Build The Story...What?

Like I’ve said before, I was in a band for 6 years called The Kicks.  About a year and a half into our career we put out our first album (called The Rise Of King Richie).

When that album came out we started having a lot of meetings. Meetings with all sorts of people and companies.

One of the terms that got thrown around from so many industry people was   “building the story”.

What? Our album is awesome. If you like it, give us a million dollars.

I was confused as to what building the story meant.  And while I understand it a lot more now, and I’ve even encouraged some other people using the exact same phrase, I really think music biz people throw it around out of insecurity and not really having a clue what it means themselves…much less HOW to do it or WHY do it in the first place.

But if you’re hearing that idea in meetings, I’ll try and break it down for you a little bit…

-what sets you apart from the other kajillion bands out there?

-what is a series of 4 or 5 sequential events that shows growth in fans and/or money and/or attention?

-what about you makes me feel good about liking you? (what sets you apart and what is actually making me like you can absolutely be different)

-are there other people who I respect who are willing to vouch for you? when and how did you get their respect?

-are you a magnet for a specific type of person or group of people?

-what about you is worth talking about (remarkable) so that I look cool in front of the people in MY world?

Everyone is looking for unique talking points, because that’s what makes anyone feel good about talking about anything.  We want to have the punch line, the new info, the next best thing and above all, respect from our peers. Can your band give this?

It’s a lot to take in, and maybe that’s why it all gets bundled in the phrase “building the story”.  Most bands don’t want to dive into these hard questions, but all your favorite bands have.

Go tell your story. And if you don’t have one, build one.

Do You FEEL Rejected?

It could be that your band isn’t any good, that’s why you’re hearing the word “no” a lot.  Back to the drawing board for you. But if you’ve been around for a little while there’s a good chance it could be that the people you’re trying to access, the people you’re trying to get to say yes, to get their attention, just aren’t looking for you.

Rejection isn’t usually easy to deal with, especially in a young band. But if you’re a good band, I have good news. Or at least the equivalent of a 2 minute shoulder rub.

This blog is a perfect example. There are so many articles, books, blogs and seminars about dealing with rejection…and you have actually, physically seen them, laid eyes on them, seen the headlines or the links or the websites. But they didn’t even register with you. You just kept on clicking something else.

You just weren’t looking for ideas about rejection.  They were right there. Great words of encouragement! Someone, probably a team of people, worked really hard in order to get their link/blog/article about dealing with rejection in front of you and you rejected it. Ha!

You weren’t in the right frame of mind at the time. You were distracted. Understanding rejection didn’t feel important at the time.  You got a phone call. There was a different article that perked your interest more.

Does that mean you are against those people and their work? No.  Is their work less valuable because you didn’t consume it and love it? No.  Are they going to have to keep working hard in order to ever have a chance to re-approach you? Yes.  

If you’re a good band, there’s some truth rolling around in this example.  You work really hard to get your music in front of certain people or groups of people and it get’s ignored or they say no.

It could be for a bazillion different reasons, but it’s not personally against you. Do you take it personally? Yeah, of course. You worked really hard.

But let the discouragement roll off your shoulders, embrace the fact that you reject other peoples great hard work everyday (with or without knowing it).  And you aren’t some nasty troll out to ruin others lives.  You’re just not looking for their particular brand of hard work and greatness at the time. Maybe tomorrow you will be.

You clicked on me today. I guess some part of you was looking for something like this.

Bands: If You Only Read One Of My Blogs

Bands usually hire team members out of fear and/or desperation.  Fear that their one option is going to be their only option, fear of missing out, fear of getting old.  Desperate because there wasn’t any planning and organization, the album is coming out next week and you need to quick get a publicist. 

I’m sure you have your version of this.

If I only ever get one idea through your head that you will actually adopt it is this:

TAKE MORE TIME WHEN HIRING.

Yes, the capitalization means I’m yelling. And I’m not a yeller.

Did you hire your booking agent after he came to a show and you had some drinks after? Did you hire your PR three months before releasing your album? Did you hire your manager because he/she was your “only option”?

Take more time.

I know it’s hard, but you know that feeling six months into working with your radio company when you realize “it’s just not a good fit”? You need to come to that realization before you hire them.

Isn’t this a crazy thought: Artists are afraid of taking the hiring process more seriously because they want to come off as easy going and fun, and then get upset when the person they hired doesn’t take the job seriously. Ummmm. 

You’re the leader. You reap what you sow. 

If you’re reading this and want to dig deeper on the subject, send me an email and come to an Artist Leadership Meeting. It’s really worth diving into.

