tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-33045093931393732622024-03-13T12:31:48.212-05:00Inside IndieA weekly glance at the music industry through my eyes and what I think it means to the Indie world, plus tips and references to help with creating your very own works of musical independence.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.comBlogger93125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-90250239438187574752010-09-28T15:25:00.004-05:002010-09-28T15:54:54.507-05:00Top 5 Reasons it's GOOD to be Indie!Yesterday Dana and I recorded an interview for an internet radio show (more info to come on that when available), and it got me to thinking about why it's so great to be an Indie artist right now. So, I decided to come up with MY top 5 reasons it's good to be Indie.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">1. There are no RULES:</span> As the Majors have shown us over the last few years, there's really no plug and play, guaranteed formula for success in the music industry anymore. The old way of doing things is dead, especially for us Indies. The standard approach of write music, play shows, build following, get radio play, land record deal, doesn't have to be the path to success anymore. We're only limited by our creativity and our willingness to explore new ideas and forge new trails.<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />2. Everything you need is at your fingertips:</span> Never before has it been so incredibly easy to make music, record music, and reach and audience with your music. Of course this also means that competition for an audience has increased, making it more important than ever that we be all around better performers with a stronger business savvy. Only the strong will survive.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">3. Labels are no longer necessary:</span> Besides funding, what are you looking for in a label? Most labels these days don't put a lot of effort into artist development, and most Indies (myself included) are reluctant to give up creative control to the money men. Unless you just want the bang that having some money behind you could make, there's really nothing that a label offers that an enterprising artist or band can't do for themselves. In this day and age of internet connections, there's really no need for middle men. Why give up your control? Why make money for others?<br /><span style="font-weight:bold;"><br />4. You control your pace:</span> With the increase of internet exposure, it's possible to reach more of an audience without having to kill ourselves on the road, as much. Not to diminish the need for touring, but it is so much easier to build our fanbase now through virtual means, allowing us to choose the pace of our travel, as well as our growth.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">5. Releasing music is FREE, or damn near:</span> With the accessibility of quality home recording equipment and the ease and popularity of digital media, we can release as much material as we want, at virtually no cost. Even some Indie labels are embracing the "Digital Only Release" trend. If the majority of our sales are going to come from download, why put the money into CD duplication? If it's for a physical product to sell at shows, there's always drop cards. I'm sure that we could all find better uses for our money than to be laying in a stock of CDs that people are not buying, right?<br /><br />So, anyway, that's my top 5 reasons. Drop me a note and tell me why you think it's awesome to be an Indie.<br /><br />Later,Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-90025954982495831212010-08-09T14:31:00.003-05:002010-08-09T14:38:44.970-05:00Are you truly Passionate about your work?Do you really, I mean REALLY, love what you do? Do you have an unequaled passion for how you spend your time each and every day?<br /><br />Sometimes it's hard to tell if we really do have that passion. I know I have my moments of thinking, "what the hell am I doing?", but I recently found out that I know exactly what I'm doing, and more importantly, why.<br /><br />Taking a bit of time away from your pursuits every now and then makes you realize what you've got. It makes you realize how much of a passion you really have for what you do. Or, conversely, it could make you realize that you've just been wasting a boatload of time on something you couldn't care less about. Either way, you've learned some very valuable information.<br /><br />Also, if you're in a position where you feel you can't take any time off, what so ever, than you definitely need some time off. Step away, even if it's just for half a day and center yourself. You'll probably see that you were overworking yourself on something that really requires better effort instead of more effort.<br /><br />Take a little time for yourself. You'll be miles ahead.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-38040702601244278052010-07-19T14:05:00.005-05:002010-07-19T14:21:39.873-05:00You Can't Do It AllOkay, so maybe that's a misstatement. Some of us CAN do it "ALL", but not all a the same time. <br /><br />The past few weeks have shown me that, despite my strong desire to do so, I can't focus on all of my ideas at one time. I'm a multi-tasking MOFO these days, but there still gets to be a level that I reach where things start to suffer. So, I'm just saying that sometimes it has to be okay to back burner something for a bit. Don't have to totally give it up, but prioritization needs to rule, right?