Good graphics and photos and logos don’t change the actual thing.
They change what someone thinks about the thing…which then changes has the power to change the perceived value, effectiveness, meaningfulness and desired-ness of the thing.
But the thing itself…is just that.
Make sure you start with a good, specific, meaning-filled thing…the graphics and photos and logos are going to turn out much better that way.
There’s no listening involved in a sale of an album and that’s what the music is for in the first place.
A stream, however, does equal a listen, consumption of the music, people doing with it what you intended it for.
But digging a bit more…if you are still imploring people to buy your album and you don’t have an $100 deluxe package for them to buy, you’re really missing the mark.
See, with everyday that goes by, the person who is going to lay down $10 for your album (even saying that sounds archaic now) is the exact person who will spend $100 on your deluxe package. Because who purchases CD’s or mp3 files anymore? Hardcore fans…So at least go get the $100, or $200 or whatever they’ll pay for a well thought out deluxe package.
If you’re pleading with your fans to buy your stuff because that’s how you need them to support you and all you have is an album for sale, step up.
Even better, step into the here and now. Invite, entice, make it simple for people to LISTEN to your music and then make ready deluxe, bonus, limited edition, hand made stuff for them to spend bigger money on.
Even Paul McCartney uses fireworks…and he has the best songs ever.
But you can replace “fireworks” with “something extra that makes the crowd go WOW beyond the actual words and melodies of the songs”, and it applies to you too.
Every artist dreams of letting the songs do the talking at their gig.
But the songs aren’t enough. Even the guy with the best songs ever knows that’s not enough in the live setting.
Paul McCartney knows his show needs some fireworks.
If what you want people, the radio station, the blog, the interviewer, the fans to talk about is that you’re getting bigger, you’ll always need a bigger event. And then a bigger one. And then an even bigger one.
What is the band up to…is a question often heard by the artist as “in what ways is the band getting in front more people, and then more people, and having cooler and cooler experiences unique to the common person”.
Having lots of fans is great. Having cool experiences is really fun.
But if you always need a bigger dose of the drug in order to have something to talk about…you’ll always need a bigger dose. And the dose might not be there. You can’t solely control the dose, the size and when it comes.
Try answering “what is the band up to” with something other than accolades, the success ramp, and name dropping.
p.s. Your accolades, the success ramp and name dropping are much more intriguing and magnetic when you can answer the question without those things too.
Two important questions with two important and different answers…
Why do people listen to your music?
Why do people choose to come to your show? If this answer is the exact same as the first answer, it’s going to be nearly impossible to get people to come out to your show.
