Music Marketing Monday

60 - The Lost Art of Using the Phone to Book Music GigsSure, you can send email or use Twitter to reach people. It's easy and fast. But is it effective? On this episode Billy and Bob discuss the lost art of using the telephone to connect with venues, the media, and more. Billy also shares the story of how one phone call he made lead to the sale of 450 CDs. Don't miss this one.

59 - Working with Music Booking AgentsOn this episode Bob interrogates Billy and forces him to spill the beans on everything he knows about getting paid gigs through booking agents. Did he ever deliver: how agents operate, what to look for, what to avoid, and the do's and don'ts of starting relationships with them. A must-hear episode for working musicians everywhere!

58 - Pinterest for Music Marketing: Let's Get VisualIt's not just for moms looking for recipes and hair style ideas. Pinterest has 47 million users and growing (83% of them are women). So this social sharing site deserves your attention.But, no matter what you think of Pinterest, you should get more visual online - whether it's on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, or Tumblr. Billy and Bob share some visual marketing best practices on this episode.

57 - The One True Path to Music Success!Are you looking for the magic bullet? The Holy Grail? The easy-button solution to building a career in the music business? Bob and Billy have the answer. After decades of research and real-life experience, they deliver the answer you've been looking for. The one true success route, finally revealed!

56 - Turn One Song Into Multiple Income StreamsA lot of musicians are sitting on top of moneymaking opportunities and don't even realize it. Often we can't see what's right in front of us. On this episode, Billy and Bob dissect Bobby Borg's recent blog post about the many ways to make money from a single song. Take notes!

55 - Using YouTube Videos to Land Paying GigsBy now you should know that video can be used in all sorts of ways to promote your music. On this episode, Billy rips through a high-speed collection of gig-booking best practices using video, as Bob hangs on for dear life. They cover what to include, what to leave out, and what's most important to booking agents and venue owners.

54 - How to Engage a Live Music AudienceEach live show offers an opportunity to create a one-of-a-kind experience for your audience. Are you making the most of it?On this episode Billy and Bob share their best advice on how to get comfortable with stage banter (something that strikes fear in the hearts of many performers), as well as other ways to make your live shows engaging and memorable.

53 - How to Use Craigslist to Book Music GigsYes, you read that right. Craigslist! It's not just for buying and selling your old gear and finding dates. Billy explains how he recently started using this free site to find paying gigs, as Bob pulls all of the juicy details out of him.

52 - Physical Press Kit or EPK?It's should be obvious to you that we live in a Digital Era. So, do you even need physical music promotion materials anymore? Do you even need to ask: Physical or electronic? Paper or plastic?This week Billy and Bob tackle these questions and reveal some important things you should still make available in physical form.

51 - Mind-Expanding Music MarketingThis episode is all about generating breakthrough ideas. Billy and Bob deliver some passionate advice on going beyond lazy, knee-jerk thinking (including some tough love for musicians who have creative amnesia). Use these tips to come up with blockbuster ideas you can use to promote yourself better and grow your music career.

50 - Working with Your Family in MusicOn this milestone 50th episode Billy and Bob cover the pros and cons of making music with your family or significant other. What do you need to know to make it work? How do you avoid the pitfalls? What are the unique dynamics of couples? How can you make family music-making a blessing and not a curse? Listen and find out!

49 - The Do-Nothing Guide to Music SuccessThe typical approach to building a music career is work, work, work. You write, record, perform and promote nonstop. That's great, unless you forget to add another important element. On this episode Billy and Bob explain why sometimes it's best to do nothing to be more productive. That's right, nothing.

48 - Is Your Music a Business, Hobby, or Side Hustle?This week your co-hosts tackle some important questions. Are you an amateur or a professional? Are you doing music as a hobby or as a serious business? How do you define these labels? Is it based on money or effort or some other measuring stick? Can you be a part-time pro? Listen up. The answers may surprise you.

47 - Are Music CDs Dead?On this episode, Billy and Bob dress in black and prepare to attend a wake for the troubled CD format. One of them is very pessimistic and thinks you might be better off releasing new music on vinyl. The other is more cautiously optimistic, especially since he just ordered 1,000 copies of a new album. What does the future of CD sales hold? Is it a dying breed, or is it already extinct?

