(Thanks to Derek Sivers - CD Baby founder for another nugget)
Secret trick to get people in the audience to sign your mailing list AND be part of your inside club.
1. At every show you do, from now on, bring a camera and a notebook.
2. About halfway through your show, when everyone is having fun, take pictures of the audience, from the stage. Tell them to smile, make a face, hold up their beer, whatever.
3. Afterwards, pass around the notebook and say, "Please write down your email address in this notebook, and in a few days, I'll email you, telling you where you can see YOUR goofy picture on my website."
4. At the end of the night, before bed, write up a journal/diary/memoir of that show. Scan and upload all their pictures onto a page of your website. Dedicate a page of your site about that show, with the diary, photos, and a little link on that page that says, "If you were at this show, please introduce yourself!" - so people can contact you.
5. Email everyone that was there that night. Of course EVERYone will go look at your site. How could they not? People are infinitely more interested in themselves than they are in you.
6. Stay in touch with them all!
(p.s. The other hidden idea in this is to make every show a Real Event. A Big Deal. Something worth documenting. This will get you out of the habit of thinking of it as "just another gig." Because for many of your fans, it's not. It's the most fun they've had all month.)
Here's an example. One of my old outdated tour diaries:
http://www.hitme.net/tourdiary/
(After starting CD Baby in 1998 I stopped touring. But since I had been on the road for 10 years straight, I'm not complaining.)
Tuesday, August 29, 2006
Tuesday, August 22, 2006
Reviews at CD Baby
Last week I talked about CD Baby and its online and digital distribution network. Well, this week I'm happy to report that we are now selling "Citrus" live on the web. Click here to see our page: http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/quadre
At the bottom you'll notice that you can add a review. Please do this and get anyone you know to add their thoughts as well. No musical experience necessary - just need ears. Just say what you thought of the album. Also send the above link to a friend that you think would really like to buy our CD. They can hear a lot of the CD just by clicking on the songs. (And if they buy multiple CDs, they are all at half price!)
At the bottom you'll notice that you can add a review. Please do this and get anyone you know to add their thoughts as well. No musical experience necessary - just need ears. Just say what you thought of the album. Also send the above link to a friend that you think would really like to buy our CD. They can hear a lot of the CD just by clicking on the songs. (And if they buy multiple CDs, they are all at half price!)
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
CD Baby; Call the Destination, and Ask for Directions
CD BABY
Cd Baby is an online distributor for CD recordings. They have been around since 1998. I've wanted to get QUADRE up on their site and this week I finally had the time to take care of it. We're not up yet, but we will be soon. They sell our CDs online and take a cut of $4 per CD. We get the profit automatically when they have received $20 or more. (It goes straight to our bank account.) They take care of all the shipping and accept VISA, Mastercard, & Discover. We'll also be able to sell our CDs with credit cards at our live shows in December and March through them. In addition, they digitally distribute our CD so we will be on iTunes & all the other sites out there within the next few months or so. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.cdbaby.com
The best part is the cost. Since it is run by an 'indie' musician, the fees are very reasonable: $4/CD for hard copy sales; only 9% for digital sales; and a one-time $35 set-up fee. No monthly or annual fees. The credit card swiper at our live shows was only a $30 deposit. No monthly fees for that either. Good company with lots of good advice. The next segment is some of that advice from the owner of CD BABY, Derek Sivers.
CALL THE DESTINATION, AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONS
by Derek Sivers
Work backwards.
Define your goal (your final destination) - then contact someone who's there, and ask how to get there.
Know a magazine you think you should be in? Call their main number, ask for the editorial department, and ask someone in editorial if they could recommend their three favorite publicists. Write down the publicists' names, and thank the nice editorial person for their time. (Don't waste their time asking for the publicists' contact info. You can find that on the web.) Then call each publicist, and try to get their attention.
Know a radio station you should be on? Call them and ask for the music director. Ask if they could recommend a few good radio promoters. Call the radio promoters they recommend, and try to get their attention.
Know a venue you should be playing? Bring a nice box of fancy German cookies to the club booker, and ask for just 5 minutes of their advice. Ask them what criteria must be met in order for them to take a chance on an act. Ask what booking agents they recommend, or if they recommend using one at all. Again, keep your meeting as short as possible. Get the crucial info, then leave them alone. (Until you're back, headlining their club one day!)
