I just had to share this video from an interview between Ariel Hyatt of CyberPR and Derek Sivers, founder of CD Baby, on crafting the perfect pitch. While the video is a few years old, the information is far from outdated. I can totally feel Ariel's pain she experienced with the artist she spoke with because I frequently get the same thing when working with new clients, either with their wardrobe styling or their media prep.
Me: "So, what genre is your music?"
New client: "It's different from anything you've heard."
[Crickets]
Me: "Let me rephrase the question: What kind of radio station would I have to turn to if I wanted to hear music like yours?"
If you can't give a potential listener any kind of context for your music, no one's going to take the time to seek it out or listen to it (watch the video below to see why). You must be able to categorize your music in a way that helps you develop a marketing plan for a niche audience. (Yes, I know, you want EVERYONE to like your music, but not everyone will since not everyone likes all types of music.) The video gives you tips on how to give a description of your music in a way that will make people want to hear your music.
Ariel's right...you have not invented a new genre of music. And please don't take the easy way out by saying, "My genre is singer/songwriter." Singer/songwriter is a profession, not a sound. And, every genre has singers/songwriters in it! Give people something more to go on. Having an interesting and informative way to describe your music will not only help you build your fan base, it will also help you give better media interviews and have a more interesting bio for your press kit and social media sites.
To receive help on creating a marketable pitch, give us a shout!
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