<br /><br />We've got a lot going on here at Serious Vanity these days, and it's certainly a full time job. So, some of my side projects and hobbies have suffered a bit and I think that I'm just going to have to be okay with that. At least for the time being. Why? Cause I want to succeed with what I'm doing here. I want to turn Serious Vanity into the business I know it can, and should, be. <br /><br />Focus is the key and I'm there.<br /><br />Now, on a side note, this is our 14th Birthday this week! Yep, Serious Vanity Music has been around for 14 years. If you're not following our FB or Twitter pages, I'll link them below. We're doing a 14 day Birthday Bash sale. Keep an eye out for our deal of the day. It should be coming to you shortly!<br /><br />Facebook: <br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/seriousvanitymusic">Serious Vanity Music</a><br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/seriousvanityrecords">Serious Vanity Records</a><br /><br />Twitter:<br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/Serious_Vanity">Serious Vanity Music</a><br /><a href="http://www.twitter.com/SVRecords">Serious Vanity Records</a>Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-45818005416554442462010-07-14T13:35:00.003-05:002010-07-14T13:54:38.506-05:00Social Media and the Numbers GameOkay, so I just did a bit of a purge on my friends list over at Facebook. Why? Was it because I've had some sort of falling out with people? Nope. Was it because they offended me? No, not that either.<br /><br />The fact is that I have a tendency to add people in good faith. Especially if they don't come off as being some sort of cam whore. So, in the course of things, I've added several people who pester me every day with the same request to join their group or "like" their page. <br /><br />Now, we all have our agendas in life, and we all have our motivations, but if a person ignores my page suggestion, you bet I'm not going to pester them with it again the next day.<br /><br />You see, Social Media will lose it's magic, the thing that makes it work, so long as people continue to approach it as a numbers game. It's really about interaction and building relationships, not seeing who can get the biggest following. You know, I'm not perfect in interacting with everyone on my lists, but I put in the effort. Just like any other thing in life, or in business for that matter, it's the quality of our lists, not the quantity. It's what we can do for the people we interact with on a daily basis, not what they can do for us. <br /><br />Come on people! At least have other interactions with people if you're going to bombard them with requests every day. It's the Social thing to do!Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-85242723137694077802010-07-07T13:35:00.005-05:002010-07-07T13:48:06.067-05:00What happens to detractors?If Leaders lead, and Followers follow, then what happens to Detractors? I guess the simple answer is that they get trampled under the movement. <br /><br />In every movement there is only room for leaders and followers. The people who try to throw a monkey wrench into our plans, the ones who try to trip us up or bring us down, need to be treated as stepping stones. Trample them. Show no mercy. Beat them down and leave no doubt that they are nothing in the grand scheme of things. Movements can't be bothered with Detractors, and neither can those within the movement.<br /><br />Of course, Detractors come in many forms too. Family or friends that want to keep us at a certain point in our lives (consciously or un-consiously), critics, rivals, or even just some unhappy asshat that likes to stir trouble. We, the determined, don't have time for Detractors. They are a detriment to our mission, our goal, our movement.<br /><br />I know, you're going to say, but "family and friends"? Yep, love'em all you need to, but they have a choice. They can follow, they can get out of the way, or the can get trampled under the movement.<br /><br />We can't let anyone stand in the way of our dreams, and as Artists, our dreams are all we really have. They're all we really are.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-15189329504520519282010-07-01T11:52:00.002-05:002010-07-01T12:05:46.502-05:00Unwavering determinationIt's funny how many ways that our goals in life get challenged. Seems like every turn brings another little barrier to walk around or step over or bust right through. I can't say that it upsets me anymore, really. It's just part of the process.<br /><br />The important thing is to keep my eyes on the end goal, the pure vision, of what it is that I'm doing in my life. What my destiny is, even if it's a self imposed one. It may be a modest vision, but it is mine and I have to follow it with an unwavering determination.<br /><br />I guess, truth be told, that there are little challenges like this in every aspect of what we do in our lives. The trick is learning to not be phased by them. Just step back for a minute and look for the quickest and most efficient way back to our path. Whether it means going around them or through them, the important thing is getting back on with the task at hand in the quickest way possible.