I know an artist manager of a small unsigned act, who over the course of a year, met with the managers of U2, REM, and other top acts. She asked them for their advice, coming from the top, and got great suggestions that she's used with big results.
In other words: Call the destination, and ask for directions.
You'll get there much faster than just blindly walking out your front door, hoping you arrive someday.
Cd Baby is an online distributor for CD recordings. They have been around since 1998. I've wanted to get QUADRE up on their site and this week I finally had the time to take care of it. We're not up yet, but we will be soon. They sell our CDs online and take a cut of $4 per CD. We get the profit automatically when they have received $20 or more. (It goes straight to our bank account.) They take care of all the shipping and accept VISA, Mastercard, & Discover. We'll also be able to sell our CDs with credit cards at our live shows in December and March through them. In addition, they digitally distribute our CD so we will be on iTunes & all the other sites out there within the next few months or so. Here is a link to their website:
http://www.cdbaby.com
The best part is the cost. Since it is run by an 'indie' musician, the fees are very reasonable: $4/CD for hard copy sales; only 9% for digital sales; and a one-time $35 set-up fee. No monthly or annual fees. The credit card swiper at our live shows was only a $30 deposit. No monthly fees for that either. Good company with lots of good advice. The next segment is some of that advice from the owner of CD BABY, Derek Sivers.
CALL THE DESTINATION, AND ASK FOR DIRECTIONS
by Derek Sivers
Work backwards.
Define your goal (your final destination) - then contact someone who's there, and ask how to get there.
Know a magazine you think you should be in? Call their main number, ask for the editorial department, and ask someone in editorial if they could recommend their three favorite publicists. Write down the publicists' names, and thank the nice editorial person for their time. (Don't waste their time asking for the publicists' contact info. You can find that on the web.) Then call each publicist, and try to get their attention.
Know a radio station you should be on? Call them and ask for the music director. Ask if they could recommend a few good radio promoters. Call the radio promoters they recommend, and try to get their attention.
Know a venue you should be playing? Bring a nice box of fancy German cookies to the club booker, and ask for just 5 minutes of their advice. Ask them what criteria must be met in order for them to take a chance on an act. Ask what booking agents they recommend, or if they recommend using one at all. Again, keep your meeting as short as possible. Get the crucial info, then leave them alone. (Until you're back, headlining their club one day!)
I know an artist manager of a small unsigned act, who over the course of a year, met with the managers of U2, REM, and other top acts. She asked them for their advice, coming from the top, and got great suggestions that she's used with big results.
In other words: Call the destination, and ask for directions.
You'll get there much faster than just blindly walking out your front door, hoping you arrive someday.
Tuesday, August 8, 2006
Music in the Schools; Blogging About the Arts
MUSIC IN THE SCHOOLS
The following article was recommended by Angela Beeching at the New England Conservatory of Music. I thought it was an interesting take on bringing music into the schools.
Click here to access the story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06207/708496-42.stm
BLOGGING ABOUT THE ARTS
Barry C. Hessenius was the former director of the California Arts Council before its funding was greatly diminished in 2001. He is now the executive director of San Francisco's LINES Ballet. He leads a blog about concerns that affect the arts and specifically, the arts administrator. Click below to access his latest blog:
http://www.westaf.org/blog/archives/2006/08/barrys_blog_aug_1.php
The following article was recommended by Angela Beeching at the New England Conservatory of Music. I thought it was an interesting take on bringing music into the schools.
Click here to access the story:
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/06207/708496-42.stm
BLOGGING ABOUT THE ARTS
Barry C. Hessenius was the former director of the California Arts Council before its funding was greatly diminished in 2001. He is now the executive director of San Francisco's LINES Ballet. He leads a blog about concerns that affect the arts and specifically, the arts administrator. Click below to access his latest blog:
http://www.westaf.org/blog/archives/2006/08/barrys_blog_aug_1.php
Tuesday, July 25, 2006
Earplay; Fireworks New Music Ensemble
EARPLAY
(Taken from their web site)
For more than two decades in San Francisco, Earplay's passionate group of performers and composers has been dedicated to creating new chamber music, nurturing both emerging and well-known composers, and seeking out exciting new works.
