December 9, 2008 Attending a music biz conference? Here's the REAL way to do it....
Being the cheap music-biz conference slut that I am, I’m often asked my advice for people attending a conference. Here it is:
Read the book called How to Talk to Anyone or any book about how to be a great listener.
Go there and pretend to be an extrovert for a few hours. Walk up to strangers and ask them questions. Be interested in others. Learn about what they do. What their main challenges are. What their goals are. Get their business card. Take notes.
Then follow up 2 weeks after the conference, and THEN do some business, one-on-one, in the follow-up.
They’ll remember you as incredibly nice and a fascinating conversationalist. And you’ll have their full attention 2 weeks after the conference, instead of their divided attention during it.
Reader Comments (5)
...And then they will WANT to listen to your music. Because you developed a "relationship" over time rather than peddling your unsolicited wares on to an already overwhelmed "record exec. / A&R / etc. etc." (Because saturation is the enemy).
This is the second ingredient of my self proclaimed "Two main ingredients to making monetary musical progress": the Great Communication Skills part.
Don't forget the oh-so-important first ingredient: Great Music / Art
...Because we should all keep in mind that developing these relationships is (almost) pointless if you don't have something worthwhile or of value to offer to the person(s) you have recently "befriended".
It's not just "Who You Know", it's also so much about "Who You'll Get to Know".
(Just one persons opinion; Mine. But it seems to have a little support of others far more "successful" than me)
Excellent post Derek!
I always follow up by the next day (memory still fresh). This includes looking at the contact's website, checking them up and inviting to connect on LinkedIn.
This all means I can do a nice courteous, more informed follow up, that still has the personal feel because of the recent meeting.
I do agree about generally being interested in others. It's hard for people not to pay you attention, if you come across as genuinely interested in them.
I believe in this approach 100%. I use it on a a day to day basis, and as a small philosophy on life. I call it a small philosophy because it is a functional, common sense practice that can be applied to many personal situations.
Communication is a genuine practice, and must be kept that way. I meet far too many people who understand how to make 'communicating with others' work for their present needs, but, later, don't understand how to follow up with their conversations, or, in some cases, have completely forgot who and what they were even talking to and about, respectively.
All ranting aside, I believe that you have posted up a great piece of insight that can truly turn around anyone's "Person-ability factor" around: tenfold.
For another great book on communication (an oldie, but a goodie) please see: "How to Develop Self-Confidence and Influence People by Public Speaking" by Dale Carnegie. This book's earliest editions date back to 1926 and has sold millions around the world.
I actually picked it up, myself, in a small bookstore in Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada for $1.00 and it has dynamically changed my the way i communicate on a personal level and a business level.
You can also purchase it on amazon: http://www.amazon.com/Develop-Self-Confidence-Influence-People-Speaking/dp/0671746073
Feel free to drop me a line: zuriel.garcia@gmail.com
I wrote an article on this too - In case anyone wants more!
http://arielpublicity.com/blog/archives/the-musicians-guide-to-sxsw
Please comment your little heads off
xa
Thanks for that. Interesting stuff. Short and sweet.