Stuff Like This And Maybe This Too

A few weeks ago I wrote about the magical and powerful phrase ‘people like us do stuff like this’.

Had a handful of questions roll in on this one so I want to add this…

You know what you want ‘stuff like this’ to be. You want it to be your thing. Listening, subscribing, sharing, spending money and time on your music, etc.

So then it’s tempting to want to invent the other part of the equation, the ‘people like us’ part. What group can I put together to complete the circle?

But you don’t have to invent it out of thin air. I want to offer up an easier way of getting the process started:

People like us do this AND maybe this too.

Where your thing is at the end:

People like us listen to Triple A radio and go see new bands in small clubs.

People like us own a Bruno Mars hat and aren’t afraid of adding something sassy to the collection.

People like us go out to dance clubs downtown and need a new fun song to dance to.


It’s easier to see the groups that are already have some definition and start piecing your picture together that way.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

So What Else Do You Have?

In connection with the short post from yesterday…

You’ve finally got THE song. You know it’s great. This gets affirmed, as people at labels, publishers, mgmt companies and agents and everyone else want to meet with you.

You take the meetings…and what’s the first question…”So what else do you have?”

You’re stunned. What else?! What do you mean what else?! This song blew your mind, pure magic, isn’t that enough?!

Here’s why they always ask what else you have: They want to hear these three things:

Consist Quality- Can you deliver like a professional?

Identity- Who are you as an artist and how does it fit into my world?

Surprise- You caught lightning in a bottle once, can you do it again?

Maybe you just got lucky once with that first song. And it is indeed a great song but in order to go to work together it’s going to take more than that. That’s why they ask.


»» The other reason they might be asking is because they’re afraid and are looking for a reason to say no. They took the meeting because meetings are what they do to look busy but have no intention of working together. So asking to hear more songs is their out.

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Maybe There’s More

New Hum Love playlist up on Spotify and Apple

If you’ve been following along for a while there’s some familiar names on this list.

Because I’m the same way as you.

If an artist has one song I like, maybe there’s more. Turns out sometimes there are.


Send suggestions for next time.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

Every Song Works

Every song works, it just has to have the right context.

If the songs is great, it can overcome a less favorable context.

If the song is just decent, it needs a more favorable context and set up in order to connect.

You probably have both types of songs and everywhere in between. So whether you’re putting an album sequence together or a live show…

What is the song and what context does it need to connect?

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

Ticket Pricing

A $5 ticket says: come see us play some songs (and you’ll probably attract people who want to hear some songs)

A $75 ticket says: come see a show (and you’ll probably attract people who want to see, and expect, a show)


When you’re first starting out you charge five bucks because all you have is some songs to play.

But it’s easy to get stuck in one of two places…

1. Not developing a show, therefore only ever being able to charge $5 tickets

2. Developing a great show but being afraid of charging for it because what if no one comes

If you don’t have a great show, make one.

If you have a great show, admit it by charging for it.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com

Easier To Help

The easier you make it for someone to help you, the more help you’re going to get.

Making it easier involves…

Speaking up about what you need

Being specific

Being concise

An underlying message about how it will make them look good, feel good, get credit, further their career, make them look cool in the eyes of people they respect.

Being open to their help and suggestions

Asking someone to help you with something that they are really good at helping people with.

Actually needing the help

Being polite

Being persistent, not annoying

And the list goes on…


If you don’t know where to start, start with the first one.

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Drop me an email: gabe@gabethebassplayer.com