You can build it and they still won't come...

In the movie "Field of Dreams" the lead character is advised by a ghost that if he builds it, "they will come." He is referring to building a baseball diamond in a corn field so that the spirits of baseball greats would have a place to play, presumably to complete unfinished business here on earth and give their souls rest. The message of the movie, of course, is that if we just put ourselves out there, if we just take a little risk, if we just stand up for what we believe the crowd will come to us. Those who made the movie apparently didn't believe it, because I happen to remember seeing several advertisements and TV commercials for it, but it is an engaging idea.

Without a doubt people have been discovered just by going to New York or Nashville or L.A. and singing in an audition or on a street corner, but the percentage of people who have been discovered that way is so low that it is barely even measurable—it is certainly less than some small percentage of some small percentage. Which reminds me of a poster I saw of a famous but empty baseball stadium with the caption, "You can build it and they still won't come." The fact is that people have to be told about what is available and how to get it. They have to understand what it is, they have to have some comfort level with it, they have to have some emotional reason for wanting it and (usually) some rational reason which helps support their decision.

So why should they pay you to perform? Why should they buy your CD? Why should they listen to your song? Obviously you are good, but so are a lot of other people and your audience only has so much time and so much money. Simply put, you have to set yourself apart somehow. Just like the movie producers did, you have to build it, you have to tell people that you are open for business, and if your message is compelling enough they will indeed come.

We can help you make your message easier to understand, easier to remember, and more interesting to your future audience. These aren't "tricks" and we won't help you sell something you can't deliver, but we will help you express yourself in words and pictures as well as you express yourself in words and music. And that's a great combination!

Promotion Packages available:

• Materials Review: $125
  You get a professional review of your promotional materials, including your web site, your printed materials, your photographs, and anything else you send us. We'll write up our comments, both good and bad, and send them back to you. Following your receipt of that written review, we'll have a 15-20 minute conversation to discuss our input and answer any questions you might have about what we said or suggested.This is a great way to do a sanity check and find out if the image you are projecting and what you are saying about yourself all fit together and accomplish the goals you have in mind for your promo materials.

• Full Promotion: $1500
  This is the package to sign up for if you are looking for guidance and professional input as you build your public image through your promotional materials. From photography to web sites, from content to tag line, we'll work with you as you build a consistent and concise message about who you are and why people should notice. This is an intense program that involves a lot of work on your part, but it is work that is worth it. At the end you will have something to show that is solid, clear and compelling. We'll work with you on a regularly scheduled basis to make sure you stay on track, and of course you'll also be able to contact us any time with questions or ideas.

To sign up for either of these packages or to get more information, call us at 650-858-1324.