46 - Should You Run Paid Ads to Promote Your Music?Here's a good question, submitted by a musician listener named Morlok Von Grimorog (visit him at https://www.patreon.com/user?u=399974). As you'll discover on this episode, there's no one right answer. But that didn't stop Bob and Billy from sharing their perspectives, along with some important decisions you need to make BEFORE you start running any paid advertising.

45 - Music Biz Goal Setting Tips for 2015It's that time of the year. Have you set your music career resolutions for 2015? Heck, maybe you've already given up on them. Most people do.Regardless, hurry up and listen to this episode, as Billy and Bob dish out their best advice on setting goals and making progress. Both of these guys are pretty damn productive, so you just might learn something.

44 - Should You Play Music for Free?It's an old story: "Hey, we can't pay you, but the gig would be great exposure." What should an artist do? On this episode Billy and Bob give you their best advice on when to play for free, how to determine the right situations, and where to draw the line. Thanks to Andrew from Room 24 in Austin for getting this conversation started.

43 - Music Predictions and Trends for 2015 and BeyondOn this episode Billy and Bob get out the crystal ball and discuss what's in store for music in the year ahead. You'll get an earful of trends related to the growth of streaming services vs digital downloads, the continued resilience of vinyl, smart homes and cars, wearable technology, catering to individual fans, and going old school with your marketing!

42- What You Can Learn from the Music Biz Highlights of 2014Before we rush into the new year, Billy and Bob take a look back at 2014. They dissect the music biz highlights of the past year and discuss new album release formulas, examine the growth of podcasting, and reveal the Top 10 most popular episodes of "Music Marketing Monday" to date.

Marketing Lessons from Taylor SwiftTaylor Swift? You mean that pop star? Have Billy and Bob lost their indie cred? No! Regardless of what you think of her, the young Miss Swift has proven to be a smart and savvy artist. On this episode, your hosts examine what musicians at all levels can learn from this chart-topping phenom.

40 - Bob Talks Billy Off the LedgeUnexpected change. Relying on what has always worked in the past. These are factors that can lead to frustration and depression. Billy experienced this with his own music career last week.On this episode Bob walks him through a process of self discovery that every musician can learn from. Have a seat on the couch. Your therapist is waiting.

39 - How to Stay Healthy and Productive as a Working MusicianListener Rowen Bridler asks some great questions about health and productivity. On this episode Billy and Bob give their best advice on how to prioritize your activities and stay focused.Insider tip: Don't neglect self-care as you try to get everything done. Your co-hosts also discuss Stephen Covey's "four quadrants" and the Pomodoro Technique.

38 - Re-Branding Your New Music IdentityHow do you handle a music career shift when it comes to marketing? What happens when you change your style or band lineup?That's what listener Ellen Allard asked, and that's what Billy and Bob address on this episode. Do you erase your musical history and ignore your previous fans? Do you start fresh or build on your past? Get answers here!

37 - How Many People Will Show Up at Your Gigs?Listener Jason Didner asked this question, and on this episode Billy and Bob do their best to answer it. How can you predict how many actual bodies will inhabit the venue at your next show? What can you tell the venue owner to reasonable expect? How much music and merch should you bring? Inquiring marketing minds want to know.

36 - How to Promote Music if You Don't Play LiveLet's face it. A lot of the marketing advice you hear is geared toward artists who perform live. But what if you have no interest in doing live shows? Are you out of luck? Oh no!On this episode Billy and Bob give you a lengthy list of non-performing promotion ideas and examples. Use them to spread your music and attract new fans.

35 - How to Build a Fan Base from ScratchThis week Billy and Bob answer questions from listeners. Daryl asks "How do brand new artists attract their very first fans?"Your hosts also tackle questions about stage names and other topics sent in by listeners like you.

34 - Music Showcases: What They Are, How to Play ThemThey come in all shapes and sizes - from SXSW to NACA conferences and more. It's your opportunity to perform in front of a special group of people who have the power to book you or boost your music career.This week Billy and Bob tackle music showcases. Learn what they are, how to find them, and what you can do to make your showcase set shine.

33 - Street Performing Tips: How to Make Money BuskingDo you have what it takes to busk? To play for tips out in public places?This week Billy and Bob share their best street performing tips. Learn where and when to play, how to attract a crowd, and what to do to earn more money.

