The bad guys always have a lot of henchmen.
I’m thinking Shredder’s foot soldiers or Captain Hook’s pirates.
There’s a lot of them and they’re always a bunch of idiots.
And then on the good guy team there’s one or two or three all-stars who destroy the competition.
The bad guy team is fun because there’s lots of people and not much is expected of anyone.
But the good guys always win. And that’s the best fun.
If you run into the cashier who took your order at McDonald’s yesterday…the cashier isn’t going to remember you.
Likewise…if the fan from the front row last night sees you at the grocery store, you’re not going to remember the fan.
The cashier sees a lot of customers in a day….you only see one cashier.
The fan only sees one band in a day. You see a lot of fans.
It’s easier to remember specific people, places, and things when they’re an exception to your context and immediate surroundings.
A high schooler at a toy store.
A polo at a goth show.
A fur jacket at the construction site.
A Prius at a drag race.
A mohawk at a wedding.
A snowsuit in Applebees.
A bass player at the investment meeting.
If you never know what it opens?
If you’re good at being seven feet tall and have decent coordination…it’s clear which path you will probably unlock.
But what if you’re creative and enjoy numbers?
Or are a good listener and are extroverted?
Or are highly detailed and a good teacher?
Our keys (skills, talent, traits, interests) are best utilized when we try enough things to figure out some doors that they’ll open.
It’s a lot easier to keep a good vibe going than it is to start one from scratch.
Whether it’s a show or an interview or a dinner date…if you establish a good vibe, do you have the material and presence to keep it going?
(Or at least not kill the vibe?)
If you have a song that slays…extend it, or transition into the next song without stopping the music, or have some audience interaction ready, or have the next song be even better or faster or groove harder or be more whatever.
Establishing the good vibe can be tough and a little more magic than science…but keeping it going can be a bit more strategic and calculated.
When people listen to your music and don’t like it, how do you get them to give you another chance?
Short answer…you don’t. You’re not going to swing those people back your way by a better promo picture and Instagram ad campaign.
You get another chance when their friends tell them to check it out again.
Word of mouth is always the best marketing…but after your first impression doesn’t go as planned, it’s the only type of marketing that makes a difference.
So make it cool and less risky for your fans to re-tell their friends.
Most artist think that the show is whatever happens when they get on stage. The better artists know it’s something that gets built long before stepping on stage. You get to decide which camp you’re in.
You can show your appreciation for the audience by saying ’Thank You Cleveland!’…but the much better way to show your thanks is to prepare as though you really care about giving the people a great night.