<br /><br />When it comes to our achieving our dreams we have to learn how to be machines. Well oiled, fast, nimble, and strong, because you never know when we'll have to sprint, dodge, jump, or bust trough what pops up in our way. <br /><br />One thing is for sure, stopping and giving up are not options. We're artists and we'll never be happy if we do.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-59297560139468746402010-06-21T14:23:00.003-05:002010-06-21T14:35:24.705-05:00There's no more IDEAL time than RIGHT NOW!It's true. There will never be a more ideal time to launch our new projects, record our new album, book our next show, or take over our next town or city, than RIGHT NOW!<br /><br />A lot of times, as artists, we spend time looking for our opening. We try to build the perfect beast and then frustrate ourselves when it never seems to see the light of day. We toil for our perfection. We destroy ourselves over tiny details that just don't seem to come out right. We fixate, obsess, and dwell.<br /><br />I do anyway.<br /><br />So, I'm making the conscious decision to say "Fuck it!" and just make the most out of what I've got.<br /><br />My new band, Tailhook Echo, the one I've been working on for the past two or three years, finally starts rehearsing this next week. I love the songs, I love the sound, I love everything about it, so long as I don't dwell on the little things. But I'm going to launch it and let it be what it is. I have to trust that others will see in these songs, what I see in them. That they will hear what I was feeling when I wrote them. That my art will translate in a way that speaks to others. But, dammit, I have to put it out there for myself. As long as I like it, and my bandmates like it, then I trust it will speak to others as well.<br /><br />In the words of Sir Richard Branson: "Screw it! Let's do it!Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-33290321563540289892010-06-14T19:25:00.002-05:002010-06-14T19:38:25.465-05:00Daily CreativityIt's a busy life, you know? Sometimes daily life just gets in the way of creativity. It's not always easy to fit in time to play guitar or drums or whatever we play. It's not always the right moment to put that pen to paper and write that next great song. <br /><br />It's vital that we do though.<br /><br />I've gone through HUGE dry spells, where I've just not wanted to do any of it. I've let the business side of things here, the voice over recordings, or the hunt for more clients, keep me from doing what I love best. Being creative. It's not fair to our artist side to deny ourselves this outlet. It's the way to early retirement from our biggest dreams.<br /><br />I'm finding that if I set aside a little bit of time each day, and just let myself be free to create, it comes in waves. Big, crashing waves. Sometimes enough to overwhelm, but always good stuff. <br /><br />Leave room for creativity. It's what makes us who we are.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-82346448446815974622010-06-11T12:06:00.003-05:002010-06-11T12:14:33.877-05:00Plant Your Seeds and Move to the Next RowYep, just like in gardening, business is a plant and wait prospect. Not saying that you don't do the tending, such as weeding out the bad prospects, or nourishing the good ones, but once we've picked the spot and planted the seed, it's just a matter of waiting for it to grow.<br /><br />The size and quality of your crop is dependent on the work you put into the cultivation. Put in the elbow grease early and you'll enjoy a fairly trouble free and bountiful return.<br /><br />One of the issues that we, as business owners have though is that we're impatient. We plant it and expect it to grow overnight, and it doesn't always work that way. Plant it and move to the next row and plant some more. Keep going and one day you'll look back and see the healthy crops that have sprung up behind you.<br /><br />Most importantly, we have to be thankful for what we have. Every little bit helps and builds us up to better deal with next season. Here's to healthy crops all around this year!Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-77015730823266427802010-06-10T15:00:00.002-05:002010-06-17T13:18:24.082-05:00Scenester Casualty or Rock Star?Well, what's it going to be? Are you plugging along, trying to make things easier for others? Make someone else's dream a reality? Are you playing the game, as the industry, or your local scene, dictates it to you? Or even worse, are you just thinking about your next small club gig and what the free drink limit is? <br /><br /><span style="font-weight:bold;">OR</span><br /><br />Are you in a constant state of developing new material and planning your next step? Are you looking at the next rung on the ladder out of mediocrity? Are you setting the next bigger and badder goal?<br /><br />That my friends is the difference between being a scenester casualty and a bonafide Rock and Roll success story.<br /><br />It really does come down to what you're willing to do to make your way. What you're willing to sacrifice and live without. What kind of effort you're willing to put in, and most importantly, how quickly and effectively you're able to launch your new materials. Launch quickly and launch often. Make people see your dedication. All the rehearsals in the world won't show people how much effort you're actually putting into your project. They only see the physical aspects of what you're doing.