32 - Kickstarter Best Practices: How to Crowdfund Your Next Music ProjectSo you're seriously thinking about using Kickstarter or IndieGogo (or another fan-funding site) to raise money. Time to jump in and collect all the money, right? Hold on!There are a lot of things to think about before you start a crowdfunding campaign. Billy and Bob cover the basic elements you need to know and have in place before you go public with your campaign.

31 - How to Fan Fund Your Music Without KickstarterCrowdsourcing and fanfunding are all the rage. Sure, you could use Kickstarter or IndieGogo to raise money for your music project. Or ...You could get creative and use these often overlooked ideas to inspire fans to support you and your music with financial contributions. One duo raised $1,700 on their own with a small fan base. What could you do?

Niche Music Markets: How to Dominate Genres and ThemesWould you rather be a small musical fish in a big pond or a big fish in a musical lake of your own making? That's what Billy and Bob cover this week: Niche music markets.From funny golf songs and music for yoga ... To creepy Christmas tunes and Irish drinking songs for cat lovers ... Your "Music Marketing Monday" hosts show you how to dominate a category by serving highly targeted audiences.

29 - Alternative Performance Spaces: More Ways to Reach FansHot on the heels of last week's episode, Billy and Bob continue their exploration of alternative music venues and performance spaces.Can you strip down (not that way) or be flexible with your instrumentation? The boys also discuss house concerts, sporting events, and trade shows.And Billy really gets the weirdness wheels turning when he talks about playing haunted houses and becoming the "yard sale band."At 3pm EST join us on Twitter at #MMMchat for a LIVE discussion about todays topic!

28 - Alternative Music Venues: Where Else Can You Play?If you're like many musicians, you have tunnel vision when it comes to playing live. And it could be costing you lost exposure opportunities.On this episode, Billy and Bob cover a range of alternate performance spaces where you can reach new fans and sell more music and merch.

27 - An Insider's View of the Music MediaHave you ever walked a mile in a journalist's shoes? On this episode Bob pulls back the curtain and reveals what life as a music editor and writer is really like.Billy shares some ways he has gotten press coverage over the years. Bob also lists the four ways media people get ideas for the things they cover. Listen to this if you want more free publicity.

26 - Music Publicity 101: Media Exposure FundamentalsYou spoke. Billy and Bob listened. This week they tackle music publicity, one of the top vote getters in the recent Music Marketing Monday podcast topic poll.In this episode your hosts define "publicity" and "media." Bob covers the abundance of media "outlets" available to you and the many ways you can get free exposure, based on his 10 years at the helm of a music magazine.

25 - Wanted: YOUR Input on Future Show TopicsThis week Billy and Bob put YOU in the driver's seat. What topics would you most like to see covered in upcoming episode? Vote right now in this quick and easy online poll: http://goo.gl/TyYmce Listen as your co-hosts go over a healthy list of possible topics. Tweet your ideas using hashtag #MusicMM or post them in the Music Marketing Mind Facebook group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/musicmarketingmind/

24 - How to Fix the Broken Music IndustryThis week the boys cover five things the music biz can do to emulate one of Billy's favorite industries: TV! Your hosts riff on an article Ted Gioia wrote for the Daily Beast website called "5 Lessons the Faltering Music Industry Could Learn From TV."Bob points out the distinct differences between music and TV, but both Billy and Bob agree that musicians of all kinds should uplevel their game and create more value that's worth paying for.

23 - Time Shifting for MusiciansTo succeed as a musician, sometimes it seems you literally have to work it 24/7 and be in more than one place at the same time. On this episode, Billy and Bob show you how to do just that - appear in multiple places simultaneously, while magically bending your past, present and future.Neil deGrasse Tyson would be proud (except for the part where Bob curses in the intro). But seriously, tune in and get turned on to the many ways you can shift time and multiply your online marketing efforts.

22 - The Tough Love Guide to Email MarketingIs sending email to your fans still effective? Does anybody even want it anymore? Billy and Bob answer those questions and more on this week's episode.Billy signed up for a dozen different band email lists to learn how other artists promote themselves. What he discovered was startling. Your hosts also share great feedback from listeners on this important topic.

