Wordsmith-Guerilla Marketing: My Daily Grind Part 4
It’s been a minute ladies and gentlemen, but I promise to drop some good info to the masses on a weekly basis from this point on. Okay…lets get this started people; I want to talk about promoting your stage show so you can travel the world. As an unsigned artist I have been fortunate enough to perform in the UK, Texas, Virginia, DC, Maryland, Philly, New Jersey, New York, Boston, Detroit, & California. How was I able to do this? Simple, I actually put together a very entertaining show that creates a shock and awe effect. If an artist thinks they can go on a stage and rap over their recorded lyrics or just stand in the middle of the stage, you will probably only do 5 shows a year. I’m sorry, but you can’t market yourself through shows if you perform and everyone forgets about you the next day and that will happen if the crowd doesn’t see anything different then they can get from a signed artist. Look at it like this, if you’re unsigned it’s to your benefit to go out there and be prepared to wow the audience. I always looked at shows like a live music video because it is a way to express your songs concept and vision. We all have our own niche on stage; mine incorporates theater because that’s what I got my degree in while in college. I’m not telling anyone to follow my lead, instead use it as a method to think outside of the box. If you go out there and express your music through careful movements, good mic projection, and interaction with the crowd, seventy five percent of the time you will get booked for another show on the spot. I can say that because it has happen to me numerous times. Believe me those doors will open systematically and you will be getting booked in bigger venues and opening for signed acts. I never say I know all when I speak about this marketing thing, but at the most I would like to change the way the average unsigned artist looks at shows. Still, it will help if you check out my first 3 blogs because promoting your brand/music will help boost your shows even more. Don’t forget, make sure you go to www.aarcroyalties.com and sign up with the AARC like I mentioned in my 2nd blog. They are based out of DC and the service is free, so go there and see why the AARC and performing go hand in hand.
For the Fans
Something new I want to do is spend a little time talking directly to my fans to give some insight on my weekly projects. I took Monday to do some more writing for Chubb Rock and I promo tracks and mixtape for 2009. So far, the song titles are “The Mack Report” produced by Strada, “Music for the Millenium” produced by Capish feat. Soulstice, “Virtual Relaxation” produced by Professa, The Subway Series produced by DJ B feat. Skzyoo, Donny Goines, Geolani, Fred Knuxx, & Torae, “I’m Here Now” produced by Street Level feat. Kontact & Black Knight, and “Top of the World.” Chubb and I will start dropping our promo tracks online starting in December, so make sure you don’t miss a single release. Oh yeah, my homie from the west coast DJ King Assassin will be mixing and blending the mixtape we drop a month before the album as well. That same day I was hit up by this guy named Jerry from 89.7 FM in Ghana about interviewing Chubb and I. The PR from our album hasn’t even started and we have stations overseas inquiring about it. Monday was just as good day for me overall because later that night “Super Hero Clothing” in the UK contacted me about sponsorship, so I did the deal in less then 10 minutes. I also got a surprise e-mail from one of the record promoters at Def Jam, so we are meeting on Monday. Once I leave there, I will be meeting with my man Shadeed from the Indieplanet.com to get some info on good PR people/companies. I ended my night by doing 35 minutes of the P90x workout, which is amazing to say the least. You will see results in about a week, but I still have to give the nod to my brother Professa on the workout tip because he broke me down the first time I took one of his training classes.
Yesterday, Chubb and I discussed the deal we are negotiating with Traffic Entertainment in Boston, so we can get an idea of our attack methods to promote it. When we finished on the phone I got in touch with the promoter at Sonar in Baltimore to see about some upcoming shows. I ended up getting booked to open up for “The Nappy Roots” on January 21st, so if your in the DMV area make sure you come out. A few hours later I headed home from work and did 30 minutes of the upper body P90x workout before I had to get with DMV producer Judah. Both our schedules are nasty, so it has been hard trying to get up with one another, but he laced me with 5 hot beats. For those of ya’ll who don’t know Judah’s production, check out the fresh interview he did with HipHopgame.com Once I left there I did some more work on my next HipHopdx mixtape called “The Resolution & Re-Cap.” My show deejay DJ Dublee will be handling the mixing and blending duties, so look for that to drop by the New Year.
In closing I still have a busy week, but I will take tomorrow to spend some time with my family. Let us all be thankful for life and liberty and I hope all my fans will stuff there face with Mama’s home cooking, whoooo. Be back next week folks, PEACE!!!!
Wordsmith
The Vibe Source 