General Music Chat

I just was curious how many people are self-promoting ?

I don't like it. It feels like bragging/going to the dentist.

I am a "no".

I'll play and if they like it, we go from there.

If not, than that's the end of it.

Yes.
One can "self promote" humbly.
And plan for an all out blitzkrieg when we have our promotional materials together.

It's not a brag, it's about communication.
Connecting with the people you play for.
Shake the hands, hug the ladies ( if they make the first move of course )
Sit down to a meal with them.

Thank you sooo much, I'm glad you enjoyed the show.
We had a great time and would love to play for y'all again.
Know anybody that is having a event and wants a band ... here is our card.

" . . . It's not a brag, it's about communication . . ."
.
Agreed.
It's just letting the folks who like your music know where to go to hear you.

Yes ...


I'd like to add that it makes me uncomfortable as well Cap,n.

Way out of my normal antisocial comfort zone.

I leave most of the promotion to Rasta, he does the Facebook and MySpace promotions. I handle the business aspects - booking, getting paid, etc. as well as writing and arranging the music. At shows I make it a point to walk around and chat with people after we play.

As do I Jimmy.

I am more of a sit in the corner and crack my knuckles / drink my coffee on breaks kind of guy.

But I know I need to make a connection with some of the audience.

Women and musicians seem more open to come to us and talk about the show.
So we have to "get around the room" so to speak.

To appear aloof would be a band death sentence.
Especially in our situation.

Yes.

Unless you get to the point where your fans are running your web site and email list, talented illustrators are designing your graphics, and a manager is booking your band, then you have to do it all yourself, unless you're just hoping to get "discovered" playing on some NYC street or subway.

Before the www, we had to design and print our own fliers and take our own pics, and press our own CD's. Thing have gotten alot easier now for the "do it yourselfer".

When I lived in Jersey, and played for a Rockabilly/Country Western band, I remember a story about Tony Orlando getting kicked out of the very same bars we played at in Jersey City, NJ because people didnt want to hear him sing. It didnt stop him from going back on stage the next weekend.

"One can "self promote" humbly."

I agree. To me it is more at how you do it. Some have said. See if you can play this.... Personally I don't understand the challenge posts.
Others just post and let other forum members know you have music posted. is enough for me. I rather like that type of promotion.
Begging peeps top go vote for you is a bit over the tip, but obviously it worked for some and they got gigs out of that. I don't ever do anything that would merit that. And I would actually hate the commitment of having to do performances on someone else's time schedule.

I am driven by working out the songs and either writing original material or putting a new twist on others. If people like it fine. If they don't fine. I'll let peeps know my songs are posted but I won't "promote" them. Since I'm not looking for gigs or a career, simply the fun of creating something is what drives me. Maybe if I did something I would consider finished I would feel otherwise. But I am never truly satisfied with anything I do so that isn't going to happen. I guess just uploading a song is promoting. I do that much. But I never ask anyone to listen to them.

I'm a self promoting ho' It's my only way of getting local peeps to my gigs though... in my defense

Hey, it's all good folks. Everyone does what they do. There is no right or wrong here, I was just curious.

It's just that I hear one type of people that say nice stuff without much dialogue. That feels natural to me. I say "thanks" and move on.

If you have something nasty to say and/or you camouflage it as constructive criticism, that's fine as well.

Then I hear the other type of thing. People I play with get on my ass because I don't really want to do too much besides play the music.

I'd like to think I am a decent musician, better showman, but a lousy promoter.

I told the one guy the other night, "I don't know how to act like that because I am who I am and not interested in learning to be that other type".

I am sure to keep my day job FOREVER...lol

I like regular people because they are humble.

What was that line from the Indiana Jones movie? A penitent man kneels before god. I always think of that for some reason.

(shrugs) ssdd

I do self-promote, and it's very new to me. As big of a mouth I have, I still have a hard time saying, hey check me out because I feel like I'm either fishing for compliments or inviting people to tell me I suck. I prefer just to put links to my music in my signature, that way people have a choice whether to click on it or not.

I don't see much point of promoting oneself in a musicians' forum, around people who want the same thing they want, unless they simply want a gauge to see if they're on the right track or looking for musicians. Not to completely write it off, I think a few fans can be won over there, but not enough to pay a bot to be posting ads there.

As a writer, I've pulled back off a number of author sites I belong to because it's become nothing but a lot of authors hawking their books. I'm really busy with my own stuff, I don't have time to really buy and read anyone else's book at the moment. It's sad really. I can support another musician because all you have to do is listen. But I feel they need readers not other authors.

The Internet is both a blessing and a curse at the same time. As musicians, we need fans. Getting regular people to check us out is rough. The general public, as much as they complain about the poor state of music today, don't show any interest in checking out musicians who post a "check out my music" post. I feel much better if I go and participate in the forum and then ask. Even that has still gotten me ignored.

I would prefer just to play out and let people see and hear me. I just like to run my mouth on the Internet, but that alone isn't going to get me much of a fanbase.

Chaeya

Most of us probably fail to do a written promotional plan.
That would include me.
I have it all in my headbone, but should commit it to a flow chart with some goals and target dates.

Good logistics = the 6 P's

Prior planning prevents piss poor performance.

Everything I've ever been involved in was DIY, and was better that way. I believe that's the only way we could get our friends, and their friends, to go see us play.

Humility is golden. Some will never get to say the things Mustaine says and be prosperous.

I just was curious how many people are self-promoting ?

I don't like it. It feels like bragging/going to the dentist.

I am a "no".

I'll play and if they like it, we go from there.

If not, than that's the end of it.

I have a few opinions on this.

Promoting, as in 'making the information available and the people aware of you' is ok.
Self promotion as in 'look at me!' reeks of used car salesman.

If you have to harass or beg people to come see you, then I suppose that would mean something isn't right.

If it's not in you to smile and shake hands and such, then you probably shouldn't... I think the average person can feel that forced, and fake, energy.

You shouldn't give a damn about your friends showing up, except for an opening gig where you might want to make an impression on a venue. You should be after the strangers.
So don't bother your friends all the time about coming to shows. You don't need to convert your friends. Plus they will stop coming after a while anyways, unless it's a special occasion.

Good points zip.

I do have to disagree with one part however

Getting out of one's "comfort zone " is good practice.
Surely if I was bouncing around making a show like I do on stage it would come off as fake.

But to smile, shake some hands, and thank folks one on one for coming out to the show ?
That's just good PR IMO.