Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog

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2010-04-21T12:14:00.001-05:00

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Don't Cater to Average: Your Fans Will Support You

2010-04-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

It's easy to get depressed when you see research numbers like this, as reported by Billboard several weeks ago:

According to data released this week by Nielsen, recorded music has a 3.7% share of U.S. household entertainment expenses.

Recorded music gets less of a household's entertainment spending than video games, movies, sports and reading material. Each year for the last decade, music spending has dropped as consumers spend less on CDs.

Many artists and music companies respond to this news by slashing prices, giving away even more of their creative output, and catering to the lowest common denominator.

My advice: Remember, these figures are averages. They include people who never spend money on music, people who spend a little, and music enthusiasts who spend thousands of dollars a year on CDs, music downloads, and concert tickets.

If you create a business model that caters only to the average, you're doing a disservice to yourself and your fans!

Sure, there are plenty of music consumers out there looking mainly for freebies and bargain prices. But there are also plenty of people who spend way more than 3.7% of their entertainment budget on music.

There are people who love to support the indie acts they enjoy. There are lots of people who aren't squeamish about spending a good chunk of change on stuff that will add pleasure to their lives.

And I'll bet some of those people are on your mailing list or in your audience right now.

Give them an opportunity to support you! Don't play small by catering to averages.

You're not an average musician, are you? And neither are the people who make up your fanbase.

-Bob

P.S. This rant was inspired by this post from Seth Godin.

Guerrilla Music Marketing Mastermind Group - Wanna Join Me?

2010-04-08T10:52:00.000-05:00

In March, for the first time ever, I offered a four-week Guerrilla Music Marketing Brainstorming and Mastermind Group -- limited to 10 people.

I had never done anything like this before, so I didn't know what to expect. But the response was incredible. All 10 slots sold out in a few days! And it turned out to be an amazing experience for all involved.

Well, I decided to do another one, starting April 21. And this will probably be the last one I do until later in the year.

I just posted a new video about it on the Music Mastermind registration page. Half the spots are already taken, which means only five spots remain.

Please take a look now and see if this inspiring format is for you.

-Bob

5 Great Twitter Music Contest Ideas

2010-04-07T14:51:00.002-05:00

Whether you like it or not, or whether you use it much or not, there's no denying that Twitter has proven to be a useful marketing tool for many people -- including musicians.

Lately I've been researching Twitter contests. (Hint: I may do one of my own soon.) And I realized there are two good reasons to do a Twitter contest campaign:

It can quickly build your number of Twitter followers. And the more people who follow you, the greater your reach in getting the word out.

It can virally spread awareness of a new album or special event -- as long as you make posting messages about you part of the contest.

Therefore, here are five Twitter Music Contest ideas to consider when planning future promotions ...

1) The Retweet Song or Album Giveaway

With this contest, you simply ask your followers to RT a certain tweet. You can give away a song download to everyone who RTs, or choose 1 or 3 or however many winners randomly.

Here's how Mike Turner of @CrashKarma did this:

CD Giveaway / Crash Karma - RT this by 8 AM tomorrow to win a copy!

2) The Concert Ticket Giveaway

Same concept as above, only the winner (or winners) get no-cost access to your live show. See how the band Skillet did this for it's "Awake Tonight Tour" Twitter Contest.

3) The 'Help Us Write a Song' Contest

Last summer the band O.A.R. promoted a Twitter Songwriting Contest. According to a Billboard article, fans could "submit their lyrics, 140 characters at a time, to O.A.R.'s page at twitter.com/ofarevolution. The band will then pick three winning verses, a chorus, and a bridge that will make up the lyrics of the song."

Now that's a very creative use of Twitter.

4) The 'Tell Us Your Favorite Song' Contest

With this one, you post streaming (but not downloadable) links to a collection of your songs. Then ask fans to listen and tweet their favorite tracks. You can send everyone who does (or a limited number of people) the full CD or album download.

5) The 'Help Us Spread the Word" Contest

This could be an effective way to built your Twitter presence quickly. You send an email to your fan list and ask them to A) start following you on Twitter, and B) to post a specific update that you supply, such as

Check out @KushMusicCanada It's feel-good, downtempo music for the mind, body & soul. You'll love it!

Then offer a prize to everyone who follows you and posts the message, or offer something cool to the first 10 people who do.

Ready to present your own Twitter music contest idea? If so, let me know about it in the comments section below.

-Bob

P.S. Also check out my Twitter Music Promotion & Marketing Guide page.

Time Sensitive: I've Got 7 Copies of This - First Come, First Served

2010-03-31T14:57:00.000-05:00

Earlier this week I was cleaning my office and uncovered seven copies of an incredible marketing resource. And if you're one of the first seven people to jump on it, you can get your hands on one.

I just posted a video that explains what it is and how to get it on this page.

This resource was previously available only to a limited number of people who attended my workshops last year. I've never offered it from my web site -- until now.

Again, there are only 7 copies available on a first-come, first-served basis. So please watch this quick video now.

I hope you're one of the lucky seven!

-Bob

Location-Based Music Marketing w/ Foursquare & More

2010-03-31T11:09:00.000-05:00

If you're a smart, self-promoting musician, you want to be on top of the latest trends. One that's creating a lot of buzz these days is "location based" web sites and services. Now would be a good time to start considering how you might use this trend as a marketing tool.

The major players in the "location based" social networking arena are Foursquare and Gowalla. If you're wondering how they work, here's a good explanation from the Foursquare site:

"People use Foursquare to 'check-in,' which is a way of telling us your whereabouts. When you check in someplace, we'll tell your friends where they can find you and recommend places to go & things to do nearby. People check-in at all kind of places -- cafes, bars, restaurants, parks, homes, offices.

"You'll find that as your friends use Foursquare to check in, you'll start learning more about the places they frequent. Not only is it a great way to meet up with nearby friends, but you'll also start to learn about their favorite spots and the new places they discover."