<br /><br />Don't be afraid to take big steps. Take chances. It's only your future. Your success. What are you afraid of?Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-47131164926226503472010-06-09T12:01:00.003-05:002010-06-09T12:24:23.043-05:00Why Do We Think There Are Rules In Rock & Roll?So last night I was reading an article by a moderately successful rock star from the 80s/90s and he was spouting off about how the music industry has changed and the rules don't apply any more. Um what rules? It's fucking ROCK & ROLL!!!<br /><br />Rules. Yes, somewhere through the course of it all, rock & roll has lost it's rebellious, fuck the establishment, mentality and set up it's own set of rules and guidelines. There's a certain way to approach labels, there's a certain way to book tours, there's a certain way to make videos, there's a certain way to inject the heroin just right to...............oh, too far? Yeah. What's with cookie cutter rock stars? I mean, Disney owns rock & roll now, for god's sake.<br /><br />Let's face the fact that Rock $ Roll is a big money proposition for the labels and they will, just like they have for years now, chase the trends rather than cultivate the talent. It used to be that the A & R rep would court the talented and cultivate new and exciting things to give their label a leg up over the competition. Anymore, they're just scouting for the next so and so. No money goes into taking chances anymore. That's the downfall of labels being run by corporations. Risks need to be minimized and profits capitalized. Rules come into effect when money becomes the sole objective.<br /><br />The unfortunate thing is that the Indie music world mimics that mentality, just on a smaller scale. They may be a little more willing to take the chances but they still try to set up those stupid rules. They still try to tell people how it's done. Dammit, it's ROCK & ROLL, there is no way it's done. Real, long term, breakthrough rock stars don't exist anymore, because no one takes chances anymore. New paths are struck by the bold and the rebellious, not the trend chasers.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-70020094132651916442010-06-08T12:15:00.002-05:002010-06-08T12:27:06.944-05:00Time Limits and Expiration DatesIt's a cold hard fact of life that we won't be here forever. This never fails to occur to me when I find out that someone I know is sick. It's an eye opener to what I've been letting slide. What I've been putting off. Life is short and if we don't knuckle under, we won't leave a big enough dent in it to matter. <br /><br />Isn't that what life's about? Making a mark? Making an impact on the world and being something other than just another parasite on the face of the planet?<br /><br />Laziness and procrastination are not a luxury we really have. The urgency is real, we don't have long here, and there are always things that can shorten that time, so what can we do to maximize out impact? <br /><br />Sometimes I wish it didn't take this kind of thing to teach me such lessons.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-90055805276904685012010-06-07T14:11:00.004-05:002010-06-07T14:35:18.869-05:00The Prospect of Scaling Back on ProspectingWhether you're looking at this from the perspective of an artist, a label, or any other kind of small business viewpoint, the fact remains the same. We spend a shit ton of time prospecting for leads. Our next gig, our next record sale, our next client, our next opportunity, our next.....................whatever. When do we make time to do what we REALLY do?<br /><br />I know that the argument can be made that the economy has people pulling back on their spending and that we have to work harder to find the next paycheck, but do we really have to? That wasn't meant to sound like a spoiled kid stomping their feet about something they don't WANT to do, but a serious question. Do we REALLY need to spend so much time on prospecting? Of course the answer will be different for different folks, but I've been thinking about this a little bit. Maybe too much, really.<br /><br />The object of prospecting is to convince people that they need what we offer. Why don't we just call it sales? That's what it is. We're trying to tell people that they need our music, that they can't live without seeing us this coming Friday at 10 PM at such and such a bar. Why are we spending so much time trying to convince people? Isn't that what our music is supposed to be doing? Isn't that what our marketing plan is supposed to do? <br /><br />What if we just did what we do best? Why not just make what we make, and do what we do, and maybe just talk about what it is we're doing and making? It may take a little longer to reach all the right people, but we won't be wasting valuable energy in trying to convince the non-believers into buying our stuff. We won't be throwing resources into the wind of ambivalence. <br /><br />There's a lot to be said for the tactic of hard work and diligence. It will be noticed by those who appreciate it and it will be skimmed over by those that don't, but in the long run, you'll have a following of ONLY those who are really interested in what it is that you do. Plus you'll have the added benefit of all that extra prospecting time that you can roll into making what you make and doing what you do.