Bob Baker's Indie Music Promotion Blog

News, notes and ideas on music marketing, self-promotion, artist empowerment and more

December 21, 2009

New Holiday Music Videos From Me to You

As we head through this week leading up to Christmas, I want to share with you two new holiday music videos from a recent live performance.

In this first one, I sing my favorite rendition of "White Christmas" (from the Elvis Presley Christmas album) as Pooki gracefully does a hula dance. It's beautiful and funny all at the same time.


We keep the Hawaiian theme going with our version of "The 12 Days of Christmas" -- with musical help from my daughter Kelli and her friend Brianna.


These two new videos are different from our popular family holiday videos of the past. We still haven't been able to top this one from 2007:


Have a great holiday season, and whatever you do, have fun with your friends, fans and family. It's what makes life worth living!

-Bob
Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my free Buzz Factor ezine — the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Learn more about the free subscription here.


Or just sign up using this quick and easy form:

Your First Name
Your Primary Email


Your email address will not be shared. Unsubscribe at any time.

posted by Bob Baker @ 3:06 PM   1 comments

December 12, 2009

10 Music Links Worth Tweeting About

Do you ever run out of things to tweet about?
Beyond telling people what you're eating for lunch and plugging tonight's gig, one effective way to use Twitter is to share useful and inspiring links with your followers. If you follow me on Twitter, you know that's exactly what I do several times a day -- every day.

For your tweeting convenience, here are ten quick blurbs and links to recent blog posts and podcasts of mine (that easily fit into the 140-character maximum). Just copy and paste as many as you want, whenever you want, into your Twitter account.

Of course, you can also post them on Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn, FriendFeed, and more too :-)

7 Ways to Destroy Your Music Career http://bit.ly/80PZX via @MrBuzzFactor


Great Podcast: "How to Create a Buying Frenzy" http://bit.ly/uqny3 RT @MrBuzzFactor


12 Keys to Building a Thriving Music Career http://bit.ly/4ys2PZ via @MrBuzzFactor


Made-To-Stick Music Marketing http://bit.ly/3TcL9L via @MrBuzzFactor


7 Simple But Effective Steps to Reaching Your Music Career Goals http://bit.ly/46qkDK RT @MrBuzzFactor


Podcast: "How to Get Motivated When You're in a Slump" http://bit.ly/8ZuQEl via @MrBuzzFactor


Great Question for Musicians: What Are You Pretending to NOT Know? http://bit.ly/68D4Hm via @MrBuzzFactor


FREE Sample of "55 Ways to Promote & Sell Your Book on the Internet" at http://bit.ly/2jLpAy RT @MrBuzzFactor


Is Your Music 'Findable' Online? http://bit.ly/9RbUW via @MrBuzzFactor


5 Music Career Success Questions You Need to Answer http://bit.ly/3b4BDM via @MrBuzzFactor

Happy tweeting!

-Bob


Featured Resource

Guerrilla Music Marketing HandbookGuerrilla Music Marketing Handbook

201 Self-Promotion Ideas for Songwriters, Musicians and Bands on a Budget

Learn More or Order Now
Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my free Buzz Factor ezine — the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Learn more about the free subscription here.


Or just sign up using this quick and easy form:

Your First Name
Your Primary Email


Your email address will not be shared. Unsubscribe at any time.

posted by Bob Baker @ 4:21 PM   0 comments

December 07, 2009

What Are You Pretending to NOT Know?

Seriously. How are you deluding yourself ... and what is it costing you?

In the 1990s, back when I published a local music magazine in St. Louis, I remember feeling so frustrated at times. Especially when certain businesses wouldn't advertise in my publication or sponsor music events I put on.

"What's their problem?" I would whine. Didn't they see all the work I'd put in to create a great resource? Can't a guy with a good idea get a break in this town?

Of course, I really knew the answers.

In some situations, the business and the event simply weren't a good match. I may have wanted their participation, but from their perspective, they needed to allocate their limited marketing dollars to other things. There was a part of my brain that realized that, but I paid no attention to it.

In other situations, I simply hadn't put in the time to develop the relationships that other media people had. Therefore, I didn't get those ad dollars. I even told myself many times how I needed to get out and meet with more potential advertisers and sponsors. But I rarely acted on it. And as a result, I lost out on some business.

I knew what the problems (and the solutions) were. But I chose to ignore them, get frustrated, and chalk it up to other factors that were out of my control.

In other words, I was pretending to not know something ... when I actually knew it all along.

So, what are YOU pretending to not know?

For instance, you know ... people are easily distracted and that it can take a number of follow-up attempts before you get a response from somebody.

Yet ... you give up after one attempt to reach someone and complain about the lack of response.

You know ... what inspires you and your friends to support a new artist and buy their music.

Yet ... you act as if you have no idea how to promote your own music and connect with fans.

You know ... the importance of spending time practicing and writing new material.

Yet ... you settle for mediocre performances and songs that "will do" when you put out new music.

You know ... how you like to be treated and communicated with when someone has something of value for you.

Yet ... you pretend to have no clue about how to leave a voice mail message or send an email to someone who can help you.

I guarantee, you know way more than you give yourself credit for.

So, I ask you again:

What are you pretending to NOT know?

-Bob


Get a Sneak Peek at My New Project for 2010

The Virtual Music Coach
Get more tips like these when you subscribe to my free Buzz Factor ezine — the longest running music career tips email newsletter on the planet. Since 1995. Learn more about the free subscription here.


Or just sign up using this quick and easy form:

Your First Name
Your Primary Email


Your email address will not be shared. Unsubscribe at any time.

posted by Bob Baker @ 2:35 PM   6 comments