Hopefully, you're starting to realize the music marketing potential here. For instance, if your fans used these services and let their friends know they were going to see you perform live, that could potentially bring more people out to your shows.

'Location' Is a Natural Growth Area

A lot of marketers are salivating at the possibilities of location-based marketing and advertising. Think about it ...

Google and others already deliver relevant ads based on the search terms you use. Search for "bowling shoes" and you'll get "sponsored links" in the right-hand column linking to sites that specialize in bowling shoes.

Search for "Pizza in Milwaukee" and you'll get an instant list of pizza places in that city. And many sites already use the location of your home computer's IP address to deliver relevant local content for your city.

But what about when you're on the go? Now that so many people rely on mobile phones, which increasingly have GPS capabilities, it only makes sense that you should get customized information based on where you ARE.

And that's why location-based social sites and marketing delivery systems are on the rise!

How Could YOU Use This?

Imagine you are performing in a city for the first time. You're at the hotel wondering where the nearest sushi restaurant is. You use your mobile phone to search for "sushi" based on your exact location. Not only do you get a list of the closest sushi places along with customer ratings ... but one of them offers you a 20% off coupon.

You decide to go there, and you also "check in" on Foursquare or Gowalla. One of your fans lives nearby, sees that you are there, and stops by to meet you. A new friendship blooms, and that person brings three more people to your show later that night.

This is just one example, but I hope you can see the potential value of location-based marketing.

Yes, I know it's one more thing you have to add to your overflowing plate. And yes, there are privacy concerns and other issues you must consider. But ...

If you want to stay on top of trends and use them to share your music with more people, this is something to be aware of and act on.

-Bob

Welcome to a New Kind of Multimedia Learning Experience for 2010

The Virtual Music Coach

Chat Roulette Piano Improv Viral Video

2010-03-17T11:19:00.001-05:00

Have you heard of Chat Roulette? It's the latest web site to create a major buzz in a very short period of time.

In a nutshell, Chat Roulette allows anyone with a webcam to log on and randomly be connected live with other people on the site one by one. If you don't like who you're connected to, you click "Next" and get another random paring.

It's been widely covered (and made fun of) in the media. But I, along with a lot of online marketing people, thought it was a flash-in-the-pan novelty site with no possible self-promotion value. How could you possibly make use of such random connections?

Well, my view of that unraveled once I saw this YouTube video of a piano-playing musician named Merton. He does a wonderful and hilarious job of improvising songs based on the people he's randomly connected with.

His first video clip, called Chat Roulette Funny Piano Improv #1, was just uploaded on March 11. In six days it racked up one and a half MILLION views. Coverage on Mashable, the Huffington Post, and many other web sites has certainly fueled Merton's sudden burst of exposure.

Here's the marketing lesson ...

If you can be the first person to do something funny and cool with a new site or gadget that is creating a buzz, you will be rewarded. There's power in first-mover status.

Also, use what's given to you and don't be blinded by tunnel-vision. I looked at the limited qualities of Chat Roulette and didn't see it as a music promotion tool at all. But Merton opened his mind and asked a better question:

"How can I use the random nature of this site (and the buzz it's creating) in a new and amusing way?"

And the roulette aspect of the site lent itself perfectly to the music improvisation format. Brilliant! Of course, Merton also had to be talented and quick on his feet to make this work.

Two questions for you:

What new site, gadget or buzz-producing topic could you capitalize on?

How could you use the unique qualities of Twitter, Facebook, the new iPad, or any other trending topic in a clever and musical way?

-Bob

Update: YouTube pulled Merton’s first video when it reached around 4.5 million views. He made the requested changes and uploaded it again. The new version of his first video has already been viewed 1.5 million times. He just posted a second improv piano video on his YouTube channel.

Featured Resource

Music Publicity Crash Course

Are you confused about Internet promotion? Not sure where to start? You'll have a clear vision and a solid game plan once you digest this amazing collection of resources.

Learn More ...

The Time Factor: Are You Giving Yourself Enough?

2010-02-26T11:49:00.000-06:00

Are you giving yourself time to develop -- and the space to experiment, screw up, and grow?

I just finished reading Steve Martin's book, Born Standing Up, and it really opened my mind to this important factor.

I was at the perfect age to appreciate Martin when he burst onto the national scene as that "wild and crazy guy" in the late '70s. I ate up his absurd appearances on Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show, recited his bits with my friends, and saw him perform live at an arena in St. Louis.

But, as is the case with all overnight success stories, it took him decades to get there. In the book, Martin details his early years doing magic at Disneyland and Knott's Berry Farm, and struggling with his unusual act in front of empty rooms and apathetic patrons at folk music venues in California.

By his late 20s, he was on the road a lot and treating his performances like a science project -- recording his act, measuring audience responses, experimenting with timing, honing his physical gestures, while gaining (and losing) confidence along the way.

These sure but steady improvements earned him more opportunities, and when he finally made it into the greater public awareness, he was well oiled and ready to deliver.

Compare that to the early rounds of American Idol, where kids who have barely spent any time on a stage are expected to stand up and deliver star power quality to millions on live TV.

That's insane. No doubt, some have a better handle on delivering the sound, the look, and the swagger ... but to expect much more out of them without years of work is nonsense.

In his book Outliers, Malcolm Gladwell says that on average it takes 10,000 hours to master any craft. And getting in that many hours of practice can take 10 or more years.

Which leads back to some variations on my opening question ...

Are you giving yourself time to develop?

Are you putting in the time? For songwriting? For performing live? For recording? For self-promotion?

Are you giving yourself the space and room to experiment, to screw up, to learn, and to grow?