<br /><br />Don't forget to talk about what it is you're doing though. Set up a twitter account and tweet about what's going on in the studio, or in the office today. Set up your Facebook account and periodically update about what's going on. Let your followers know what's up and they will tell others. Grow your followers organically, it's not about the numbers, it's about the quality. Most importantly, use that time to better yourself and your product. Be worth following and you'll see that people will talk about you. The more that happens, the less prospecting you'll have to do.<br /><br />One last thing. Too much of a "sales" kind of attitude makes you look like a salesman. What does THAT do for your image?Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-66408857350571779732010-06-03T09:53:00.003-05:002010-06-03T10:20:57.792-05:00Creativity and the Business Are NOT Mutually ExclusiveFor years we've been fed the idea that we need someone else to take care of the business side of our music careers so that we can focus on being creative. What is non-creative about the business aspects of our career? Now, I'm not trying to say that we should all fire our managers or agents and go it alone, but having a hands on approach to the business portion of our careers can be just as creative and rewarding as the actual creation side of it. Plus you get the added benefit of knowing EXACTLY what's going on with all aspects of your career.<br /><br />The fact is, there is no such thing as a plug and play plan for success in the music industry. Sure, there are the well used and frequented paths that most all musicians and bands take, but the success level is low. I kind of think of it as there only being a bottle neck opening of success and the more sand you have in the bottle the harder it is to get to that opening. So, why not unleash the creative side of ourselves and make new openings? Why stick with traditional means if tradition tells us we're delusional? Why not apply our creativity to our business plan and our marketing efforts. Why should we should we look at the business side of our endeavors as different than our music making? They are not, and should not be, mutually exclusive.<br /><br />As technologies and attitudes toward, and about, music change, the industry changes. That's why I find it amusing when I hear people say that "this is just the way it's done". That's like saying, "well, I had success doing it this way in 1974, it's bound to work now". Um, probably not. Times change, markets change, fanbases change, economies change, social outlooks change, public opinions change, so why don't our business tactics change?<br /><br />If you can't see the path to success over the heads of your competition, you're on the wrong path. Be creative and strike off into the unknown. You'll be rewarded for your efforts.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-13302400778261339672010-06-02T08:34:00.003-05:002010-06-02T10:34:42.818-05:00Does Music Still Stir the Soul?Does Top 40 radio speak to you? Does popular music make you feel anything besides confusion as to which sound alike band is being shilled to you? Does music still stir the soul of the masses?<br /><br />It's no secret that CD sales are way down over the last few years, and while downloads of certain artists are there, does that method really work for the Indie? Is it possible to make a decent living as a touring musician anymore? Is any of that actually the point?<br /><br />In order for our music to stir the souls of others, it has to stir ours first. We have to have a passion for it. Sure, there's some success associated with the prefab kinds of acts that permeate the radio these days, but what's the shelf life of your throw away pop princesses? The Miley Cyrus's of the world may have the business savvy, or management that does, to build a small empire, but how many songs of theirs can you actually name?<br /><br />The more I think of the way this game is played anymore, the more I think I'd be much happier writing music that I enjoy and hope that it touches others. If it doesn't though, I'm okay with that, cause at least I know that I love it. In the grand scope of life, that's all that really matters. I'm going to stir my own soul, you can listen in if you'd like.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-30590671809161288252010-06-01T11:34:00.003-05:002010-06-01T11:47:49.153-05:00A Rested MindI've found that I have a tendency to think a lot. Yup, I do. I think about work, I think about play, I think about family, and I think about how tight my jeans are getting and it's time to start running again.<br /><br />The thing is, I never really take the time to not think. To completely tune out and rest for a while. I mean, even when I'm sleeping I have a tendency to toss and turn because of my mind being in overdrive. It's not healthy. It makes for a bad mental state and an uncomfortable inability to focus.<br /><br />I think this is pretty common among creative people. Our bodies might be limited in the number of pursuits we can delve into at one time, but our minds are not. I find that it's very easy to get carried away, thinking of future projects, or trips, or events, or whatever. Basically, anything but being focused on what's at hand.