Ariel Blog Challenge--Week 6

Not long ago I started building a mailing list. I started with a few friends, a few industry contacts, and a few artists. I now have 300+. I have categorized them so that I can send an e-mail to all or by category. My next mission is to contact my FaceBook and Twitter friends to see if I can add them to my list (if they are not already on my list). I would like to ask some of my FaceBook friends and a group of teens that I have access to, to fill out a survey monkey and give their e-mail address to me (if I don’t already have it) in exchange for a free song. I hope to be able to give them a song by one of the artists I work with on my dime as I view their input on the survey and their e-mail of value. I have been sending out a newsletter to those people once per month, but I think I should probably send at least two out per month. I like the ideas that Ariel gives in chapter six concerning building the e-mail list. Thanks!

"I want your music; but I don't want to pay for it."

The debate seems to continue over illegal downloading and fans expecting free music. I admit that not too long ago, I thought it was a sin to illegally download music or burn a friend’s CD. That is, until I realized I had committed that sin. I have asked teens over the past few years if they engage in such actions and often they would respond with, “If the artist is independent, I buy the music. If they are on a label, I don’t. I burn a friend’s CD or illegally download.” They have no remorse for the latter. They seem to think the artist and label are making enough money and won’t miss a few dollars. I have felt the pain of illegal downloading on behalf of the independent artists I work with. Having read the pros and cons and numerous artist reactions—some belligerent and some feeling like it has boosted their career—I now have another thought to ponder.

I am currently reading “Our Band Could Be Your Life: Scenes From The American Indie Underground 1981-1991” by Michael Azerrad. Each chapter is a story about a particular band including Black Flag, Husker Du, Minor Threat, Fugazi, and Sonic Youth. Ian MacKaye (Minor Threat/Fugazi) states, “It was all about documentation.” So let’s ponder that statement. Consider a visual artist who puts their artwork on display at a gallery. You pay to go in the gallery and view the artwork. That artist might make an occasional sale or have smaller prints made as well as postcards or gift cards to sell. The performing artist displays their work through shows making money through ticket sales. And, another type of display for their music is licensing a song for a TV show or film. That artist might sell t-shirts, posters, or-----yes, CDs and digital downloads. We call that merchandise. Artists must rethink their income sources. Those sources from top to bottom would be: touring, licensing, and then merchandise. A thrilling live show is what fans want and what they’ll pay for. The CDs are merely documentation and merchandise.

Ariel's Blog Challenge Week 5

I have been thinking about a surveymonkey for some time. In fact, I started a list of questions that I should ask. Because of the nature of my business—Creative Liaison for a few indie artists—I would like to know more about their fans. Right now I work with mostly local Indies who are in the folk or folk/pop genre. Down the road, if my business expands, then I might be interested in picking up more artists that are not so local. But, for the time being, in working with a small roster, I want to know more about their fans, hence the surveymonkey. I also want to survey my peeps to see what their habits are—where they buy music, who they are listening to, etc. This is a project on my “list of things to do” by end of year. As far as newsletters and e-mails go, Gregory Douglass helped me set up a newsletter through my website. I have created an e-mail list with keywords so that if I want to send a newsletter to my peeps in Vermont, as opposed to other industry contacts, I can call up the VT peeps. If I want to send a more formal newsletter to industry peeps, I can call up keyword “industry”. So far I have a total of almost 400 contacts. My goal is to add in other industry contacts—radio and a few new industry FaceBook friends (with their permission of course) as well as new VT FaceBook friends. My target date for this project is by the end of August. As far as the look of the newsletter—I try to incorporate photos on occasion and upcoming gig dates for the artists as well as what I am up to. Sometimes I incorporate a quote or what I’m reading or “song of the month”. I like Ariel’s idea of “telling a story”. And, her suggestions to keep building the e-mail list and communicate often. I shall go forth and do good work! By the way--I love her subtitle--3 G's: Greeting, Guts & Getting. I always called my family the 3 G family--Glory, Gregory, & Gwendolyn!