-Bob

Related links:

Born Standing Up by Steve Martin

Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell

Charlie Rose video interview with Steve Martin

NPR interview with Steve Martin

Arts Journal blog post on Malcolm Gladwell's 10,000 hours

The Kama Sutra of Music Marketing

2010-02-22T15:02:00.000-06:00

When was the last time you thought about music promotion and romance at the same time? Been a while? Well, by the time you finish reading this post, you may do it more often. (Thinking about the combination, that is. How often you "do it" is up to you :-)
This whole idea started when I ran across an article by Desiree Gullan called "The Kama Sutra of Marketing." (In case you don't know, the Kuma Sutra is an ancient Indian text widely considered to be the first manual on love and human sexuality.)

It reminded me of an analogy I've often used: Marketing is a lot like dating.

But most self-promoting musicians don't think of it that way. And because of that, they struggle to get noticed, connect with fans, and make more money.

So, here are some valuable lessons from the world of romance you can apply to your music promotion efforts:

1) Don't settle for just anyone -- search for your music fan soul mates

You've heard the jokes. "He's not Mr. Right, but he's Mr. Right Now." When dating, especially if people feel desperate, they settle. Instead of finding the right match, they pursue relationships that have little long-term potential. "Well, it's better than being alone," they say.

Do you do the same with your music promotion? Are you out to catch the interest of anyone who will listen? Or are you more discerning? The best way to proceed with a music career is to first decide who your ideal fan is. Who is your music-related soul mate?

How old are they? Do they tend to be male or female? Where do they hang out online and off? Where do they shop? What magazines, blogs and web sites do they read?

Get a handle on who you want to attract. Then focus on reaching only those types of people.

2) Get to know your fans first

What do you do on a first date with someone you really think has potential? Do you talk endlessly about yourself and how great you are? Or do you listen a lot and have a two-way dialogue?

Sadly, most people feel the need to impress others with how cool they are. So they launch into a laundry list of everything they've ever accomplished in their lives. Unfortunately, this approach leaves the other person feeling more neglected than impressed.

It's the same with music promotion. It's not all about you and your needs. Get to know your audience and what their interests and concerns are. Listen more than you talk. Share some of yourself and your story as you get to know them better. Give your fans a chance to know, like and trust you.

3) Don't forget foreplay

Okay. You're excited. You met someone new who really likes you. You anticipate the potential pleasure you will both experience together so much, you can taste it. It's time to move in for the grand finale, right?

Wait! Hold your horses, Casanova Carl (or Valerie Vixen). Ease into the blessed event. Warm each other up first.

From a marketing standpoint, that means you don't have to be so quick to ask for the sale. Wine and dine your fans (figuratively) before you flash your "Buy Now" button. Tease them a little with samples and insights into your songs. Leave them wanting more!

Consumers generally need to be exposed to something they enjoy 7 to 10 times before they get out their wallet or credit card to make a purchase. So expect and allow for this delayed gratification as you promote yourself.

4) Be a great music lover

When the time comes to consummate the relationship, make sure you deliver the best goods you can. Make it a joyful and stimulating experience for all concerned -- one your fans will remember (and maybe even tell many others about) for years to come.

That means you must create an unforgettable experience (be it a CD, music download or live show) filled with benefits that make each fan feel good. Make yours the best music in your genre. Thrill your fan partners so much, they'll want to recreate the experience again and again.

That's your goal as a self-promoting musician: Create moments your fans will want to duplicate over and over -- all the while telling their friends about you and the great time they had.

5) Contact them and ask for another date

Finally, don't leave your fans hanging after your first meaningful encounter. Get back in touch soon to thank them and let them know how much you enjoyed the experience.

This means you must follow up after the sale or the live show. Why? Because, if it was good for both of you, you want the relationship to continue. You want to interact more and enjoy more positive experiences (including music and merchandise sales) together.

Therefore, you must put a huge emphasis on building and using a fan mailing list. Capture the name and email address of everyone who has a positive experience with your music. Then input those details into a database and send messages to your fan list on a regular basis.

See, there is a connection between the Kama Sutra and music marketing.

So, from now on, when you're engaged in music promotion activities, I encourage you to think about dating and making love.

But vice versa ... you might think twice about that one :-)

-Bob

Get your FREE copy of my Music Marketing Secrets special report. It shows you how to get more exposure, attract more fans, and sell more music! Go here to grab your copy now ...

9 Places to Find Affordable Graphic Design

2010-02-16T11:16:00.000-06:00

Need to have some good-looking artwork done for your next T-shirt, poster, or album cover?

No sweat. These days there are dozens of web sites where designers and other creative freelancers can be found.
Here are 9 of the best ones I found that cater to graphic designers:

Crowdspring.com
Set your price & deadline. Choose from actual custom design work submitted by freelancers.

99designs.com
Works a lot like Crowdspring above.

GeniusRocket.com
Ditto for this one too.

Threadless.com
A site where hundreds of designers submit t-shirt art.

DeviantArt.com
A place where visual artists showcase and sell their work. A good place to discover a fresh indie designer for your project.

These next two sites are focused more on logo design:

LogoTournament.com

DesignContest.net

Of course, you can also find good, affordable designers at the bigger freelance marketplace sites, such as:

Elance.com

Guru.com

Happy design hunting!

-Bob

Welcome to a New Kind of Multimedia Learning Experience for 2010

The Virtual Music Coach

Can You Handle What They'll Say About You?

2010-02-11T12:03:00.007-06:00

One of the highlights of the movie Spiritual Liberation for me was when Michael Beckwith asked, "Will you be able to handle what people say about you when you start to let your light shine?"

That question hit home with me just the other day. And I bet there are times when it has (or will) hit home for you too.

I'll explain. But first a little background ...

This year my goal is to step things up and expand. To try new things and formats, to impact more people, to crank out more useful resources, etc.

One of the factors that led to this new level of inspiration is my involvement with a mastermind group of local friends in St. Louis. We meet about every three weeks and listen, encourage and inspire each other.

Among other things, my mastermind pals have encouraged me to play an even bigger game, realize my true worth, and step into a greater expression of who I am -- things we should all be encouraged to do.