<br /><br />Meditation is one way of bringing ourselves back into focus, but then, how many of us actually take the time to do it? Unless you've got a structured practice, it's not an easy thing to remember to do, not to mention it can be taxing in itself. Being persistent at it brings pretty solid results though. <br /><br />I just know that, for myself, I need to find time to shut my mind down and spend time not thinking. When I do, I find that my musical abilities are better focused, my writing is better, my ability to stay on task is easier, and my interactions with other people, especially clients, is sharper. <br /><br />Yeah, I think there's a lot to be said for a rested mind.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-9441307890620651272010-05-26T14:49:00.004-05:002010-05-26T15:11:30.786-05:00Why the big aversion to change?Seriously, change is going to happen, whether we like it or not. Musical styles, hair styles, fashions, car designs, technologies, attitudes, climates, and the weather, just to name a few things. Nothing stays the same. Even our bodies are a study in change. Old cells die off, new ones are formed. From moment to moment we're not the same beings. So, why is it that we resist change? Why are we scared of it? What attaches us to a certain moment in time? Are we scared that it will never be as good, or even better than it is right now?<br /><br />As musicians, we can set ourselves into a style, but that style is going to go out of popularity. Sure, it might eventually come back, but what do we do in the meantime? I mean, you have legacy acts like the Stones, or AC/DC that ride waves of popularity, but can that really sustain an up and coming act these days? What is the aversion to growing as artists? Seriously, I don't understand it? Is it really "selling out" to ensure that you prolong your career? I think I'm okay with being a sell out then. <br /><br />Purism and Elitism have caused a very real level of stagnation in the music industry. Futuristic Glam Rock bands won't be caught dead using modern equipment to make their music. The same goes for the small scene rock bands that still think you have to sport the "look" of long hair and stained denim. My favorite though, as a sound engineer, are the people who have to have that Analog sound, so bad that they're willing to live with a substandard and dated recording to be "cool". Not that I really have a problem with old equipment and technology being used, but at least do something new with it.<br /><br />The same is true for the business side of our industry. We're still stuck in the mindset that the only way to build our career is the old "tour till you drop" tactic. While live performance is still an important part of it, there is so much more that can be done to get our names, and sounds, in front of the right people. Why play the game of "this is how it's done", when we can be the innovators of how it CAN be done?<br /><br />Stagnation is a bad, bad thing. Embrace technology. Embrace change. Quit playing the game and start doing something that hasn't been done before. You might be able to make waves that way.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-86758236628220134132010-05-24T12:34:00.003-05:002010-05-24T12:54:23.403-05:00Build it and they will come! If you do enough leg work to make sure they see you, anyway.How many other people do what you do? How many of them do it well? What makes you different from them? What makes you stand out? What makes you outstanding? What makes you special? Are you really special, or do you just feel that way?<br /><br />Say you are, "that special". What are you doing to make sure everyone knows that you are? How do you draw people to your brilliance? I hate to break this to you, but they aren't exactly like moths to a light. You may build it, but they're not going to break down walls to get to you.<br /><br />We live in a time where communications with our potential audience, fans, or clients, is easier than ever. But, it's also harder than ever too. Why? Because we, as a society, are jaded by advertising and marketing. We've seen it all before. We've heard it all before, and we have DVR!!! We don't have to watch commercials. We switch the dial on the radio when the adds come on. Well, those of us dinosaurs that still listen to terrestrial radio, anyway. We block pop ups. We drop all the asshat network marketers from our Facebook friends list. WE DON'T WANT TO HEAR IT!!!!<br /><br />We are in a position though to get back to the real basics of building a following or finding the right clientele. It's communication. <br /><br />If we do what we do, and talk about what we do, then we're going to start catching the interest of the people who actually give a shit about what we do. Those are the ones we want to talk to anyway, right?<br /><br />Doing is 100 times better than talking about doing. No, if you build it they will not come. However, if you build it, and talk about building it, and post pictures of the process of building it, and promote the people that are helping you build it, you will see them come. Whether it's in trickles or in torrents will help you determine if you're talking about it in the right ways and in the right places.<br /><br />Traditional advertising and marketing are becoming less effective. Now's the time to just talk, openly and honestly, about what it is that we do. Don't sell to people, become indispensable to people.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-40727211184324079592010-05-20T13:32:00.002-05:002010-05-20T13:50:37.273-05:00The difference between diversification and chasing too many rabbitsHave you ever heard the saying "if you chase too many rabbits you won't catch any"? The logic there is pretty sound, no? If you spend too much time chasing odd and varied goals, it becomes really damn hard to accomplish anything with any degree of success.