Earplay's music is lyrical and ferocious, modern and Romantic, finely honed and accessible. Subscribe to Earplay's 21st season to hear all new music. Every piece on every concert is a World, U.S., West Coast, or Bay Area premiere. For each season subscription you purchase, receive a complimentary ticket to our post-concert receptions. For more information go to http://www.earplay.org.
FIREWORKS NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE
(Taken from their web site)
Hailed as “the hottest new classical band in New York,” Fireworks – Jennifer Grim (flute), Michael Ibrahim (saxophone), Oren Fader (guitar), Jennifer Choi (violin), Leigh Stuart (cello), James Johnston (keyboards), Brian Coughlin (bass), and Eric Poland (percussion) – combines the subtlety and depth of classical chamber music with the freedom of jazz and the power and energy of rock.
Rooted in the classical tradition, Fireworks embraces great music from all cultures, periods, and styles as dialects of a single musical language, and as vital, living art. Fireworks' mission is to help masterworks from across the musical spectrum find new and larger audiences, and to create and nurture a canon of great new music by today's composers.
Cultivating the most diverse repertoire of any contemporary music ensemble, Fireworks is at home with any audience in any musical setting. The ensemble's remarkable arrangements and interpretations of music by composers from around the world, ranging from Bach to Ellington to Aphex Twin to Piazolla, provide a contemporary and unbiased entrée into these masterpieces for new listeners, and a fresh perspective on time-honored classics for established audiences.
A strong voice for today's composers, Fireworks actively commissions and fearlessly champions new works. Since its inception in 2000, the ensemble has premiered over 50 pieces by both established and emerging composers including Glenn Branca, Robert Carl, and Nick Didkovsky. Fireworks' flexible instrumentation, openness to music in all of its diverse forms, and dedication to presenting contemporary works at the highest level provides today's composers with the greatest freedom of expression for their ideas.
They are represented by MCM Artists. For more information go to http://www.fireworks-ensemble.org/main.htm
(Taken from their web site)
For more than two decades in San Francisco, Earplay's passionate group of performers and composers has been dedicated to creating new chamber music, nurturing both emerging and well-known composers, and seeking out exciting new works.
Earplay's music is lyrical and ferocious, modern and Romantic, finely honed and accessible. Subscribe to Earplay's 21st season to hear all new music. Every piece on every concert is a World, U.S., West Coast, or Bay Area premiere. For each season subscription you purchase, receive a complimentary ticket to our post-concert receptions. For more information go to http://www.earplay.org.
FIREWORKS NEW MUSIC ENSEMBLE
(Taken from their web site)
Hailed as “the hottest new classical band in New York,” Fireworks – Jennifer Grim (flute), Michael Ibrahim (saxophone), Oren Fader (guitar), Jennifer Choi (violin), Leigh Stuart (cello), James Johnston (keyboards), Brian Coughlin (bass), and Eric Poland (percussion) – combines the subtlety and depth of classical chamber music with the freedom of jazz and the power and energy of rock.
Rooted in the classical tradition, Fireworks embraces great music from all cultures, periods, and styles as dialects of a single musical language, and as vital, living art. Fireworks' mission is to help masterworks from across the musical spectrum find new and larger audiences, and to create and nurture a canon of great new music by today's composers.
Cultivating the most diverse repertoire of any contemporary music ensemble, Fireworks is at home with any audience in any musical setting. The ensemble's remarkable arrangements and interpretations of music by composers from around the world, ranging from Bach to Ellington to Aphex Twin to Piazolla, provide a contemporary and unbiased entrée into these masterpieces for new listeners, and a fresh perspective on time-honored classics for established audiences.
A strong voice for today's composers, Fireworks actively commissions and fearlessly champions new works. Since its inception in 2000, the ensemble has premiered over 50 pieces by both established and emerging composers including Glenn Branca, Robert Carl, and Nick Didkovsky. Fireworks' flexible instrumentation, openness to music in all of its diverse forms, and dedication to presenting contemporary works at the highest level provides today's composers with the greatest freedom of expression for their ideas.