That led to the launch of my new Virtual Music Coach site last month. And just the other day, I sent an email to my whole list about another new way I can serve: a four-week Guerrilla Music Marketing Mastermind & Brainstorming Group project, limited to 10 people.

I wanted to extend that mastermind group vibe I've enjoyed so much to a conference call environment. I was excited about it and a bit apprehensive, wondering what kind of response I'd get.

Here are examples of the types of email reactions I've received so far:

"Great idea, Bob! I'm VERY interested in this. I hope I'm one of the lucky 10!"
"Sure. I'm game."
"I'm very interested, but I can't afford it right now. Maybe in a couple months."
"A little pricey, don't you think?"
"I'm very interested, but I don't want to pay. With my experience level, I'd be a great asset to the group. You should comp me in."
"This is a terrible idea! I can't believe you would charge people for such a mundane service. I'm tired of everyone trying to make a buck by any means necessary. Take me off your email list!"

Hmmm ...

So, which of these reactions should I pay attention to? Which ones are valid?

The truth is, they are ALL valid. They are very real for each person who took the time to respond. Each one represents that person's reality.

So, as the creative person stepping out to try something new, how do I handle this variety of opinions?

Actually, I honor them all. But I have no choice but to focus my efforts on the people who see the value and resonate with my message.

I read, respect and consider the other responses. But I don't allow them to take hold and create fear and limitations in my thinking. I won't water down my ambitions or lower my prices on this particular offering (since I have tons of no-cost and low-cost resources that make up for it).

The real question is ...

How will YOU handle what people say about you when you start to let YOUR light shine?

By being scared and apprehensive? By playing small so you don't offend anyone?

Or ... by being the empowered artist that you are!

-Bob

P.S. Luckily, it appears I have about 35 people who are genuinely excited and interested in getting one of the 10 spots. Wish me luck as I explore this new way to serve.

Question mark clipart above from Clipartheaven.com.

What Should I Ask Music Biz Innovator Terry McBride Today?

2010-02-03T12:32:00.002-06:00

Later today I'll speak with Terry McBride during a live online radio show. In 1984, Terry co-founded Nettwerk Music Group from his apartment in Vancouver.

In the 26 years since then, the company has released over 500 albums and sold more than 150 million copies worldwide. Nettwerk manages the careers of Sarah McLachlan, Jamiroquai, Stereophonics, Jars of Clay, and many others. He also co-founded the Lilith Fair, which will return in 2010.

In recent years, Terry has been outspoken about advances in digital technology and the future of music. He's been covered in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Wired magazine. He also gave a presentation at TEDxVancouver recently (watch the video here).

Terry will be the guest today on David Mathison's show on Blog Talk Radio. David, who is a media expert and author of "Be the Media," has asked me to co-host the show with him. I'm thrilled. I've been following Terry McBride's new ideas about music consumption and distribution for years, but have never met him. This will be a treat.

The show streams live online from 5 to 6 PM EST today (Feb 3) from this page. Or use this player:

So, what should I ask him?

David and I already have a good list of questions ready. But in case we're overlooking something, what would you ask Terry McBride if you had the chance?

Leave a comment below and let me know. But do it quick! The show starts in a few hours.

If you miss the live stream, you can always listen to it later on this page.

-Bob

Posterous: How to Post Super Easy Multimedia Updates Online

2010-01-29T09:23:00.000-06:00

Would you like a quick and easy way to post photos, audio and even video clips online? And be able to automatically post links to them on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and more? Without spending a dime?

Then you should take a look at Posterous.com.

Here's why, along with a quick history lesson ...

Blogs, MP3 audio files, and streaming video have been around for several years. Over the last couple of years the short Twitter text update (which has been adopted by Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, and more) became a more prominent way that people communicate online.

Makes sense. Few technical skills are required and it hardly takes any time to post something.

But instead of posting just simple text announcments all the time, people started linking to longer and more in-depth sources within their tweets and updates. This led to the popularity of URL shortener sites like Tinyurl.com and Bit.ly, which make it easy to fit live links within 140 characters.

Great. But the content you linked to had to be hosted somewhere. If you created a new video, you had to upload it to YouTube first. Then you had to convert the YouTube page address to a shorter URL. Then you posted an announcement with a link to the video.

Same thing with audio content. Create the MP3 (usually of your music), post it on your blog or MySpace page, shorten the URL, then post a link to it on Twitter.

That's a lot of steps just to send people to hear and see your newest stuff.

Now, TwitPic.com has been around for a while. This site allows you to email or upload photos, and the service automatically posts a short link to them with your quick description.

That's cool. But what if you could also do that with audio and video files? That's why Posterous is such a great no-cost service.

All you do is email a file to post@posterous.com. It will host the file and create a simple blog page for it. It will turn your audio and video files into streaming players. It even hosts Doc, PDF, and PowerPoint files.

Set up a Posterous account and you can even set it up to autopost to Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and other social sites. It even creates the shortened URL for you. Super simple.

See how I used it to post multimedia updates during my recent trip to Los Angeles and San Diego. Just visit bob-baker.posterous.com and scroll through the first three pages to see photos and video of Jason Mraz performing, Chaka Kahn rehearsing, Bootsy Collins, Chad Smith of Red Hot Chili Peppers, singer Andrae Crouch, and more -- as well as audio updates during my travels.

The main drawback is that you can't embed the files you send to Posterous on other web sites. But it's still a pretty cool service.

I bet you're already thinking about how you can use it to communicate more quickly and easily with your fans.

-Bob

Featured Resource

Internet Music Marketing Crash Course

Are you confused about Internet promotion? Not sure where to start? You'll have a clear vision and a solid game plan once you digest this amazing collection of resources.

Learn More ...

'Pants on the Ground' & the American Idol Meme

2010-01-20T14:52:00.001-06:00

Just got back home from an amazing week in Southern California where I attended the NAMM Show, spoke to an enthusiastic songwriters group in San Diego, and sat in with the Agape Choir to back up Chaka Khan and other wonderful singers during a benefit for Haiti.

