Making the Most

First Impressions are everything and that impression is usually made within the first few moments of meeting someone. Here are some tips to perfect your pitch. 

• Be yourself: People can instantly tell when you’re being fake, and it makes them not want to work with you

• Be brief: If you spend forever initially explaining what you do you’ve already lost their attention. 

• Be concise: I’m a one stop shop. I have experience in most aspects of the business, and anything I haven’t done I can quickly learn how to. However, instead of explaining each and everything I can do, I just say that. “I do anything and everything my artist needs me to do so that all they have to do is focus on their music.” That’s my hook. It sparks my conversation partners’ interest. After that they can ask me to expand upon my skills.

• Let them ask the questions: If you make them want to know more, they’re more likely to remember you. 

• Also, your business card should say it all for you: It sparks initial interest, and reminds them of who you are later on. Mine says: World Traveler. Writer. Music/Social Media Consultant. Go-To Girl. 

I hate LA.

I hate it from the bottom of my heart.

So why did I come to the land of the terrible drivers? It’s the musical mecca of california and some important conferences happen here. (Also, I went to Paganfest last night. Folk metal makes my heart skip a beat).

This week happens to be ASCAP’s I Create Music Expo: a musical managerie of producers, managers, artists, and vendors trying desperately to get you to part with your money.

Conferences are a great way to network, find out about new products, and learn a thing or two from speakers you wouldn’t necessarily have access to otherwise.

Conferences are notoriously expensive though, so how does a starving artist afford to attend?

• Volunteer: Many events will let you volunteer for half the time in exchange for attending the other half. 
• Shack up with a friend: Hotels are either really expensive or really sketchy. Share a hotel room or stay at a friends house. 
• Food: Find the local grocery stores and buy cheap, healthy food. Don’t eat the conference food. It’s expensive and will give you a heart attack by the time you’re 40. 
• Carpool/Take a Train: Be eco friendly and save money on gas. 

Great, now you’re going. What do you bring?

• Business Cards: Your band is a business, pimp yourself with a card. I’ll look up a band if they hand me a card. If I just have to remember your name, I wont, I’ll forget. 
• Notebook: Take Notes!!! You can’t fit all of those details in your brain. Don’t lose out because you’ve forgotten a key point. 
• Cash: Common sense, but things happen and you may need cash. (if you’re in LA you might need it for parking) 
• Water: Hydration is important. You won’t get the most out of your experience if you’re feeling sick. 
• Personality: Meeting people is key. Bring your best side out so you can get some new contacts. You never know who you might meet. 
• CDs: Not a ton. Don’t just go handing them out to everyone, they might be put off by that. Feel it out; if you’ve been talking to someone and they seem freindly, give them your cd. Say something like “you know, I only brought a couple of CDs, but you should definitely take one. I think you’ll like it”. MAKE SURE you give them your business card too. Everyone you talk to should end up with your card. 
• Comfortable Shoes: You’ll be on your feet for a long time. You don’t want to be in pain by lunch time. 
• Pain Killers: If you’re also volunteering and carrying heavy boxes around you’ll thank me. 

This week I am attending ASCAP’s I Create Music Expo.
What a better way to kick off this blog than to post all about the wonderful things I’m learning?

I’m currently sitting in on a panel all about making the most from touring. Expect a post with the highlights this afternoon.

themerchdude:

There is a huge difference between “Promoting your band” and “Spamming your fans”