Longing for the day ...

Making a pitch to the punters ...

At one of the final session of the Big Sound 2008 conference, entitled "Managing Your Own Release", Carlo Santone from Blue King Brown made a great point about the way entertainers should think about their interactions with the music-buying public. He was describing his days busking and trying to sell CDs, how people would mostly just ignore his act and keep walking, or even stop briefly and then resume walking, when he said that he figured out that the most important thing an entertainer who wants to make a living should ask themselves is:

"How can I convince this complete stranger to buy my CD?"

He's exactly right. If you want to make a living as a performer, you have to give complete strangers a COMPELLING reason to buy your CD ... or throw you some cash ... or fund your next tour of release ...

The trap, though, is to think too much about stunts and gimmicks, which might get attention in the short-run but does not lead to long-term commitment and fandom. A performer needs to concentrate on making their act as gripping as it can be ... great songs, great stage presence, great vocals/instrumentals.

Only that combination, with a lot of hard work and little luck, will build you career.