While I was there the latest season of American Idol started. Even if you don't watch it and don't care, you may have heard the latest viral buzz about 62-year-old "General" Larry Platt. He auditioned for the show with a hilarious original hip-hop song called "Pants on the Ground."

If you missed it, watch it here.

The thing about pop culture memes like this (see this Wikipedia page for a definition) is that they provide great opportunities for smart artists to jump on them and get a temporary exposure boost.

Jimmy Fallon saw the light and did a spoof of Neil Young singing "Pants on the Ground." Funny stuff. See it here.

But what about indie acts? The best example I've found so far was created by DeStorm, who does a great video and audio remix version of "Pants on the Ground" on this page.

He even offers a free download of the track. I'm sure there are others doing this too, but it illustrates the point ...

Keep your eyes and ears open to new trends and hot topics. If there's a way to create something that's funny or amusing or that reinforces your musical identity to new fans ... jump on it while it's hot and buzz-worthy!

-Bob

P.S. Don't forget to wear a belt and ... keep your pants off the ground!

Welcome to a New Kind of Multimedia Learning Experience for 2010

The Virtual Music Coach

Avatar 3D and Your Multimedia Future

2010-01-11T13:58:00.000-06:00

Pooki and I saw the much talked about "Avatar" movie in 3D last night. Usually, when something is that hyped and described by friends in such glowing terms, your expectations are so high, the thing doesn't live up to it.

But the Avatar movie certainly did!

I'm sure the regular movie would have been great too, but seeing it in 3D really opening my eyes (so to speak) to what the future of entertainment holds in store. It was visually stunning and the most realistic computer generated images I've ever seen.

And the plot was filled with something for everyone: action, adventure, romance, anti-war and anti-greed sentiments, an environmental message, and even spiritual themes. Oh yeah, and lots of scary creatures and stuff that blows up!

It's interesting that I saw Avatar on the last day of the annual Consumer Electronics Show (CES), where this year lots of new gadgets were introduced -- including new 3D televisions for the home.

As I mentioned last week, there are also new portable hand-held devices hitting the market that will act as mini multimedia centers. Much like the iPhone and Blackberry, you'll be able to surf the Internet, watch movies and TV shows, read ebooks, listen to audio, record and edit videos, and much more.

Sure, these things exist now, but the technology is becoming even more impressive, powerful and accessible to millions of people.

Are you feeding your fans through these new channels?

That's exactly why I just launched my new Virtual Music Coach web site, where I'm starting to offer online programs that deliver my message in multiple ways: text, audio, and video.

Sure, I'm a writer, and I could stay in my comfort zone and continue to just publish paper books and ebooks. But if I did, I'd miss an opportunity to inspire a LOT more people who prefer getting information by other means.

I encourage you not to get stuck in an outdated mode either. Embrace the new technologies. Use them yourself. See how other artists are using them. And start working them into the way you communicate with your fans.

FYI, here's a list of new gadget highlights from this year's CES.

To your multimedia success!

-Bob

Are You Ready for the Next Little Thing?

2010-01-07T11:44:00.001-06:00

The Consumer Electronics Show is taking place over the next few days in Las Vegas. According to an article on MSNBC ...

"After years of being about the Next Big Thing, the annual International Consumer Electronics Show this week is all about the next little thing - small-in-one devices that are blurring the distinctions among tiny netbook computers, dedicated media players, e-book readers and cell phones."

But it was these sentences that really caught my eye:

"... content is the new king. As different people use electronics in different ways, publishers [and anyone who creates "content," like musicians] are under the gun to deliver whatever content people want on whatever devices they have."

So, are you meeting your fans where YOU want them to, based on YOUR idea of what the right platform is?

Or ... are you meeting your fans where they ARE?

Think about the next little thing as you plan your music promotion in 2010.

-Bob

P.S. Put your music marketing on steroids! Visit my new project: The Virtual Music Coach.

3 Keys to Easy Goal Setting in 2010

2010-01-04T12:48:00.001-06:00

It's not only a new year, it's also the beginning of a new decade! What a great time to renew your commitment to letting your musical light shine and living to your fullest potential.

There's a good chance you've already set some goals for 2010 and are using a planning system of some type to make sure you stay on track. If so, congrats to you!

If not, that OK too. Getting clear about who you are and how you want to grow is something you can do at any time of the year -- whenever the time is right for you.

Photo by Cliff Muller
But I'd like to share a simple way to look at your life and music career in a way that will make it easier to set meaningful goals. This is something I learned from Jim Bunch when I attended one of his Ultimate Game of Life workshops.

Here's the essence of it ...

All the goals you will ever want to achieve can basically be broken down into three key areas of life:

Goals that make you happy
Goals that make you healthy
Goals that make you wealthy

Jim calls it the Happy, Healthy, Wealthy Game. Looking at my life and livelihood in this manner really resonates with me. Perhaps it will with you too.

Too often our goals are focused on only one or two of the three areas. Some really ambitious people just play the Wealthy, Wealthy, Wealthy Game ... and ignore their happiness and health.

Some people who might be described as "slackers" will mainly play the Happy, Happy, Happy Game ... and downplay their health and ability to make money.

Still others focus on health and their appearance at the expense of the other categories.

The trick is finding a balance between all three. Although Jim says that "Happy" is listed first for a reason. It's the area of life most people overlook in the pursuit of achieving their material goals.

I love that idea. Because you're sense of joy and well-being gives you the juice to pursue the other areas of your life -- and music career.