Ariel's Blog Challenge Week 4

Ariel’s Blog Challenge Wk. 4—

Through my online Berklee courses, and Ariel’s book, I have learned about the importance of social networking and blogs. I joined Facebook and LinkedIn some time ago, and more recently joined Twitter. I have almost 400 friends on Facebook—friends, colleagues, and industry personnel. I really enjoy LinkedIn not only for the industry connections, but the group connections. In fact, there are some great articles that are posted at some of those group sites. I also started blogging shortly before Ariel’s blog challenge. I need to improve my blogging—shorter, more concise, and interesting things to say. I would like to start responding/commenting to other bloggers, but time is an issue. I want to be “in” with a few of them so that they might consider blogging about the artists I work with as the artists release new music. I did join one bloggers’ blasts. He is in the UK and is a fan of Gregory Douglass. I still like the good old-fashioned phone calls because I feel like I get to know people better rather than social networking and e-mail. But, I realize that it is important to get out there. The phone calls can come later. In fact, they are. And that’s awesome. I just joined Flickr yesterday and put two photos up. But I have to figure out how to get them into my biz newsletter that is created at my website (hostbaby). Not so easy to do that with this type of website. I like skimming through the tweets at Twitter. I think Grace Potter’s tweets are cool. She says more than just “playing a show at . . . “. I need to check out the many websites that Ariel suggests in her book. Once again, time is an issue. Lastly, I have been holding out to join MySpace. I keep reading that it is dying. The only reason I would join would be to post the artists’ songs, not for social reasons. Any suggestions about that would be appreciated.

Ariel's Blog Challenge Week 3-My Website

I am constantly trying to update, tweak, etc. my website. It does load quickly. After writing the mission statement and the “pitch”, I went back to my website to change the home page pitch—introduction, etc. A few weeks ago I decided to try something. Keep in mind I am a Creative Liaison working with DIY artists. I put up a few questions on the home page asking people to answer the few questions on the “sign up on the e-mail list” page. In return for their e-mail address and answering a few questions, I would gift a song from iTunes to them once they choose a song from a particular artist they like listed on my website. So far--nothing. So, I think I need to do this differently. I am thinking of sending out this incentive via newsletter and asking my peeps to come to my website and visit the artists I work with. Then, choose a song and I will gift it to them. To make it more enticing, I would have a drawing at some designated date for a Ben & Jerry’s gift card, or if the winner is from VT, 2 tickets to Higher Ground for a show of their choice. I would love feedback on this idea. In the meantime, I am going to tell the artists I work with (who don’t already offer free stuff) to try this themselves at their websites.

Ariel Blog Challenge--Week 2

The short pitch:

Bluebird Music Promotions was established to offer services to DIY’s that signed artists receive from their labels. We have as much passion for Indies as their fans do. Therefore, we are willing to work payment plans that fit their budgets.

The longer pitch:

It’s sad to see talented DIY artists spend a bunch of money to record and produce their record, do a few shows, and then a lull sets in. They didn’t have enough money to first of all properly promote the record in advance, and then keep the momentum going after the release. Bluebird Music Promotions was established to offer services that signed artists with labels are receiving, and come up with innovative ideas to keep momentum going after releases. We have as much passion for Indies as their fans do. Therefore, we are willing to work payment plans that fit their budgets.

Your 15SecondPitch™

My name is Glory Reinstein of Bluebird Promotions and I am a Creative Liaison specializing in independent music. I promote independent singer/songwriters. Because I am a passionate fan of independent artists I am willing to work payment plans that fit their budgets.

Ariel PR Blog Challenge #1--My Vision

In One Year:

· Working with 4-6 artists I can count on from the comfort of my home

· Evidence that the Bluebird Plan is a viable plan for artists

· Significant airplay for artists as they release new material

· At least one “paid” placement

· Brave Bird Music/ASCAP receives its first royalty check

· Form an alliance with Ariel Cyber Publicity

· Produce and promote a big show for the artists I work with

· Create the next “Vicissitudes: Vol. II” CD (Vermont’s Premier Independent Songwriters)

· Start a record label????

