Insight abounds – in this arena – and things are starting to gel for me.  More and more, I am seeing the value of reaching out to people who have expressed genuine interest in my music.  Why wouldn’t they be interested in the continuing process that is leading me down this path?

I’ve been like many of us – afraid that I will appear vain or braggadocious if I send out frequent email blasts.  Now, I’m realizing that there could be a way for me to make such emails an extension of my voice as an artist. Good things are happening all the time, in my career, that are worthy of sharing.  I believe in keeping things short and sweet.  So, it makes sense that, if I reach out more often, I can keep my messages succinct and to the point.

With all of this in mind,  I’ve put together a list of 3 things that I will aim for in my emails.

1.  Humility is attractive and compelling to me.  [ However,  being so humble that you don’t say anything at all – is neither.  I’m also not a fan of “self-effacing”, or “false humility.” ]  That said,  I will aim for a simple, matter-of-fact, “this is what I’m doing” kind of approach.  I’ll write the kind of emails that I feel would draw me in and make me curious or make me want to listen.

2.  Whenever possible,  I’ll post a gig as part of the blast.  I like it when an email simply spells out when and where the next gig is – but it’s cool to have a sentence or two about what else has been going on.

3.  I like a plain text email – with maybe a link of interest.  It’s an issue of personal taste, but I’m not all that crazy about the emails with the big banners and attachments.  [ In all of this stuff, we need to do what is comfortable for ourselves. ]  I remember noticing that Bandletter has a simple, text email template.  That’s the way I’ll go.  Up to this point,  I’ve been using Ezinedirector.

It was affirming to run across Jill Sobule in a blog discussion about 1000 True Fans.  I met Jill at the Durango Songwriters Expo.  I’ve covered one of her songs at a few of my gigs – and she’s a real inspiration to me.  So, it’s great to be reminded that she is a good business woman – as well as an artist.  She’s found her own style – and I am happy to notice that I find her approach valuable as an influence.

There is no one solution to the issue of self-promotion for independent artists.  I like that this blogging challenge asks us to experiment and make sense of what we are doing in this arena.  It’s great to be reminded that trying something creative and different is part of the fun of this life.  I am learning a lot and finding that this is a small world.  I’m learning that I’m not the only person who has been self-conscious about “tooting my own horn” – or whatever.

It does no good to do all of this work – and then hide it under a rock.