| In Ireland a few hundred years ago, feudal lords | | | | Have your bandmates join a couple. Attend a |
| ruled the land. The lay people did not interact with | | | | meeting on occasion, and do your best to |
| lords. People could exist their whole lives and | | | | remember names. (ugh! write down notes about |
| never meet, or for that matter, see their reigning | | | | people after you meet them it helps) Then keep |
| lord, unless you were a bard.Bards had the luxury | | | | your ears open for opportunities. Listen to what |
| of being exempt from many of the laws of the | | | | people are saying and occassionally volunteer for |
| land. Why? Bards traveled extensively. They met | | | | something, and you will develop the loyalty and |
| countless people, and they kept communities | | | | support of that organization. And that is invaluable. |
| informed on what was happening in other | | | | For then, the sky is the limit. What benefits them |
| communities. They relayed the news, and were | | | | will benefit you, and vice versa.Now back to you. |
| supreme networkers!That's why I've been signing | | | | What kind of organizations are there in your area? |
| up with more and more organizations around | | | | How about a local Indie group? A musicians union? |
| town. Last night, I went to the Austin Celtic | | | | Songwriters' association?It doesn't all have to be |
| Association meeting despite the fact I had taxes | | | | music-related. Do you play sports? Do you like to |
| waiting at home. I sat around, shifted, stood up, | | | | paint? Write? Make pottery? How are those AA |
| and listened, wondering if there was any point in | | | | meetings coming along? Any group will do. Just |
| me being there. Finally, the meeting came to an | | | | align it with your interests and start meeting |
| end and the networking began.It turned out to be | | | | people. Get business cards. Hand out business |
| a very profitable meeting. First, let me tell you, I | | | | cards. Sometimes, the non-music organizations are |
| am not a talker. I'm a major introvert. I leave the | | | | more valuable than the music ones. Best of all, |
| talking to Andrew, my fellow bard. But by the end | | | | you never know where your local lords and ladies |
| of the evening, I had one gig scheduled as a fill-in | | | | will turn up.Bard Marc Gunn of the Brobdingnagian |
| for another band next weekend; next month, we | | | | Bards has helped 1000's of musicians make |
| are scheduled to open the ACA meeting; in June, | | | | money with their musical groups through the |
| we will headline a third festival; and, to top it off, I | | | | Bards Crier Music Marketing and Promotion Ezine |
| got the contact names and numbers for three | | | | and the Texas Musicians' Texas Music Biz Tips. |
| local venues that I have had a difficult time | | | | Now you can get personal advice by visiting for |
| reaching.You see, networking is essential for any | | | | FREE "how-to" music marketing assistance.No time |
| business, and it's really not that tough. There are | | | | to visit the site? Subscribe to the distributed |
| plenty of oranizations in any town. Join a couple. | | | | weekly for Free. |