In Five Years:

· I have retired from music education and collecting retirement benefits

· Still working with 4-6 artists from my home

· I have secured royalty %’s of some artists’ music

· The list of my music industry contacts has significantly grown

· Bluebird Music Promotions and Brave Bird Music Publishing are respected throughout the industry

· Brave Bird Music Publishing is steadily receiving royalty checks

· I am a composer with several published pieces

· I have added another component to my biz: booking

· I am still producing and promoting special shows in the area

· One of my artists is being courted by a label or major publisher

In Ten Years:

· I am collecting social security as well as my teacher retirement benefits

· I am still working with a small roster of artists

· I am collecting royalties

· I am composing

· I am living in San Diego (far away from VT winters!)

· One of my artists just won a Grammy!

Independence: A Musical Point of View

On this Independence weekend, I began to think about the word from a musical point of view. For many years I thought there were only two classifications for artists—signed or independent. Now I realize there are three categories—artists signed to major labels, artists signed to independent labels, and the DIY’s or “Do It Yourselfers”. Some of the dictionary definitions for independence are: 1) the freedom from the influence of others; 2) exemption from external control or support; 3) not relying on others for aid or support; 4) self-confidence. I’d like to address those definitions. No matter what we do, we are influenced. I once read that a genius is someone who takes the ideas of others and creates something new that they can call their own. Examples would be Martha Graham, the pioneer of modern dance; the composer Stravinsky; writer, T.S. Eliot; and visual artist, Picasso. They all took ideas from others and created something new and exciting. But in all cases, these geniuses had support from family, friends, colleagues, and others who believed in their cause or product. “Freedom from the influence of others”, might be interpreted as, “I’m not going to conform or give-in. I’m going to do things my way. I’m not going to rely on a record label that has certain expectations and control over my product.” While DIY’s are in fact influenced by the music of other artists, and exhibit self-confidence to take the DIY route, they are in need of a support system. History often repeats itself. In this “upside down” time within the music industry, I am reminded of the rise of the Punk Rock era of DIY. In the words of Greg Ginn, “I’m proud of what Black Flag had done from beginning to the end, and I thought, ‘I have been fortunate enough to never have played a note of music that I didn’t really want to play’ . . . . the songs are more what the band is about . . . . . that attitude of do-it-yourself. Black Flag promoted the idea of just jumping off the ledge and doing it.” (from the book “Our Band Could Be Your Life”, Michael Azerrad, p. 60).

*Greg Ginn founded SST Records and the band Black Flag. All aspects of the label and the band were done in-house.

"YOU CAN'T DO THAT!"

With a constantly changing music industry, it seems to me that no one should be telling others—“You can’t do that.” When I am told I can’t do something, I usually get depressed for a few minutes, and then an uncontrollable fire rises inside me, and I do what I need to do to prove that person wrong. Case in point—as a kid I had a strong desire to play an instrument. I didn’t care what instrument. Just get an instrument in my hands. My young parents placed a clarinet in my hands in the sixth grade. My peers had two years on me. I had to catch up. I practiced like a fool. By eighth grade I had passed by them. Then came high school. I had a private teacher one summer from Oberlin College. She told me I would never be a great player because of my overbite. After being depressed for a few minutes, I drove myself to practice every day for 45 minutes. Each year my scores at All State and other festival auditions improved. My senior year I received the highest score at All State and next to the highest at the New England Festival auditions. There. Take that private teacher from Oberlin!! As a music educator in three different school systems spanning over 33 years I have had success despite the fact that the administrators in my interviews doubted that I had enough backbone to go up against teenagers. And now, as I immerse myself in a new career—in a different music world—I know there are doubters out there. In fact, there are some who say, “You can’t do that.” After my few minutes of self-doubt, that same old fire rises within and I say, “Watch me!” With this constantly changing music industry, one must try what their gut feels. If it works, it’s a bonus. If it doesn’t, try something else. No one can predict what the next trend will be. We keep on “keeping on” and hope we will cut through the noise triumphant!