Here are some examples from my own Happy, Healthy and Wealthy goals for the new year:

Happy

- Meditate every morning and enjoy the benefits of a clear mind
- Spend meaningful time with Pooki, my daughter, and good friends every week
- Write, record and/or perform one new song every month

Healthy

- Hit the treadmill and make a health shake every morning
- Do some strength training for 20 to 30 minutes three times a week
- Get up from the computer once every hour to stretch and move

Wealthy

- Write, publish and promote two new books this year
- Go through my audio and video archives and create at least five new info-products this year
- Pay off the Visa card bill and home equity loan

Now get out a notebook or journal, or open a new document on your computer. Type in the three category headings: Happy, Healthy and Wealthy. Then start adding meaningful goals in each of the three areas. And make certain there's an equal balance between them all.

Do this -- really do this! -- and you'll have a happier, healthier and wealthier year in 2010.

-Bob

P.S. Would you like a virtual music coach to inspire you with new marketing ideas? If so, check out my new venture here ...

New Holiday Music Videos From Me to You

2009-12-21T15:06:00.000-06:00

As we head through this week leading up to Christmas, I want to share with you two new holiday music videos from a recent live performance.

In this first one, I sing my favorite rendition of "White Christmas" (from the Elvis Presley Christmas album) as Pooki gracefully does a hula dance. It's beautiful and funny all at the same time.

We keep the Hawaiian theme going with our version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" -- with musical help from my daughter Kelli and her friend Brianna.

These two new videos are different from our popular family holiday videos of the past. We still haven't been able to top this one from 2007:

Have a great holiday season, and whatever you do, have fun with your friends, fans and family. It's what makes life worth living!

-Bob

10 Music Links Worth Tweeting About

2009-12-12T16:21:00.003-06:00

Do you ever run out of things to tweet about?
Beyond telling people what you're eating for lunch and plugging tonight's gig, one effective way to use Twitter is to share useful and inspiring links with your followers. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that's exactly what I do several times a day -- every day.

For your tweeting convenience, here are ten quick blurbs and links to recent blog posts and podcasts of mine (that easily fit into the 140-character maximum). Just copy and paste as many as you want, whenever you want, into your Twitter account.

Of course, you can also post them on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, and more too :-)

7 Ways to Destroy Your Music Career http://bit.ly/80PZX via @MrBuzzFactor

Great Podcast: "How to Create a Buying Frenzy" http://bit.ly/uqny3 RT @MrBuzzFactor

12 Keys to Building a Thriving Music Career http://bit.ly/4ys2PZ via @MrBuzzFactor

Made-To-Stick Music Marketing http://bit.ly/3TcL9L via @MrBuzzFactor

7 Simple But Effective Steps to Reaching Your Music Career Goals http://bit.ly/46qkDK RT @MrBuzzFactor

Podcast: "How to Get Motivated When You're in a Slump" http://bit.ly/8ZuQEl via @MrBuzzFactor

Great Question for Musicians: What Are You Pretending to NOT Know? http://bit.ly/68D4Hm via @MrBuzzFactor

FREE Sample of "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet" at http://bit.ly/2jLpAy RT @MrBuzzFactor

Is Your Music 'Findable' Online? http://bit.ly/9RbUW via @MrBuzzFactor

5 Music Career Success Questions You Need to Answer http://bit.ly/3b4BDM via @MrBuzzFactor

Happy tweeting!

-Bob

Featured Resource

Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook

201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Songwriters, Musicians and Bands on a Budget

Learn More or Order Now

What Are You Pretending to NOT Know?

2009-12-07T14:35:00.004-06:00

Seriously. How are you deluding yourself ... and what is it costing you?

In the 1990s, back when I published a local music magazine in St. Louis, I remember feeling so frustrated at times. Especially when certain businesses wouldn't advertise in my publication or sponsor music events I put on.

"What's their problem?" I would whine. Didn't they see all the work I'd put in to create a great resource? Can't a guy with a good idea get a break in this town?

Of course, I really knew the answers.

In some situations, the business and the event simply weren't a good match. I may have wanted their participation, but from their perspective, they needed to allocate their limited marketing dollars to other things. There was a part of my brain that realized that, but I paid no attention to it.

In other situations, I simply hadn't put in the time to develop the relationships that other media people had. Therefore, I didn't get those ad dollars. I even told myself many times how I needed to get out and meet with more potential advertisers and sponsors. But I rarely acted on it. And as a result, I lost out on some business.

I knew what the problems (and the solutions) were. But I chose to ignore them, get frustrated, and chalk it up to other factors that were out of my control.

In other words, I was pretending to not know something ... when I actually knew it all along.

So, what are YOU pretending to not know?

For instance, you know ... people are easily distracted and that it can take a number of follow-up attempts before you get a response from somebody.

Yet ... you give up after one attempt to reach someone and complain about the lack of response.

You know ... what inspires you and your friends to support a new artist and buy their music.

Yet ... you act as if you have no idea how to promote your own music and connect with fans.

You know ... the importance of spending time practicing and writing new material.

Yet ... you settle for mediocre performances and songs that "will do" when you put out new music.

You know ... how you like to be treated and communicated with when someone has something of value for you.

Yet ... you pretend to have no clue about how to leave a voice mail message or send an email to someone who can help you.

I guarantee, you know way more than you give yourself credit for.

So, I ask you again:

What are you pretending to NOT know?

-Bob

Get a Sneak Peek at My New Project for 2010

The Virtual Music Coach

12 Keys to Building a Thriving Music Career

2009-11-25T08:35:00.000-06:00

1) Embrace the New Gatekeepers

2) Understand the Real Key to Creative Success and Fulfillment

3) Treat Every Day Like You're Bill Murray in 'Groundhog Day'

4) Carve Out Your Slice of the Pie

5) Have Specific and Measurable Goals

6) Engage Your Fans and Get Personal

7) Question Everything You're Ever Been Told About the Music Business

8) Learn How to Deal With Criticism, Bad Reviews and Rejection

9) Define Your Musical Identity

10) Put Fringe Fans in Their Proper Place

11) Let Go of Your Need for Certainty

12) Have a Meaningful Purpose That Drives You

-Bob

P.S. Get music marketing and career tips like these 3 or 4 times a months when you subscribe to my Buzz Factor Ezine. I've been publishing it since 1995. Thousands of indie artists and promoters from around the world get my latest ideas and resources nearly every week. Get yours too!

