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