But in the meantime I want to throw out something very practical that I hope you’ll try.  And you should try it because your hiring methods are probably either non-existant or not very good. (Don’t worry, I’m guilty too)

-Have at least 4 interviews with anyone you’re thinking of adding to your team.

-Make the first one 30 minutes. Not 31 minutes.  And drinks in the back hall after your show doesn’t count for anything.  A 30 minute meeting where you do most of the listening and they do most of the talking.

-Make the last interview an informal dinner…with spouses. It sounds crazy, but it works.  It’s a different dynamic that will draw new things out of everyone, and you’ll be able to solidify if this person is the right one to hire.

I know all this sounds weird and difficult, but just try it. If it doesn’t work, you can always go back to what you’ve always done.

Again, there’s so much more on this topic, and I think this is an area that once it’s done properly could revolutionize the music business, cause fear and desperation just don’t seem to be working.

The Moment Of Confusion

I watched a little bit of the Screen Actors Guild awards tonight. Pretty good show. Not a lot of blabber, no music performances, they just kinda get down to business.

But here’s one thing I’ve never understood about pretty much all the awards shows.  Grammys, Emmys, Oscars, all of them.

As you’re looking at the tv, the winner of the award is in the center of the stage giving the acceptance speech, while the celebrity introducers along with a Vanna White type person are standing off to the left politely listening.

Why do Vanna and the celebs stand off to the left when the exit for the stage is to the right?

There’s always a confused moment when the winner of the award is finished with their speech, they walk toward the gang on stage only to be turned around awkwardly to exit the proper side. It’s weird. It doesn’t flow.

Now, every once and a while the winner knows the exit is to the right and when they finish their speech, they walk that way.  

They thought they could avoid the confusion.

Well, they may have escaped the confusion but they didn’t escape the slight awkwardness.

Since the winner knew where to walk and he/she just headed that way, it looks like they’re abandoning the rest of the gang on stage because Vanna and everyone are chasing the winner from behind.

It’s a lose/lose.  

And it’s such an easy fix if someone would pay attention.  Put Vanna on whatever side you want the winner to walk toward.  That’s the most natural thing for everyone.

There’s a natural flow for the stage. There’s a set of norms and expectations that performers and the audience are used to seeing and experiencing.  

Pay close attention and investigate what easy little tweaks you can make. These things make a big difference and are sitting right under your nose. They don’t take any skill at all, just a realization.

Are You A Bowling Ball Or A Disco Ball

No matter what, when you walk on stage the spotlights are on you. That’s the deal. That’s what you’ve signed up for.

Now you have a decision.

When you walk on stage, your head can turn into a bowling ball.  Hard, dark, non reflective material that absorbs all the light it can and keeps it all for itself.  So the very best case scenario is that a bunch of people comment on the bowling ball.  But more often, the bowling ball head is just uninviting, boring, and unmemorable.

On the other hand, when you step on stage your head can turn into a disco ball.  Where all the light and attention given to it gets reflected back to the entire room, for the enjoyment and community of everyone.  

Sure everyone loves a disco ball, but what they really love is what the disco ball provides them…connection to the moment and the people around them because it’s casting beautiful light and vibe around the room making them dance and FEEL something.

The spotlights and attention are inevitable.  Do you want to be a bowling ball or a disco ball?

The Leading Deficit pt. 2

I want to step back and widen the lens from the post yesterday about the leaders in the band needing to step up and lead.  

Why do we need those band guys to be leaders in the first place?

Because this is where the change is born.  All the things that feel broken or are broken about the industry will be revolutionized by artists willing to be leaders.

Gone are the days where the band gets to be the dumb lazy band guys and everyone else makes them valuable and successful.

What if by being a great artist and also a great leader, you gained leverage, attention, respect, success?  This is possible. But you need both ingredients. An artist leader.

When we have great leaders in bands we have band guys willing to ask questions, willing to properly interview possible team members (agents, PR, labels, etc), willing to take responsibility for their entire team.  Successes and failures.

And in turn, leading the entire music business.

For years now I’ve heard people talk about “there’s gotta be a better way” or “why does it have to be like this” or insert your generalized yearning here.

I’ve discovered that the revolutionary response to those questions is hiding in the mirror.  Cause if you’re the type of person to really ask those questions, you’re already on the path.

There’s something to be said for the fact that if artists stopped doing their thing, the whole industry would literally cease to exist. So there’s where the change needs to start.  

Leadership is in dire need. You are part of the solution. No no…in your sliver of the universe, you are THE solution.

p.s. Don’t misunderstand any of this by thinking I mean you need to be an island, to do it all yourself, to close others off, or to simply work harder.  Working harder and leading better are two different things.  And if you don’t have anyone (team members) following you…you are, by definition, not leading.  So you need to be working with other humans!! Serve and lead your team better.