Go to this page and sign up now. Lots of useful, no-cost perks when you do. Details here.

7 Simple But Effective Steps to Reaching Your Music Career Goals

2009-11-18T10:31:00.001-06:00

Last week I posted this question on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites:

What's the #1 Thing That Keeps You From Reaching Your Music Goals?
I received a flood of great responses, most of which I posted here. I encourage you to look over the list and see how many of them you can relate to. But don't use the list to get comfortable and think, "I'm in good company when I don't reach my goals, so I should just relax."

Instead, use the list to realize that you are not alone when it comes to distractions, resistance, and excuses. People who succeed at greater levels don't have some secret code and aren't immune to the everyday obstacles we all encounter.

What they do have is a different mindset and a different approach compared to the masses that get lulled into accepting stagnation as a way of life.

Since this is such a widespread issue (and one I wrestle with myself), I wanted to share my version of the Cycle of Success -- a concept I first heard from Jack Canfield. It's a bare-bones outline of the simple steps you must take to accomplish worthy goals. It may appear simplistic at first glance. But I ask you ...

Honestly, how well do you embrace each of these steps ... and on which ones do you typically get hung up?

1) Decide

The first step to reaching any goal is to know where you're headed. The clearer the target, the more purposeful your actions will be. That's why the first step to accomplishment is to set a specific, measurable goal (or set of goals). "Be a successful musician" is a nice idea, but it's a fuzzy goal. A more concrete goal would be "Perform four live shows a month that generate $3,000 in total revenue" or "Sell $1,500 a month in live show CD/merchandise sales and $1,000 a month in digital downloads." Decide what you want and be crystal clear about what it is.

2) Plan

Once you know exactly what you want, the next step is to craft an action plan that will move you toward it. Take some time to brainstorm on paper. Make lists of the different types of activities you will need to engage in to reach the goal. Who will you need to contact, what do you need to learn, and what tools will help you get there? Work backwards from the goal and determine the specific steps you'll need to take.

3) Start

Now it's time to dive into the step that holds back most human beings: taking action! Look over your grand plan and ask yourself, "What's the very first thing I need to do in each category?" Focus only on those initial things and ... do them! Don't worry about the entire project or the immensity of your goal. Just do the very thing that needs to be done today: make a phone call, send an email, design a web page, repair your equipment, or sit down to write a new song (or finish one you started).

4) Continue

Taking those initial actions in the Start phase may actually come easy if you're exciting about the goal. Your enthusiasm is running high and you're eager to get busy. But what happens after a week or two, when other life demands grab center stage or when you don't make as much progress toward the goal as you had hoped? This step is another biggie that trips up many musicians. But people who succeed muscle through the distractions and "continue" taking action, even when they're short on time and energy. If your goal is truly important, you will find time to chip away at it and make progress -- on a consistent basis.

5) Evaluate

If you get this far, congratulations! You've accomplished more than the majority of creative people (as sad as that is to say). You have decided what you want, created an action plan, started taking action, and have continued to work toward it, despite many temptations to do otherwise. Now you must take a little time to measure the results of your efforts. Don't just stay busy for the sake of movement without knowing how effective your actions are. Are you moving closer to the goal, or further away? What has brought the best results? Now is the time to evaluate your progress.

6) Adjust

Once you look at the actions you've taken thus far and measure the results (as in number of live shows booked, number of new fans on your mailing list, amount of music and merch sold, etc.), you'll have a clearer picture of where you stand. Then look over your plan and tweak it. How you do that is super simple: Do more of what's working and less of what isn't working. Also, this is a good time to introduce a new goal or strategy that makes sense based on what you've learned from your actions so far.

7) Continue

Once again, consistent action and progress is key. So with your adjusted plan in hand, continue to move forward. Another trait that will help you in this phase is the ability to simultaneously see two contrasting perspectives: 1) Keep the big picture vision alive of where you are headed -- the specific and measurable goal you have set, and 2) Focus on the micro task at hand and realize where you actually are on the path. There will almost always be a wide gap between where you are and where you want to be. But don't let that disparity frustrate you. Instead, let it pull you toward the goal even more fervently.

Bonus Step: Repeat Steps 5 through 7. From here on out, your progress will be a series of evaluating your efforts, adjusting your goals and action plans, and getting busy pursuing them again.

There you have it: 7 Simple But Effective Steps to Reaching Your Music Career Goals.

Are you truly incorporating all of the steps? Where do you get hung up the most? Did I miss anything? Let me know in the Comments section below.

-Bob

Featured Resource

Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook

201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Songwriters, Musicians and Bands on a Budget

Learn More or Order Now

What Keeps You From Reaching Your Goals?

2009-11-12T16:25:00.002-06:00

I posted this question on Facebook, Twitter, and other social networking sites this week and got a flood of great responses.

Below you'll find a summary of the top reasons people cite for falling short of their goals and not making as much progress as they'd like.

Recognize any of them?

Lack of time
Lack of money
Lack of confidence
Self-sabotage
Not setting goals to begin with
Not planning well enough
Procrastination
Having too many goals
Not prioritizing my goals
Spreading myself too thin
Lame but convenient excuses
Popular trends not going my way
Not knowing where to start
My day job
Not putting what I know into action
The government and its stupid rules
Setting really BIG goals
Perfectionism
Fear of failure
Not knowing how to raise things to the next level
Clutter
Me, Myself, My own mind
Facebook

If I missed something, please add your own obstacle in the Comments section below. Also leave some extra thoughts on what holds you back, along with any tips you have to overcome these hurdles.

I'll post my own ways of conquering these personal demons in future blog posts, and may even turn this into an ebook some day.

