Pull The Answers Closer

I listen to and read a lot of artist interviews and most average interviewers ask about the songs, the record, the single, life on the road.

i.e. Things artists have full knowledge of.

So why is there so much…

“We kind of tried to do something different…”
-Did you kind of try or did you try?
-Did you try to do or did you do?
-Did you do something different?
-If you did something different, what was it specifically?

“I think we wanted to really go for it…”
-Did you think you wanted or did you actually want?
-Are you having a hard time remembering?
-Did you want to go for it, or did you go for it?

“It’s kind of like a new thing…”
-I don’t know what you mean, and either you don’t either, or you’re not willing to say.


and my favorite one

“We’re just trying to figure it out…”
-Are you trying (attempting) the act of figuring, or were you actually figuring?
-And if you are in fact ‘trying to figure’…why are you ‘just trying to figure’? The ‘just’ steals so much pride and dignity.


All these little words. All this insulation.  All this approximation.  All this distance between the question and the truth.

As an artist, strive to bring yourself to as close as you can to the real answers. The truth. 

We add all these little words because it keeps us a safe distance from vulnerability and responsibility.  The little words give us little ways we can squeak out of and avoid the boldness and magnitude of the full truth.

We want to hear the real deal from you. Full power, full impact.

p.s. A great way to get better at this is to not wait until you’re in the interview before practicing.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Market What Triggers Fans

Most artists want to market the things they take pride in, not necessarily what will trigger the fans. 

Successful acts understand that while what they take pride in and what is marketed may over lap, it doesn’t need to.

‘Take pride in’ comes from artistry. The heart. The creative muse. The long lonely road and the striving to put what’s in your heart into a song and career.

‘What will trigger the fans’ comes from culture. The timing. The medium. What the fans just ate for dinner. The way they compare this song with the song before it. 

For instance…it’s why when an artist gets asked where a certain song came from and the artist responds with a heartfelt, genuine, honest, truthful boring lame story. It’s a snooze fest and no one cares. 

The artist may take pride in the story but in this case it’s an awful marketing tool.  It would be better to tell a better story.

Take pride in things that make you proud. 

Market what will trigger fans.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Converting

Are you trying to convert people who don’t have a favorite band yet?

Are you trying to convert people who are open to adding to their ‘favorite band’ list?

Are you trying to convert people who aren’t looking for a new favorite band?

Are you trying to convert people who don’t care about favorite bands…they just want to hear a song they like?

Are you trying to convert people who don’t care about favorite bands…they just want to hear the same songs their friends like?


If you’re in the business of converting it’s important to know which type of music listener you’re looking to convert.

To say it another way…I’m not looking for a new brand of peanut butter to buy.  I like the one I use…so if someone comes along with a ‘better’ one it doesn’t matter.  The effort to change is far greater than the perceived advantage of the change.

But if I’ve never had peanut butter I’m a really good person to market peanut butter towards.

Once more to boil it down…

If you’re a new band it will help a lot if you market toward the type of people who listen to new bands.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

“Listen To My Music”

If your whole advertising strategy is ‘listen to my music’…you’re being shortsighted and selfish.

It has to be better. It has to be service oriented.

In fact, I would argue that a good advertising strategy for music these days would actually never ever say ‘listen to my music’.

The job of the music marketer is to induce attention for the artist.

Induce attention rather than demand or expect it.

‘Listen to my music’ = Look at me

Inducing attention comes from ‘Here I am’…and being very clear about who you are and where you are and why you’re speaking up in the first place.


p.s. One of the definitions of induce is to “give rise to”.  If I may paraphrase…to awaken something that is already there but needs some cold water thrown on it.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Compelling Performance

Every artist wants to put on a compelling performance.

But very few are bent on becoming exceedingly compelling people…ie. understanding the ways in which they are compelling and cranking those knobs up to 11 when performing.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com

Changing The Story

Don’t forget that your fans don’t read your story as often as you do. You might be tired of reading it and want to make a drastic change, when they’re just now getting the joke.

Keep playing the good songs.

Keep sharing the message.

The thing you’re becoming known for…yes, you already know that thing about yourself. You’ve known it for a long time. But they haven’t.  That’s why the ‘thing’ has to be so deep a part of who you are as a person and as an artist…because you’re going to have to stick with that ‘thing’ for a long time.

If the story you’re telling isn’t foundational to who you are, you’re much more likely to get tired of it quicker and get bored and want to change it before your audience has had time to attach to it.

Slow down. Breathe. Keep sharing the story. (If it’s clearly defined and already focused) Let it evolve but be slow to change it.

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I’m always interested in your perspective, whether affirming or dissenting. Continue the conversation anytime: gabethebassplayer@gmail.com