They are represented by MCM Artists. For more information go to http://www.fireworks-ensemble.org/main.htm
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
KMVT Community TV; Compasspoint
KMVT COMMUNITY TELEVISION
As many of you are aware, Mountain View has its own community television station, cable 15. They are a non-profit organization and have programming everyday that runs the gamut: local sports games to HealthTalk to Indian Vegetarian Gourmet. (See www.kmvt15.org for additional programming information.) They also offer nonprofit media solutions at - they like to say - "twice the quality at half the cost." I'm talking to them about possibly filming our concert in December as well as capturing our organization's heart & soul for promotional purposes. Please take a moment to get to know this wonderful asset in the Mountain View community.
COMPASSPOINT
This is the organization that sponsored the 'Nonprofit Day' that I attended a week ago. They have tons of resources at their website to look at: www.compasspoint.org. In particular, I recommend you check out the funders directory for the Silicon Valley at the following link: http://www.compasspoint.org/funders/index.php?pid=126. Lots of useful information here.
As many of you are aware, Mountain View has its own community television station, cable 15. They are a non-profit organization and have programming everyday that runs the gamut: local sports games to HealthTalk to Indian Vegetarian Gourmet. (See www.kmvt15.org for additional programming information.) They also offer nonprofit media solutions at - they like to say - "twice the quality at half the cost." I'm talking to them about possibly filming our concert in December as well as capturing our organization's heart & soul for promotional purposes. Please take a moment to get to know this wonderful asset in the Mountain View community.
COMPASSPOINT
This is the organization that sponsored the 'Nonprofit Day' that I attended a week ago. They have tons of resources at their website to look at: www.compasspoint.org. In particular, I recommend you check out the funders directory for the Silicon Valley at the following link: http://www.compasspoint.org/funders/index.php?pid=126. Lots of useful information here.
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Booking Conferences; Horn Workshops
BOOKING CONFERENCES
The term 'booking conference' refers to 5 or so major conferences in our industry. While there are a lot more, these 5 cover most of the places where chamber music groups like ourselves can get noticed. They are the Western Arts Alliance, Midwest Arts, Performing Arts Federation, Arts Presenters, and Chamber Music America. Groups showcase at them (see Tuesday@2; 4/11/06) and sell themselves and their products on exhibit floors. Not a lot of business takes place, but a lot of contacts are made in a short period of time. At the next board meeting, we'll be deciding whether QUADRE should have a booth at the upcoming Western Arts Alliance conference in September at Long Beach's convention center.
HORN WORKSHOPS
Since our group is made up of entirely horn players (duh), horn workshops are another great place for us to gain exposure. Typically 50-400 people gather for these workshops. There are recitals, masterclasses, vendors, and lots of chances to connect with your colleagues and peers. QUADRE was a featured artist at the 2000 Southeast Horn Workshop in Alabama. I also gave a lecture on our industry at the 2003 International Horn Symposium in Indiana. Just a few minutes ago, QUADRE was invited to perform at the next Western US Horn Symposium in Las Vegas at the end of October, 2006. This is truly exciting news. They heard our latest CD and would be thrilled to have us come out. While the details still need to be worked out, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to perform for our peers.
The term 'booking conference' refers to 5 or so major conferences in our industry. While there are a lot more, these 5 cover most of the places where chamber music groups like ourselves can get noticed. They are the Western Arts Alliance, Midwest Arts, Performing Arts Federation, Arts Presenters, and Chamber Music America. Groups showcase at them (see Tuesday@2; 4/11/06) and sell themselves and their products on exhibit floors. Not a lot of business takes place, but a lot of contacts are made in a short period of time. At the next board meeting, we'll be deciding whether QUADRE should have a booth at the upcoming Western Arts Alliance conference in September at Long Beach's convention center.
HORN WORKSHOPS
Since our group is made up of entirely horn players (duh), horn workshops are another great place for us to gain exposure. Typically 50-400 people gather for these workshops. There are recitals, masterclasses, vendors, and lots of chances to connect with your colleagues and peers. QUADRE was a featured artist at the 2000 Southeast Horn Workshop in Alabama. I also gave a lecture on our industry at the 2003 International Horn Symposium in Indiana. Just a few minutes ago, QUADRE was invited to perform at the next Western US Horn Symposium in Las Vegas at the end of October, 2006. This is truly exciting news. They heard our latest CD and would be thrilled to have us come out. While the details still need to be worked out, this is a wonderful opportunity for us to perform for our peers.
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