The hardest part
Among the many irritating things about the music business - the one I find the most irritating is the 'foot in the door' part. When ever people actually come to the shows we find them to catch on pretty quick to what were doing. We have never been nervous about playing in front of anyone - because we've always known that the hardest part is already over: getting them to the show in the first place.
I have been inviting random people to our SXSW show - bands that we're fans of mostly, people that we would really appreciate coming out, people who make music that we are really into, thusly we would hope they would be into us. With this task of emailing and stuff, I found that it is the most difficult thing to say: "Sir or madam, of whom I have the upmost musical respect for - I know you get these emails all the time; but THIS ONE is different."
How do we know we are different? How do I explain to someone how much I love this band, The Everyday Visuals, and how much i believe in it without coming across like a self serving ass? How do I explain to them that, just like them, since I was a little kid, I've wanted to do nothing else with my life but play music without it sounding like a desperate plea from a nobody do nothing.
I've never been good at 'working a room' - sure, I feel like I am a funny guy, and I can be very personable, and affectionate, but what I am NOT is someone who can network and give the "hey..." finger snap that helps make those 'connections'.
I was told a story about this artist who went to SXSW last year, and bumped into the guy from spoon - they shared a beer, and by the end of the night the dude from spoon asked him to open a freaking tour for them. And the guy did.
I can't do that - I would meet the guy from spoon and for some reason or another, couldn't convince him, or could pitch us in the the right way to make that happen.
So that is the hardest part - if we opened for spoon, or anyone like that, we'd kill. I know it. But to get our foot in the door, to get that chance to be great...hmmm.
What can I say in an email that will make you listen - when I don't have music, I just have my words?
-C
I have been inviting random people to our SXSW show - bands that we're fans of mostly, people that we would really appreciate coming out, people who make music that we are really into, thusly we would hope they would be into us. With this task of emailing and stuff, I found that it is the most difficult thing to say: "Sir or madam, of whom I have the upmost musical respect for - I know you get these emails all the time; but THIS ONE is different."
How do we know we are different? How do I explain to someone how much I love this band, The Everyday Visuals, and how much i believe in it without coming across like a self serving ass? How do I explain to them that, just like them, since I was a little kid, I've wanted to do nothing else with my life but play music without it sounding like a desperate plea from a nobody do nothing.
I've never been good at 'working a room' - sure, I feel like I am a funny guy, and I can be very personable, and affectionate, but what I am NOT is someone who can network and give the "hey..." finger snap that helps make those 'connections'.
I was told a story about this artist who went to SXSW last year, and bumped into the guy from spoon - they shared a beer, and by the end of the night the dude from spoon asked him to open a freaking tour for them. And the guy did.
I can't do that - I would meet the guy from spoon and for some reason or another, couldn't convince him, or could pitch us in the the right way to make that happen.
So that is the hardest part - if we opened for spoon, or anyone like that, we'd kill. I know it. But to get our foot in the door, to get that chance to be great...hmmm.
What can I say in an email that will make you listen - when I don't have music, I just have my words?
-C
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