"So expensive to tour!"

Blog 3—May 26, 2010

“So expensive to tour! Just had a rather depressing meeting with tour manager. Record sales low (across the industry) really impacting me.”

-Imogene Heap, RCA recording artist and Grammy Winner (from her Twitter account)

I keep reading that many artists are ok with file-sharing and illegal downloading because the money is in touring and selling merch. In fact some artists have improved their careers and increased their fan-base by giving away music. Lady Gaga says she is ok with “free” music because the money is in touring. Maybe for the “small” percentage of “big” artists this is true. But if Imogene Heap is making a statement like this one, is there any chance of smaller indie artists getting a tour that doesn’t put them in the hole? How will indie artists sustain their music careers? Would it be cheaper to put three artists on the road in a van with minimal equipment, sharing publicity costs, driving, and tour manager duties; and perform their gigs “in-the-round”? Would venues and talent buyers be more open to “in-the-round” performances? After all, Indies have a hard time getting their foot in the door of many venues. My thought is that each artist would bring in his/her own small fan-base, and with three artists performing, they would hopefully fill the room. So, in my mind, the positives would be: sharing costs, sharing the work, and getting more bodies in the room. And, fans of one artist might become fans of one or both of the other artists. The negative, however, might be--Did they make adequate money for themselves after sharing the door? Would love to hear your thoughts.

Congrats to Anais Mitchell & Grace Potter

I mentioned "Purple Cows" in Vermont in my previous blog. Two more "Purple Cows" (meaning remarkable artists) are Anais Mitchell and Grace Potter. Both have had the good fortune (if being on a record label today is good fortune?) of being signed to their respective labels (Grace on Hollywood Records and Anais on Righteous Babe Records). Anais just came out with a new record and Grace will release her new record in June. I have had the opportunity to hear the first track off Grace's record, "Tiny Light", and watch the video for it. Totally awesome! She hits a high E in chest voice. And to think that once upon a time the industry thought no one could hit a high E in chest voice except Christina A. Not so. I saw Grace in the role of Sally Bowles in Cabaret as a senior in high school. Even then (which was not that long ago) she took command of the stage. I can't help but think her choral work and her theatrical work in high school propelled her forward. I can't wait to hear the entire album. Anais Mitchell's new release, Hadestown (a folk opera based on the Greek myth of Orpheus and Eurydice) is an ambitious and exciting project. I love the track, "Why We Build The Wall". And--she has great guests that include Ani Difranco, Greg Brown, and Bon Iver to name a few. Speaking of guest artists, both young ladies made a vocal appearance on Gregory Douglass' (another Purple Cow in my opinion) last release, "Battler". Gregory will open for Anais at the Hooker Durham Theatre in Brattleboro, VT, May 7, 2010. Congratulations to Anais & Grace!!

Purple Cows in Vermont

OK. So it took me awhile to get to this point. Here is my first real blog--

I live in the Green Mountain State of Vermont where there were once more cows than people. Not any more. But you can still see a few Holsteins or Jerseys out in the fields. I actually grew up on a small dairy farm in Vermont. I only milked the cows once but I threw bales of hay every summer. I had muscles back then. Now that I am building a new biz, I have been reading lots of books. I recently read Seth Godin's book "Purple Cow". The book is about transforming your business or your product by being "remarkable". He even notes Vermont's own Ben & Jerry's as an example of a "Purple Cow". And I have to agree. I find it hard to eat any other ice cream now, although Island Ice Cream is a close second. Vermont has many Purple Cow products, businesses, authors, and artists--both visual and musical. I like to think the Vermont-based singer/songwriters that I work with are Purple Cows. And Bella Voce Women's Chorus of Vermont. Please take time to check them out. I think Chris Bohjalian is a Purple Cow author. Take time to read his books! And Flatbread Pizza!! Yummy. There are many more Purple Cows in Vermont. I'm just drawing a blank right now. But they will come to me. More later.