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Let’s get right to the point: I’m watching lots of “Newbie” artists doing lots of stupid things and these stupid things are destroying their career before it even gets started. I’m not talking about a mistake. Everyone makes mistakes. What’s the difference between making a mistake and doing something stupid? Bumping your head is a mistake. But intentionally banging your head into a wall crosses over into stupidity. We have lots of artists (mostly newbies) who are banging their heads against a wall.
Here is MY list of “STUPID” things these artists are doing.
1.Buying a bus.
We are approaching NQC where we will behold acres of buses. Some are beautiful, but many look like they’ve just come through a combat zone. Buying a bus is akin to buying a boat…if you have to ask “How much?” you can’t afford it.
Here is a “Nickism” for you;
“Many a group has bit the dust, simply because they bought a bus”.
2. Radio Promotion.
Wasting your money on radio promotion is not as stupid as buying a bus, but it comes real close. All you “newbies” out there who are promoting a song to radio let me know when it “gets your name out there”. Has it put any money in your pocket? How many dates have you gotten from it? Have you sold any product from it? Have your audiences increased from it? Do you even know if it’s being played? Have you heard from your promoter lately? Let me be clear. I’m not opposed to radio promotion, we need it. It’s an important part of marketing SG music…BUT NOT FOR NEWBIES!
If I build a mousetrap that doesn’t work, there is no need to market it until I get it right.
SG radio promotion is flooding the market with broken mousetraps…that’s just plain stupid!
3. Signing with a company that has too many artists.
This a classic example of “Pied Piperism”. For some reason, many of you “newbies” seem to enjoy working with companies that already have 60 or 70 artists who are failing. I guess it’s that “misery loves company” thing. Stupidity is doing the same thing tomorrow that you did today and expecting different results.
4. Signing with a “Booking Agent”.
A talent agency makes it’s money from the commissions it receives. Does it make any sense to you to give away part of your $47.00 offering to someone else? If you can’t book your own group 6 or 7 times a month you should be doing something else. The artists I mentor know exactly how to keep their date books full 6 months to a year in advance.
5. Signing your songs away.
I know of at least one company that consistently attempts to get artists to sign their songs forever. They offer better deals if the artist will sign all their songs to them. This is a shame. Never…never…never sign a deal like that. You will be sorry. If you want to partner with a company for publishing your songs, sign only Single Song Agreements.
6. Taking out an ad thanking DJs for playing your song.
I’m not sure if this one is “stupid” or just plain silly. Do you really think the DJs are going to read that ad and say, “Oh yeah, I hear you, you made my day. I’m gonna keep spinning your song until it goes to #79?”…give me a break!
7. Failing to pay royalties.
This one will come back and bite you. I don’t understand how any of you can call yourselves stewards of the Lord’s money when you are stealing from your brothers and sisters. If you don’t understand how this works you need to contact me and I will teach you how to get this right.
8. Sending out a promo pack.
I think it’s a bad idea to send out a promo pack if your product is not ready. I’ve received many of these with bad photos, inferior demo CDs, sub-standard singing, and poorly written bios. This only proves that you are not yet ready, and usually winds up in file 13.
9. Not working on your craft.
Of all the stupid things listed in this article, this is probably the KING. This entire ministry and business revolves around singing. Singing is the way we get our message out. It’s the only way. If you are not working on improving your singing, can I interest you in starring in a new movie? “Stupid and Stupider”?
In reading this you might wrongly conclude that I’m teaching against marketing, but in reality, I’m a strong proponent of marketing…WHEN THE PRODUCT IS READY.
GET THE SINGING RIGHT! GET THE SINGING RIGHT! GET THE SINGING RIGHT!
When you get the singing right all these other tools will be available for you to use in marketing yourself. Until then, don’t waste your time, energy or the Lord’s money.
Once again I will be presenting seminars at the National Quartet Convention. For those of you attending, this is a perfect opportunity to learn. My seminars are always entertaining with plenty of time to ask questions, and always a surprise guest or two.
Here is this year’s schedule:
Wednesday, September 12 10:00 A.M.- 12:00
Nick with special guest “the DJ MAN”, Philip Emery, Teaching all aspects of Radio Promotion
Thursday, September 13, 10:00 A.M. – 12:00
Nick with special guest Bob Crichton, brilliant business advisor for the Booth Brothers. Bob will be teaching all aspects of business for the SG group. Don’t miss this!
Friday, September 14 10:00 A.M. – 12:00
Nick teaching The Nashville Number System. Every musician and singer will want to attend this. I will be spending 2 hours giving you all the secrets to this system. You WILL know the number system when you leave.
All meetings will be held in the SOUTHWING CONFERENCE CENTER ROOMS 109 and 110
I know there are many of you that will think of other “Stupid” things. Let me hear from you.
As always,
I welcome your comments.
God Bless You,
Nick Bruno
http://www.nickbruno.com
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Written: 09/01/2007 
Author: Nick Bruno
Category:
The Gospel Truth
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