Chapter 15: The Thick Skin of an Artist

Posted by admin on April 16th, 2010 | 1 Comment »

After my set last saturday I got off stage, took my mailing list and a handful of CD’s and walked around to everybody in the audience to introduce myself and ask them if they would like a free CD or sign up for the mailing list.  Why do I do this?  If your thinking it’s because I want as many people to take CD’s, give money or sign up as possible then that’s not correct.  If your thinking it’s because I want to meet the right people, the people that actually loved the show, listened, would come back again, shake their hand and have them get to know me, even for five minutes to build intimacy and direct relationships with fans, then you are correct. This may seem obvious but it’s not.

“I’d rather but 9 people’s favorite thing, than 100 people’s 9th favorite thing” is a lyric from a show called [Title of Show]  That’s not a typo, that’s actually what it’s called, and the reason I would rather be 9 people’s favorite thing is because who really talks about their 9th favorite thing?

Most of the people that I walked around and met were happy to meet me.  Some were very happy, loved the performance and called themselves “new fans.”  Others didn’t want a CD, or even to have anything to do with me.  This would have hurt me a year ago.  Now, with thicker skin, I can be present to the fact that I’m doing something right.  Now I know that I’m being specific enough in my “brand” that I appeal to a certain kind of person with a certain worldview and that my music tells a story to that kind of person, and not to others.  This will assure my success.

Stay tuned.

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