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Column Archive |
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November, 2007 |
"Holiday Marketing" |
by Webmaster |
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I was at Acoustic Music Revival recently. They are busily stocking the store with instruments, amplifiers and accessories and looking forward to a busy season. In a recent e-mail from Disc Makers, they wrote, "The time to make money through CD sales is fast approaching: more CDs and DVDs are sold between Thanksgiving and Christmas than at any other time of the year!" As professional musicians, we need to be aware of this when we perform and when we email our fans to tell them about our gigs. Our fans are the logical place to start marketing: they already like us and probably have our CD(s). Why not plant the idea that our CD's will make excellent gifts? I am as guilty, or maybe more guilty, as anyone of being lax about marketing my CDs. Most of the time, I forget to bring them to gigs. Then, when I'm at the gigs, I don't remind people that I have the CDs with me. I'm not suggesting that I, or anyone else, spend air time at gigs badgering people to buy CDs. But, there's nothing wrong with a little shamelss self-promotion. Letting the crowd know that you have a CD to sell, then showing them the CD, maybe once per set, isn't too much. Mentioning that the song you just finished, that they applauded, is on a CD which is for sale, is a natural part of the stage patter. I just spent 4 days working at a seminar presented by Peak Potentials, called the Millionaire Mind Intensive. During the 3-day seminar, a lot of time is spent identifying and working through blocks that people have that are preventing these people from being as successful and happy as they want to be. Some time is spent informing people about other seminars that are available and offering those seminars at reduced rates. Some participants were offended by the marketing. I was last year, when I was there. But I was not this year. I apparently worked through my issues about it and saw nothing wrong with the marketing. I also discovered last year that I was resistant to marketing my skills and services because I didn't value what I do. I like my art work and think I write good songs. I'm a decent bass player and play out quite a bit with several bands. I have a following. But the messages I got as a child from my father discounted art and music because they aren't "academic" and, therefore, not something to take seriously. So, no matter how much I worked at being a better bass player and songwriter, I still didn't value my work. Hey, that's a pretty big insight. I'm still working through it. I suggest that if you are resistant to marketing your own CDs and/or musical performances, you should take a look at your own issues about marketing and how you perceive the value of what you do. This holiday season would be a great time to do more CD marketing and, hopefully, selling. E-mail me and let me know how it's going. Thanks for visiting AcousticByLines. |
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