<br /><br />At the same time, how many times have you been told that diversification is the key to continued success? Sounds like a contradiction, right? The problem with cliche based advice, in any area of your life, is that no one really takes the time to really understand what it means.<br /><br />There IS a difference between diversification and chasing too many rabbits. A lot of people don't take the time to figure out this difference though.<br /><br />An example of chasing too many rabbits might be the guy down the street that fixes motorcycles and runs a lawn care/snow removal service. In a situation like that you may have moderate success doing both, but there's no room for growth because there's no room for serious dedication to either one.<br /><br />Diversification though is a whole other animal. A good example of diversification is the musician who writes, records, and performs music, but finds other ways to make his talent work for him, such as licensing his music to film, tv, or web. He's still working within his field and can fully dedicate to growth and expansion, but is finding other avenues to generate the income he needs to make that growth happen.<br /><br />It's a fine line between the two, but it's one that we have to find in order to be the best we can be. To grow beyond the normal limitations of our skill or trade.<br /><br />What can you do to hang up your rabbit chasing ways and diversify?Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-37800195109979133122010-05-18T10:34:00.002-05:002010-05-18T10:57:33.236-05:00Be Prepared Part Deux: Curly's RevengeSo, the other day I posted about the need to be prepared for the flood of new work that can come in from your prospecting efforts. Well, this week has totally shown me the need for another type of preparedness. What to do when you have a critical equipment failure at a very inopportune time.<br /><br />The fact is that we all have those pieces of equipment (studio, shop, musical, or whatever) that we use, and possibly abuse, on a daily basis. It's the heartbeat of our operation. It's the key to our ability to do what it is that we do. Yet, at the very bottom of it, we have to admit that they are things and they do wear out. The best thing we can do is be prepared for the eventuality and do our best to minimize the effects of it.<br /><br />Have a back up. Whether it's backing up the files from your computer on a daily basis, or having an extra guitar or mixer on hand, or keeping a daily updated disk of your new book project in the glove box of your car, do what you can to eliminate as much of the pain as you can.<br /><br />Most of all, keep a level head and know what you can and can't do about it. It's just a part of life and with some pre-planning and a dedicated system of having back ups in place, it won't be a devastation. Just an inconvenience.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-31870283035732203662010-05-17T11:58:00.004-05:002010-05-17T12:52:06.101-05:00It's okay to say NO!Every day new opportunities present themselves, and we even notice them if we're looking. The question is though, should we jump on every single one of them? Is it a bad thing to want to be picky and only take on the things that will better us and further our efforts as business folks?<br /><br />I don't think it's bad at all.<br /><br />We're in business to make an impact on the world and to be compensated for our time and efforts. Of course, I think it's important to keep it in that order too. It is a big thing to understand though, and it really changes the way you look at opportunities.<br /><br />Take a careful look at every opportunity that's presented to you, or favor asked of you, and make sure that there is a tangible compensation for the time and effort you're going to be expending, and it should certainly better your situation. <br /><br />Now, I'm not saying that you should look to get rich off of each dealing, but it should be well worth your time, and if it's not, then there's no shame in saying no.<br /><br />It sounds selfish, but we have to put our own interests first. If we don't, we're not going to make it. Besides, I've noticed that the more I'm willing to say no, the less often I have to do it.<br /><br />Do your thing, it's who you are.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-30173200502276494552010-05-14T14:15:00.003-05:002010-05-14T14:29:51.825-05:00Be Prepared: Not Just A Boy Scout SloganMan, it is certainly true that when it rains, it pours. Yesterday I talked about keeping moving and how good things come to those that put in the effort. Today has been a perfect example of the truth in that. It's like the floodgates of business have opened up, which has kind of made me think about how prepared I actually am for this.<br /><br />Often times, especially when things have been slow, we tend to put all our effort into looking for opportunities. We're on the hunt for new clients, better paying gigs, or bigger and better projects to attach ourselves to, which means that we may not be paying as much attention to how well we can handle the work load that could come from it.