I’ve got a secret for you. A secret to unlock all of your dreams… Don’t get too excited yet; it still requires work from you. It’s not foolproof, because of course, YOU have to decide what your dreams are and how you’re going to go about chasing them down. But I’ll tell you, if you can shift your mind toward this one little idea, you’ll be ready to take steps 2, 3, 4, 5, and 10. Ready? The secret is you. Your name. That’s all it takes to get started on that big giant scary journey you’ve been thinking about for years. Backing up a little bit... About five years ago, I was sitting in a PR workshop with one of the best in the biz. Back then, I had no idea how valuable that opportunity was, or how drastically it would impact my life and career. He told us that if we wanted to do our job well, and wanted to get results for our clients, we had to get them to recognize our name. Who is “them?” All of them – anyone you want to know, talk to, connect with or influence. For the PR pros in that room, “them” meant journalists, news anchors, radio personalities, bloggers, editors, anyone who could potentially share the news that we were pitching about our clients. For musicians, it may be a record label, a management company, a music writer, a playlist curator, another band, fans...Literally, anyone. If you can get someone to recognize your name, you have everything you need to take the next step, whatever it is. So, how do you do that? Engage. Tune in to what’s happening in your industry and join the conversation. As an extreme introvert, I can personally identify with what some of you may be feeling at this very moment. As someone who often opts out of the social media jungle, I know...But I’m going to tell you something – this is so crucial to your future, you HAVE to find a way. You don’t have to be inauthentic and you don’t have to fake a personality. You just have to show up. Like, comment and share social content that people are posting. Go to local shows. Make eye contact and shake hands with people in the music world. It doesn’t take much, I promise.
“Great work man, it sounds awesome tonight. Can you tell me more about your rig?” “Hey, I loved what you wrote about this new album. Have you heard this one?” “I’d love to know more about your company. Is there a way I can contact you after the show?”
Be brave and put yourself out there, one small step at a time. Most people are more than willing to connect with others who are serious about their music or their business. (And let’s be real, most musicians and sound techs love talking about their gear.) The real trick is learning how to be memorable, and it’s a lot easier than you think. It starts with embracing yourself fully and completely. And while we’re all working on that, there’s also a few other things you can do to be memorable:
Have a business card – just do it.
Be yourself. The least memorable thing we can do is try to be who we think someone wants us to be. Don’t strip yourself of all personality and character. That’s exactly what people want to remember.
Take opportunities. If you pass up an opportunity, it’ll find someone else. Even if it looks like a side step or it’s not directly related to your music, you can still make crucial connections that could change everything for you in the future. Be the merch guy, be the drum tech, be the opening act. Find your way in the door, do a good job, and then take a look around for the next door.
Take a risk just outside your comfort zone. Tag that music writer when you share their article; ask a question and start a conversation. Follow up if someone gives you their card. BE there like you belong there.
These things won’t necessarily guarantee you a record deal or a direct route to the top of your dream list, but you will have planted a seed in their mind. And sometimes, a seed is all it takes to give you a shot when the time comes. If they recognize your name, you’ve already won the first victory in your career. So make it a good one and make it stick. To your success, Naø 🖤 Be the first to know about exclusive offers and get bi-weekly insights/encouragement delivered right to your inbox!
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