*** The Musician Advice Section - Networking ***
What it's all about
Making connections is what networking is all about. It's
about establishing a network of resources across a variety
of areas, and keeping in contact with them - you need to
network with your fans, with other bands, with radio and
press, with promoters and venues, etc. This is really the
sum of this advice section - make connections, keep the
connections active, and use the connections you've got.
So how do you do it?
Making connections - Talk to people at shows, hand out
demo disks, talk to the bands you go out to see, use the phone
and call people, invite media to your shows, offer them interviews,
whatever. Basically, make yourself a presence in the scene. Also,
connect up with pre-existing resources that people have set up -
musicians networks, unions, etc.
Keep Connections Active - Don't just contact someone
once - send periodic updates, establish a dialogue. The enemy
of keeping these connections alive is being silent. Mailing lists
are a good way to do this for larger groups, and the phone is an
excellent way of doing this for more individual connections. Also,
go out to local shows and use message boards to stay in the
loop and maintain yourself as an active presence in the scene.
Use The Connections You've Got - You've made these connections
for a reason - talk to other bands you know about booking shows
together, talk to promoters you know about getting opening slots
for larger shows, do live spots on radio. You'd be amazed how
much free publicity you can get just by effectively utilizing your
networks.
Also, don't forget to connect with people who work the record
and CD stores that are going to be further spreading the word
for you.
Anyways, that's about it - it's really all about making, keeping,
and using connections - a lot of the other pages are about
connections you can make, how to keep these connections
alive, and how to use them. Of course, chances are there
are a number of resources I've not covered here - remember
to be creative.
I want to know what you think about this section - please e-mail your
comments, suggestions, and additions to the advice herein to:
djdaimon (at) ontariometal dot net
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