<br /><br />It's not a difficult thing to plan and prepare. It just takes diligence and a realistic, editing eye to what it is that we're doing. Nothing that self starters like us can't handle, right?<br /><br />What we do here is break down our goals into blocks of time and figure out how many of which types of jobs will fit into those blocks. Then, it's time to figure out your individual rate of conversion. How many bids to submit, emails to send, phone calls to make, or people to visit in order to fill those blocks. By building a plan for our prospecting, it becomes a ton easier to handle the work load once it starts rolling in.<br /><br />Happy hunting and best wishes for a busy Spring!Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-874313996330531182010-05-13T12:07:00.002-05:002010-05-13T12:33:59.354-05:00Don't Stop Now, It's Just Getting Good!Ever heard the sentiment that it's not the end of the journey that counts, it's the journey itself? It's taken me a long time to understand that thought, but I think I get it now. <br /><br />If we beat ourselves to death trying to reach our end goal, we won't enjoy all the little victories along the way. Hopefully we each have a nice long life ahead of us, so wouldn't it be a shame if we didn't enjoy every single minute of it?<br /><br />No matter what our direction is in life, or what we do with our time, it's important that we keep working, that we keep bettering ourselves. To stop is to stagnate and who knows what fun, important, and beneficial stuff is yet to come?<br /><br />It's certainly true that quitters never prosper. It's always the ones that are willing to put in the extra time and effort that see the biggest rewards in life, so don't stop now.<br /><br />A little single-minded determination goes a long way. Keep moving toward your goals, even if they're nowhere in sight, just yet. You will reach them and you'll probably have a hell of a lot of fun in the process.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-50422566332451756722010-05-12T13:47:00.003-05:002010-05-12T14:08:00.459-05:00When Bigger Is NOT BetterI've had a rash of Twitter adds recently that I just don't understand. How is it that these folks can have thousands of followers, yet have never posted a single tweet? No, it's not a private account that I just couldn't see. I mean, these folks have NO tweets! What does a person gain from following them, and more importantly, what do they gain from having you follow them? I mean, I don't know if you're following because you have a strong attachment to what I'm doing, or if you just want me to build your numbers. I certainly can't be a fan of what you're doing if you don't do anything.<br /><br />The really got me thinking about the quality of our followings. I mean, whether you're building a following for your music or your marketing firm, do you want thousands of cold to luke warm followers, or do you want a couple hundred red hot and rabid followers?<br /><br />Why the rush for quantity when it's been proven over and over again that quality wins out, every time? <br /><br />Our mailing lists, our Social Media followings, our Fan Clubs, all have one thing in common. They can be a kick ass database of our loyal followers and strongest evangelists, or they can be a boat anchor full of useless contacts that will, at most, only moderately support what we're doing.<br /><br />Wouldn't it be time well spent to build a following of TRUE supporters and allies? Makes sense to me.Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3304509393139373262.post-52557385011447214722010-05-11T14:55:00.003-05:002010-05-11T15:11:59.541-05:00What IS Reality?Hey all!<br /><br />So, a quick question. What exactly IS reality? Isn't it true that the truth is subjective? I mean, my view of the truth will certainly be colored differently than yours, and vice-versa. So, don't we really get to choose what our reality is?<br /><br />Think about it. Are you a struggling musician, or small business owner, or janitor, or grocery sacker? What makes you struggle? What's the difference between struggling and comfortably making it? What's the difference between having nothing and having everything? Actually, a better question is what would be the common factor? If you were to struggle, every day, to just scrape by, or if you had it all, what would be the one thing that was the same in either situation?<br /><br />YOU! <br /><br />Yep, it's our decision how we go through life. I mean, I'm sure that there are some folks who would say, "shut up, it's easy for you to say, you weren't born to nothing, with no prospects for anything better". To that I'd have to say, "SO?".<br /><br />There are plenty of examples of people throughout the history of this country who have pulled themselves up from abject poverty and even oppression to become successful men and women. Upbringing can no longer be an excuse. <br /><br />I would go so far as to argue that those of us who know poverty, who have grown up poor, or even middle class in some cases, have even more motivation to live a better life. To make more of ourselves. We have further to go and more drive, in most cases, to do it.<br /><br />What IS our reality? Are we oppressed and kept down by our economic, cultural, racial, or educational situations, or are we our own people who are free to do whatever we want in this life? What IS your reality?Paul Clarkhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15505135411634152494noreply@blogger.com0