them no charge). Good ranking on local Folk, but how many go out for whatever Folk means these daze? I changed your location to Americana, and the list consists of one person in Panama City, so you'd be at least No. 2 if not 1 in your area, and maybe attract more attention in that genre. Then, tweet it my friend, as much as I hate to type that. Heck, I wouldn't be on Facebook at all (between you and me) if it weren't for GIN promotion. Are you kidding me? What need would I have for FB otherwise? Then you're opening bio line, "Lucky Mud's music is an original, totally unique experience for anyone looking for great lyrics and a strong vocal blend." While I believe it's true after listening to a couple songs, who isn't going to say that? In other words, I think you've got something more original in you, heck, you're a poet dude. So just keeping this thread alive, and... Happy New Year! Will
-
Permalink Reply by Ronald Kowalewski on -
I/ we the Skiffle Minstrels out of Buffalo, NY struggle with this often. I think you have to pay attention to what's goin on on the site(s) your promoting on Facebook/ here, be a part of the conversation. In other words let people knw you're out there and interested in other stuff/bands besides your band, but don't be afrad to share your events and share your passion for your projects.. Truth always shines, if you abuse your virtual friends or your real friends by calling and sending out hundreds of emails you will get the opposite of what you are looking for. We do a monthly email to the email list, promote weekend shows starting on Sunday for the upcoming week, each band member will share the events daily sometimes 2x until the weekend, repeat. Big events will get extra attention and promotion, even more personalized flesh pounding when tickets need to be sold and numbers need to be increased. Other than that we / I go to a lot of shows even when I'm burnt out , because I love music, I love to learn from great players and showmen, to check out the competition, and to promote where like minded people hang out. I'll slip one of the musicians from a touring band a CD, as they're packin up and saying goodbye, this works out better if you have bought one of their CDs earlier and chatted them up on break... Calculated but honest.
Ron
Ps I'm gonna post in Buffalo herd our schedule for January!
© 2012 Created by No Depression.
Badges | ND Terms Of Use | ND Privacy Policy | Report an Issue | Terms of Service