-Bob

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7 Ways to Destroy Your Music Career

2009-11-03T08:52:00.001-06:00

Everybody wants to know the easy, proven steps to music success. Therefore, every expert offers tips and strategies to help you reach your goals -- including me.

Well, it's time to shake things up and serve a new audience -- which explains why this post takes a look at the dark side: How to ruin your music career in seven easy steps ...

1) Give Away Your Personal Power

The first step to destroying your music career is to realize that your destiny is in the hands of other people and circumstances beyond your control. Fully embrace the fact that you need to be in the right place at the right time to get your "lucky break" and be "discovered."

Industry people and music critics must deem you worthy of success for you to have value as a musician. Also, cling to the belief that all the answers are "out there" somewhere and you will be incredibly successful at failure.

2) Turn Marketing, Promotion and Sales Into a Huge Burden

Do you really wanna fall flat fast? Then start referring to marketing as a "necessary evil" quick. Realize that you don't have what it takes to "sell yourself" and reach more fans. In fact, there's probably a biological reason you hate promotion: you were born without the critical marketing gene that all those "gift of gab" people have. Therefore, you are destined to live a lifetime of hardship as you struggle with having to engage in the ugly chore of self-promotion.

3) Be Fearful of Being Perceived as a Greedy, Capitalist Pig

Paranoia will go a long way to helping you fall short of a thriving music career -- especially when it comes to earning money. Just know that every one of your fans is watching you and waiting to jump ship the second they smell any scent of capitalism. Therefore, if you make any sales pitches at all, they better be so low key as to be barely perceptible.

In fact, it would be best not to even make people aware that you have things for sale. Just wait till they come to you. If they're interested, they'll ask. And if you want to score extra points, when they do ask, tell them you left all your CDs and T-shirts at home.

4) Use a Lack of Time, Money and Connections as Your Biggest Excuse

Here's a surefire way to go down in flames. Have convenient scapegoats based on scarcity. Tell anyone who asks (as well as a lot of people who don't ask or care) how lousy your career is because of all the lack in your life. Frequently use phrases such as "There aren't enough hours in the day," "If I had that kind of money, I'd be a rock star too," and "It's not what you know, it's who you know." To spice things up, every now and then throw in an angry reference to "The man."

5) Market Yourself to the Faceless Masses Using Traditional Big Media

Why spend all that time dealing one on one with fans, when someday someone could just throw a bunch of money (you know, the funds you don't have enough of now) into a massive marketing campaign? Realize that it takes big bucks spent on radio promotion, retail placement, billboards, and paid display ads in national magazines to succeed. This mass media mindset is your ticket to success ... at hitting the fast track to failure.

Bonus tip: Never answer your email from fans, and rarely -- if ever -- log into your Facebook, MySpace or Twitter accounts. Better yet, don't even start these accounts.

6) Promote Yourself Sporadically and Only When It's Urgent

If you have a mailing list (and with sucky email delivery and open rates these days, why bother?), be sure the fans on your list don't hear from you very often. One of the best "road to ruin" marketing tactics is blasting your fans with urgent "come to my show" or "buy my new album now" messages when they haven't heard from you in months. Your ultimate goal is have fans read your promotions and go, "Who is this band again?"

7) Know That Everyone Owes You Something Simply Because You Exist

I've saved the best way to destroy your music career for last. Simply know that everyone will care as much about you and your music as you do. Understand that complete strangers will indeed listen to every note of your 70-minute concept album and read every word of your 10-page bio. Be sure to send long, in-depth emails and leave lengthy, rambling voice mail messages for the imbeciles who don't recognize your greatness. Also, be sure to insult anyone who doesn't get back to you within 10 minutes.

There you have it -- the top seven ways to ruin your music career.

So ... what are you waiting for? Now get out there and demote yourself!!!

-Bob

Featured Resource

Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook

201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Songwriters,
Musicians and Bands on a Budget

Learn More or Order Now

John Mayer, Augmented Reality, Music & You

2009-10-27T19:03:00.000-05:00

Ready for the next generation of computer interactivity? Say hello to Augmented Reality! And start thinking about how you might some day use it to promote your music.
Not sure what it is? Don't worry. It's only recently become a hot buzz word (or phrase), even though the term has been around since about 1992.

Here's the most basic way to describe it: Augmented Reality (AR) involves the combination of real-world, real-time activity with computer-generated elements. It's the merging of the real and virtual worlds.

If you watch pro football on TV, you are probably familiar with the yellow first down line that appears across the playing field on your screen. The field and the players are real. The yellow line is artificially created to "augment" your perception of what is happening during the game.

John Mayer made news last week when he released the first AR music video. If you think this is like those JibJab or dancing elves videos where you insert your face into a motion picture, think again. With those, you take a still picture of yourself that was taken in the past and insert it into a video that can be shared with others.

That can be a lot of fun, but Augmented Reality takes it a step further by inserting people into videos in real time using only a webcam and a simple physical "marker."

Here are the instructions from Mayer's web site:

To view this augmented reality, you must have the special Battle Studies icon. You can print this PDF (or open it on your mobile device).
Turn on your computer's sound and webcam and turn off any pop-up blockers.
Wait for the flash player to load (if prompted, authorize access to your webcam).
Make sure the icon on your screen and the image you are holding are completely lined up (and don't move the icon until you see John).
Enjoy the experience of augmented reality!

I haven't tried it myself yet, but apparently the live video captured through your webcam becomes part of Mayer's music video -- in real time. (Here's a video that shows a similar process.) Talk about interactive!

Honestly, I'm not sure yet how you go about creating an AR video on an indie budget, or even who offers this service yet. But I wanted to at least bring this technology to your attention.

Here are a few other articles on the topic:

John Mayer’s Augmented Reality Video Puts Fans in Picture

Lost Valentinos Augmented Reality Music Video

How Augmented Reality Works

Wikipedia's Augmented reality page

Augmented reality's time is coming thanks to smarter smartphones

-Bob