21 - How to Ruin Your Music CareerThis week the boys play both Good Cop and Bad Cop as they point out some horrible examples of missed music marketing opportunities.Billy reveals the worst practices he witnessed after observing dozens of bands at Summerfest, while Bob shows you how to avoid these costly errors and do things right.How many of these harmful mistakes are YOU making? Listen and find out!

20 - Seven Ways to Use Twitter for Music Marketing, Part 2This is what happens when Zombie Boy meets Buzz Man! Last week Billy and Bob shared some valuable insights into using Twitter to promote your music. On this episode, Bob (who has 14.4K followers) runs through his top Twitter power user tips while Billy fights off sleep - yet he still manages to add a lot of semi-coherent value to the conversation :-) A must-hear podcast!

19 - How to Use Twitter to Attract Fans and Make Connections, Part 1On this episode Billy and Bob discuss their top tips on using the world's easiest social media platform: Twitter.Did you know you can use Twitter to search for your ideal fans, reach journalists and venues, and even connect with celebrities? (Joan Jett, are you listening?)Take notes and then start plotting your new tweet-based marketing strategy!

17 - How to Step Into Your Power as an ArtistOn this episode, your dynamic duo discusses how most musicians (and creative people in general) sell themselves short - and why the world needs you to embrace your role as an empowered artist.Bob talks about his current fan-funding campaign at http://rkthb.co/34534 (which ends July 2) and Billy reinforces the major shift your career can take when you recognize how your music and art impact the world. An inspiring episode!"The Empowered Artist" Movement and Book Launch by Bob Baker - http://rkthb.co/34534

17 - How to Do a Killer Festival Show - OR - The Do's and Don'ts of Playing Outdoor Music GigsIn this fourth and final segment on outdoor music festivals and fairs, Billy and Bob share their best tips for putting on a killer show. They cover how to attract people to the stage and how to engage them throughout your set.Billy has decades of experience playing these demanding gigs. In fact, he recorded this episode from his phone during a break between sets at a - you guessed it - outdoor music festival. Listen and soak up his wisdom!

16 - Playing Festivals and Fairs: Preparation and PromotionYou've booked the gig. The day of the show has arrived. Listen as your fun-loving hosts spell out what you need to do to prepare for and promote your set.As Billy and Bob explain, outdoor music festivals and fairs are NOT your average gig. They require special attention and creative methods to get people to your stage. Some of these just might surprise you (especially the idea that Billy borrowed from the Beatles.)

15 - An Insider's Guide to Music Festivals and FairsLast week they discussed the pros and cons of playing summer music festivals and fairs. This week Bob gets Billy to spill the beans on how to reach event organizers and get booked - including some little-known ninja tricks!Other highlights: You may be surprised to learn how an old-school fax can help you stand out, and Jason leaves us a voice mail that sets up what Billy and Bob will cover next week.

Episode 14 - The Pros and Cons of Playing Summer Music Festivals and FairsIt's springtime in the Northern Hemisphere, and that means we're headed into summer festival and fair season. These events can be great exposure for bands and music artists.But are you truly up for the challenge? Do you know what playing these events really entails? Do you know the first steps you should take to reach the organizers and get booked?Billy and Bob fill you in on this episode. Pull up a lawn chair and listen.

Listener Questions and Comments Exposed!Billy and Bob have been getting lots of feedback on recent episodes. So this week they tackle listener questions and comments.Highlights: Joshua adds an Aussie perspective on how to pitch yourself to venue talent bookers. Gary wants to know whether to say yes to everything or be more choosy with music opportunities. John Henry asks how he should handle a new brand identity for his music career.As always, your energetic hosts have a lot to say on these topics. Listen up!

12 - Where to Find Great Music Marketing IdeasWhere do you find the best ideas for promoting your music? Is it other bands and record labels? If so, you may be missing out on some great opportunities.Listen as Billy and Bob take you by the hand and show you some of the best places they have found effective marketing strategies. They bet it's not where you think!

How to Deal with Haters, Feedback and Constructive CriticismThere's no getting around it. The more successful you are, the more likely people will let you know what they think of you and your music. And sometimes it won't be pretty.On this week's episode Bob and Billy discuss the good, bad and ugly of fan feedback. They also spell out how to handle it, what to listen to, and what to ignore.