turnermoran -> RE: Advertising (Aug. 2 2012 22:58:11)
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needs brevity. [;)] OK..more seriously (cos I think you got that from the responses before this). Best 'joking-but-kinda serious' thing I heard on this subject: a musician friend sensed what the potential client was really trying to get at - "how good are you really?". And what he really wanted to say was, "I'm the best in your price range". At it's root is this: most people hiring musicians either listen to something/someone they can't afford, or can't tell the difference between the musicians they can afford and hire either the cheapest, or who ever *seems* to be the best. Which is often looks as much as sounds. Sad to say, but that's the world we live in. Dont get me wrong: people still listen and make their judgment largely based on that. And I'm not saying you have to look like a model. But usually, it's your website, and it's where you advertise. If you advertise at a cheesy people, you're going to look cheesy by association. And your website should cost you money. If it's a free site, or someone did the whole thing for like, $200, odds are, it's going to look that way. And you'll attract clients looking to spend $100 for a solo guitarist for their wedding. With a well done site, with professional pictures, professional video (if possible), and professionally recorded audio, you're going to be able to justify charging more. Without that, you may be a virtuoso, but if your audio is Garage band (recorded with the computer mic in your bedroom), and your site is a cheapie, you're gonna attract what you're putting out there and your genius will go unnoticed. Oh - and clothes? If your shirt is "white" but is actually freyed, and the collar is a sweat stained yellow..people notice that. In the end, if the above is a buzzkill, don't get into playing weddings. Playing weddings is all about knowing the gig. People are going to ask you all sorts of weird **** (can my sister sit in with you?, will you do a flamenco version of Ave Maria?, will you move your set up 3 times during the performance? do you know To Really Love a Woman?). If you attach unreasonable expectations to weddings, you'll be miserable. It's work. But well paid work. Have a laid back attitude, but have attention to detail, and be on time and look good. That's about it. It's not high art. Save that for the club gigs where you make $75 a man. That's the trade-off.
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