Sometimes it’s good to just cut to the chase.
For your skimming pleasure today, I present twelve short and sweet takeaways from the first twelve articles on the Educate and Entertain blog.
Links to each article are provided if you’d like to explore any of these topics in greater detail.
Diving Right In…
Here are twelve key marketing tips from the first twelve articles:
#1. If you need to be earning more from your performances, stop working so cheap!
(read “Do You Work Too Cheap?”)
#2. Your email list is your most valuable asset for getting the kinds of gigs you can live on.
(read “Marketing 101 for Performers”)
#3. There’s a wonderful world of great paying gigs out there in – of all places – schools. Go get ’em!
(read “How to Get Gigs in Schools”)
#4. Use your non-gigging time to generate more work.
(read “What Do You Do When You’re NOT Performing?”)
#5. Google Alerts can help you do a bunch of things really well. For free.
(read “5 Ways Artists can use Google Alerts”)
#6. Doubling your geography will double your income, and so on.
(read “The Regional Performer: How Far Will You Go?”)
#7. Library gigs can be great if you like listening audiences and guaranteed paychecks.
(read “How to Get Gigs in Libraries”)
#8. Audiences love to learn something while they’re being entertained, and there’s a great living to be made doing that.
(read “Educate Your Audience and Write Your Ticket”)
#9. Potential clients like to be reassured that others have decided on – and been delighted with – you. Make this easy for them on your website.
(read “Artist Website Fix #1: Social Proof “)
#10. Live streaming is here to stay and you can use it to extend your reach and increase your bookings.
(read “How to Perform for 27,000 Kids (from your basement)”)
#11. Relying on social media as your only promotional channel is a mistake.
(read “Social Media ≠ Great Promotion”)
#12. We need to stop talking about ourselves and start communicating the benefits of what we do.
(read “Want Better Gigs? It’s Not About You”)
Ready For More?
Be sure to sign up for free delivery of each week’s post. I’m publishing a new full-length piece every Monday.
About The Blog
Since leaving a white-collar marketing job in 1992, Dave Ruch has been educating and entertaining full-time in schools, historical societies and museums, folk music and concert venues, libraries, and online via distance learning programs.
Along the way, he’s learned a great deal about supporting a family of four as a musician.
The Educate and Entertain blog provides articles, tips, encouragements, and how-to’s for regional performers (in any region) interested in making a great full-time living in the arts.
I m a Violinist, playing Hollywood n Bollywood songs on d Violin n also a Violin Tutor in western music.
This is a very informative article I think all musicians should read. It gets straight to the point and address areas of opportunity for musicians. Thank you for the read!
Many thanks DeVon!
Thank you Dave,
I’m going to read the blogs. It’s nice that a performing artist is involved in marketing this way.
I’m a clssical singer and during my education at the conservatory we didn’t learn anything about marketing . I learned some things along the way. But I already read good pointers in your article!
Thanks for the nice comments Judith! Glad this was useful.
Thank you for posting. I play music in the style of the late and great Doc Watson. I love this genre of music.. For the past 12+ years I was in the real estate profession……then the market collapsed. I had nothing to really fall back on……except for years of studying flat pick guitar…..which I play very well. Now I am starting over and your ideas might very well save my life……..joking here but I need help. So please stay in touch…..would love to cross paths someday.
Have a great afternoon,
Bob
If you want to like me on Facebook….with the help of my wife….is he posted a few videos…
Hey Bob – I travelled a long way to see Doc back in 1988 when I was first getting into flatpicking and the rumor was that he might be getting ready to retire. (Of course, he wasn’t!). Got to see him dozens of times over the years, and he was always great. A real treasure. Glad these articles are helpful for you.
Enjoying / learning from your posts … Thanks much.
Looking forward to the next one. Your willingness to share, help & boost performers reminds me of another friend of mine: Zak Morgan. You can check him out at zakmorgan.com He also offered me lots of tips & suggestions when I got back into this whole music thing ..
Looking forward to your next post.
Thanks so much Steve. I’ll check out Zak Morgan.