The Guy From LA
Years ago I was playing a show somewhere in Florida.
After our set this guy comes up to talk to us. He’s nice enough. But he’s acting like a big shot biz guy and he wants to work with us. He keeps telling us he’s from LA and does a lot of business in LA and he knows everyone in LA, and then says LA a hundred more times.
Turns out he was from Louisiana.
It’s ok to have the confidence to ride the edge of your own hype…as long as we don’t feel tricked when we find out more.
Loyalty And Laziness
When we find an artist we like, we quickly develop a degree of loyalty and laziness and bias that says, “It’s easier and less risky for me to listen to the next song of this same artist than it would to go find something new”.
When we find something we like we want more of it and we assume that this artist is the best shot we have at getting it.
So hook us in with a great song or two and keep us hanging around by being consistent.
Christmas Programs
The kids’ Christmas program is a hot ticket…to the families of the kids in the program. The families will do anything to be there and get a seat closer to the front so their video will be better.
But a couple things…
Outside of the families, there isn’t much of a market.
Outside of it being a Christmas program, the families aren’t really interested in this music group.
It’s a very specific, tight window event with sky high demand. It burns hot and then it’s over.
The good thing is that no one is confused about any of this. The kids aren’t trying to sell more tickets in order to bump up to a bigger venue and the families aren’t trying to work out a partnership agreement with all the kids to take the act on the road.
The supply and demand arcs are clear and concise.
Are yours?
Excitement Of The Promise
When the promisor makes the promise, the promisee is excited.
Partly for the moment of the promise but mostly because it means the promisor is going to take action on their behalf. The promisee doesn’t have to do anything but accept the gift.
As for the promisor…it’s exciting to make the promise. You get to look cool and powerful and helpful. But then when no one is looking and there’s no excitement and maybe you don’t feel like it, you have to fulfill the promise. And it’s important to remember that while you don’t feel like fulfilling the promise, the promisee is somewhere excited that you are going to come through.
Giving Up Nonchalance
Often times being laid back or having a nonchalant attitude is seeing as the crown jewel of moving through life. Nothing is a big deal. It’s all good. When anything difficult happens, just chill.
But you’re going to have to give up some of that nonchalance if you want to do any meaningful work.
Because meaningful work means taking responsibility…which means taking it seriously…which means it’s important and it matters to you. Well worth the price of your nonchalance.