It had a familiar ring to it.
I had heard this many times from Taylor Hicks, who has said he is in the music business for the long haul. This is a marathon not a sprint.
And seeing the sender’s name, Bob Lefsetz, in my emails I knew I would be reading more about the music industry and longevity.
Reading this music blogger’s informative take on the business, I often think, Taylor is doing that or Taylor has done that or that is true of Taylor Hicks.
The best, but by no means all, of “The Long Haul:”
1. Focus on the music. Get it to the point where the audience only needs to hear it once to get it.
5. You must work live. It's the best way to connect with people. You've got to be so good, you close the audience. Performing is a different skill than playing in a studio. Start honing your chops now. Play anywhere and everywhere you can. Not focused on the money, but the development of stage skills.
8. Experience counts. Everybody gets better the longer they do something.
We're never going back to the sales figures of yore. Not because of theft, but because no one can get that kind of mindshare.
But you can get some traction. If you're willing to work really hard, continuously, always leading with your music.
Then this morning in my emails from Blogger Lefsetz. “Personality Counts,” which sounds like Part Two:
1. Are you willing to work?
5. Be nice to your fans.
8. Money isn't everything.
11. Passion is everything.
In your music. In your team. In your fans.
People can't manufacture passion. And human beings can sense hype and fake interest and belief a mile away. … We know when someone is testifying for real
Lefsetz references an article we saw earlier this week from Billboard that showed Taylor Hicks would be way into the top 2.1 percent of album sales with his 100,000 units of The Distance in 2009.
I could analyze, reiterate and say much about all of this, and perhaps I will another time. For now, this all speaks very well for itself.
I’ve said it before. If you want to know about music and the music industry, read this blog.
Even if you don’t subscribe, PLEASE read both of these blogs if you care about any artist wanting to “make it” and stay around for the long haul.
Lefsetz often touts the importance of the fans as he does again in these two blogs.
Are you in for the long haul?
Sources and references:
http://lefsetz.com/wordpress/
http://www.billboard.biz/bbbiz/content_display/industry/e3i4ad94ea6265fac02d4c813c0b6a93ca2
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/10_24/b4182092762328.htm?campaign_id=rss_topStories
Note: At this publishing, the second blog, “Personality Counts” is not yet archived on Mr. Lefsetz’s site. You can read the entire text of both blogs on our message board at:
http://taylorconnections.com/topic/3418479/1/#new
Photo: Courtesy of NikkiNelson: Taylor Hicks on the Red Carpet at Season Nine American Idol Finale 5.26.10
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2 comments:
I don't know if Mr. Hicks reads Mr. Lefsetz or not, but it is phenomenal how many of the suggestions for LONGEVITY Mr. Hicks is utilizing. Most of Mr. Lefsetz's points are well taken except for "allowing a fan to house him during an engagement". I do believe that the suggestions were intended for the " novice, struggling artist" and Taylor does not qualify , but adopting some of these methods for sustaining a career will surely benefit Taylor.
When Bob L. sticks to the industry he knows best : MUSIC, he is dynamite . When he wanders " off the reservation" , he tends to explode with opinion rather than educated thought.
cath
Very well put! I like the thinking!
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