The Buzz Factor (A Creative Gig Alternative) Bob Baker's "The Buzz Factor" Delivering music marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and more since 1995 - http://TheBuzzFactor.com/ June 5, 2003 - Vol. 9, Issue 17 In This Issue: 1. What I Learned in Chicago (and How It Can Help You) 2. Creative Gig Alternative: House Concerts 3. The Part-Time vs. Full-Time Career Comparison __________________________________________________ See the end of this message for details on how to get on and off the Buzz Factor mailing list. __________________________________________________ Welcome! => 1. What I Learned in Chicago (and How It Can Help You) About 60 people gathered at Gunther Murphy's this past Monday night for the monthly meeting of Chicago Harmony and Truth (www.chatmusic.com). I prepared what I thought would be an hour's worth of material. With all the questions and lively exchanges, the mini workshop lasted nearly an hour and 45 minutes. Thank goodness the meeting was held at a bar, because I was parched and ready for a beer when it was over :) Even though I was there to inform others about music marketing, I learned just as much myself from some of the smart, creative attendees. Here are some nuggets worth noting: - The Power of E-mail. I was pleased to see that 20% to 25% of the audience that night came as a result of my plugs in this e-zine. However, I was surprised by the way some attendees heard about it. I simply hoped to draw subscribers who lived in the area. But many there that night weren't subscribers and had heard about it from friends who lived elsewhere. Some of these subscriber friends lived in other states; even other countries. One Chicago musician said a friend in Honduras told him about the meeting. Lesson: If you separate your mailing list by state or postal code and only promote gigs to people in the immediate area of a show, reconsider your method. Fans who live elsewhere may tell friends who are closer to the venue. You might even specifically request, "Please forward this e-mail to your friends in the area and encourage them to attend the show!" - Take Advantage of Emotional Peaks. Attendee Don Mowen (www.donnyboytherocker.com) related how he and his band members time when they plug CD sales and requests for mailing list signups at shows. We were talking about the emotional response that fans have to music and how important it is to understand how your music affects people. More musicians should focus on the benefit their music delivers. Don explained that he's observed which songs get the most response at live shows -- the tunes that really touch people. He reminds people to get on the mailing list and purchase a CD right after these songs -- while fans are still swimming in that emotionally charged state. Great idea. - Take the Pulse of Your Fans. One young lady who's name I didn't get said she recently surveyed her fans to find out who they are, what they do, how they heard about her, what other acts they enjoy, etc. She was surprised to find some common patterns in the type of people who are attracted to her music. Knowing this information is priceless. So start asking your fans for info like this. And use it to reach more people like them. Thanks to Paul Natkin, founder of CHaT and a world-renowned music photographer, for inviting me (and carting me to and from the meeting). Check out Paul's web site: http://www.natkin.net/ - he's snapped great pics of many of the world's biggest music stars. I have no travel plans in the near future (except for Nashville most likely in September). But I'd like to give a series of these workshops in the St. Louis, Missouri, area. Being my hometown, I already know many of the places I need to contact. But I won't underestimate the power of my awesome subscribers. Do you know of an organization, store, studio, school, etc., within 50 miles of St. Louis that might be interested in hosting a Guerrilla Music Marketing workshop? Forward this message to anyone you might know in the area :) And send your venue suggestions to workshop@thebuzzfactor.com __________________________________________________ => 2. Creative Gig Alternative: House Concerts Here's a really cool idea I'd not heard much about before. It works best for solo singer-songwriters and smaller acoustic-based bands. The concept sort of combines the Tupperware home party concept with live music (only you don't have to burp any bowls). I can see this working for many acts, particularly those wanting to make good use of off nights on a tour schedule. For details, check out these two links: http://www.island.net/~oldfolk/housecon.htm http://www.churchhouseconcerts.org/details.html __________________________________________________ => 3. The Part-Time vs. Full-Time Career Comparison With 80 percent of precincts reporting and no dangling chads accounted for, here are the early results of the new Buzz Factor online poll: - 79% of subscribers pursue music part time - 21% are full time Here's a more specific breakdown: - Full Time (with an interest in expanding) 21% - Full Time (and satisfied where I'm at now) 0% - Part Time (with a goal of going full time) 62% - Part Time (and satisfied where I'm at now) 17% If you haven't cast your vote yet, please do so at http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/poll.html Last week I asked for success stories from full-time musicians. I got a few good responses which I will share soon. This time, let me hear from you part-timers. How are you approaching your career? What's your attitude working towards being full time? How do you stay motivated while you wait for your long-term goals to take hold? Send your story to 2cents@thebuzzfactor.com Have a great week! -Bob P.S. E-mail sent to my bob-baker.com domain has had deliver problems the past couple of days. If you sent a message to me this week, you might send it again to bob@thebuzzfactor.com __________________________________________________ => What They're Saying About ... "If they allowed ten stars, I'd give it ten. I bought Bob's 'Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook,' and in less than two months, I've done more to energize the mechanisms to promote my new CD, and previous three CDs, than I've done in the past four years combined. Bob Baker really got me going. More than that, it crow-barred a self-convinced 'I hate promotion' guy out of his stubborn old habits and into enthusiasm -- which is no small feat!" -Dan Oakenhead, www.oakenhead.com More info: http://bob-baker.com/buzz/music_marketing.htm __________________________________________________ "When I picked up 'Unleash The Artist Within' my intention was to read it when I had the time. Ha! I started reading it right away and I simply could not stop. I finished the book in nearly one sitting. What a great book!" -Lee Silber, author of "Self-Promotion for the Creative Person," www.creativelee.com More info: http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/unleash.html __________________________________________________ "I just wanted to say thank you for the helpful 'Online Music PR Hot List' e-book. It's the best. It's filled with so many helpful web sites, information and hints that are making things a lot easier for me. I am the Street Team Coordinator for a band called Mercury from Pittsburgh, PA. Your publicity resource is helping a lot to move Mercury in the right direction. Thanks again!" -Maria Gadola, www.mercuryband.com More info: http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/music_pr.htm =========== Cool Music Stuff You Need =========== Killer Press Kits: The 29 Most Important Elements in Creating Sizzling Music Publicity Materials http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/presskits.html Grow Your Band's Audience: Six Steps to Success for Independent Musicians http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/grow.html How to Promote Your Music Successfully on the Internet http://www.rainmusic.com/htpma/buzz.htm 197 Promotion Tips, Tricks and Resources for Indie Musicians - http://www.bob-baker.com/buzz/197.html Earn Cash as a Buzz Factor Affiliate Make 40% on every title sold through your affiliate link! http://www.bob-baker.com/af/BuzzAfil.html __________________________________________________ REPRINT PERMISSION Would you like to run some of the content from this issue on your web site or in your e-zine? You may do so for free as long as you add the following credit: "Reprinted from Bob Baker's The Buzz Factor, featuring free marketing and self-promotion ideas for songwriters, musicians and bands on a budget. Visit www.TheBuzzFactor.com for details." __________________________________________________ Current circulation: 8,661 subscribers To START getting The Buzz Factor, send an e-mail to addme@thebuzzfactor.com with the words "Send Me the Buzz" in the Subject line. Or visit http://TheBuzzFactor.com/ __________________________________________________ The Buzz Factor is published by Bob Baker PO Box 43058 - St. Louis, MO 63143 Phone: (314) 758-7578 - E-mail: bob@thebuzzfactor.com http://www.TheBuzzFactor.com/ (c) 2003 by Bob Baker - All Rights Reserved |