Opportunity Exists Everywhere!

This past weekend I put on my do-gooder walking shoes and participated in the 16th Annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk for Women. The Revlon Run/Walk is a 5k run/walk to raise money for Breast and Ovarian cancer research. I have walked this event to raise money since 2000 when the company I worked for had a team, and its something I love participating in.

Some years I walk alone, some years I manage to coerce people into walking with me. This year I arranged to meet up with my friend Taylor who had also registered for the walk. When I met up with her, I found out that she had registered to walk with a group, and the group was the WIN, Women's Industry Network, consisting of women in the Entertainment Industry.

Now I am not one to bring up business at inappropriate times, but walking with these women presented me with an extraordinary opportunity! Most of the women in the WIN group worked in film and music. I kicked myself internally for not having my business cards or any ArtiSans Marketing materials, even though I didn't even have a purse since I was there to do a 5k walk.

I mostly walked and chatted with Lori, who was a friend of Taylor's. We made small talk during the walk, and at about mile 2 she asked what I do for fun. I mentioned my band CONJOB, and she let me know that her boyfriend was in a band. I saw a golden opportunity find out a little more about her boyfriends band and to discuss ArtiSans.

First I asked general questions about the band, questions that would promote continued conversation rather than one word answers. I found out what type of music they played, and found out the band is female fronted and fairly new. I asked if they had any recordings yet and if they were planning to do an album or an EP. Lori wasn't really too sure about what the band wanted to accomplish or if they currently had plans to record or put out an album, however I was able to easily segue into a conversation about ArtiSans, and how we might be able to work with them.

I wished I had something to give her, I didn't even have a way to take her contact information or give her mine. I was quickly reminded about the importance of always having my business cards and marketing materials on me. I didn't expect to have an opportunity to find bands as I participated in this event, but I was presented with the perfect chance to bring a new artist to ArtiSans, and I wasn't prepared. Luckily, since Lori is a friend of a friend, I am able to get her information and finish up our discussion, and hopefully make a referral.

Saturday's lesson is: BE PREPARED! I have encountered artists at Starbucks, at the grocery store, out to dinner, on the subway (ok, that was in NY), even in the hospital...the point is, you never know when you'll have the opportunity to refer someone to ArtiSans Label.

Opportunity Exists Everywhere!

The New Music Movement

[Note: Every Sunday we'll be featuring a guest author. This week it's the one & only Smash. Enjoy! - Michael]

From artist to artist, fan to fan, mono y mono, we all know that the spark of today’s music industry is fading quickly. I wish for a venue like the Whiskey a-Go-Go in the late 60’s where they housed The Doors, Buffalo Springfield and Crosby, Stills and Nash. So much talent and energy in one spot that it couldn’t be bottled or packaged into a neat little LP. Where are those venues with talent bubbling over? Where is that music movement that you know is special to be a part of? I can equate this yearning to Hunter S. Thompson’s description of the hippie movement in San Francisco: “San Francisco in the middle sixties was a very special time and place to be a part of. Maybe it meant something. Maybe not, in the long run . . . but no explanation, no mix of words or music or memories can touch that sense of knowing that you were there and alive in that corner of time and the world. Whatever it meant. . . . There was madness in any direction, at any hour. If not across the Bay, then up the Golden Gate or down 101 to Los Altos or La Honda. . . . You could strike sparks anywhere. There was a fantastic universal sense that whatever we were doing was right, that we were winning. . . .” What a great time to be a part of. We as fans need something palpable to grab onto and enjoy the musical ride.

However, I can look back at history and smile, because I’ve found that spark again. At this point, the music industry is changing at a rate that is hard to keep up with. Free internet radio is here, record labels are squirming in their plush seats, and experts predict cd’s will become extinct by 2012. It’s time to jump on the new music template; here at ArtiSan’s Label the focus is on the artist and their music. Artisans bypassed the convolution of traditional record labels and is bringing it back to the customer, where it should be. The spark is at Artisan’s and I’m happy to be a part of this counterrevolution at this juncture in time. Exciting things are happening here, amazing artists are recording at our studio, and the excitement is thick in the air.

I am an Artist Advocate for ArtiSans Label. I basically go out and spread the good word through their RADAR program. RADAR stands for Rewarding Artists Discovery And Referral. And if an artist signs with ArtiSans, then my efforts are financially appreciated. The great thing about this program is anybody can do it! Everybody knows an aspiring artist, and ArtiSans can help them achieve their goals, whatever they may be. Consider the possibilities! Check out the RADAR program on the ArtiSans website and become an Artist Advocate. Be a part of the new music movement.

On that note, I will bring the focus back to the music with another Hunter S. Thompson quote that we all can relate to.

"Music has always been a matter of Energy to me, a question of Fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is Fuel. I have always needed Fuel. I am a serious consumer. On some nights I still believe that a car with the gas needle on empty can run about fifty more miles if you have the right music very loud on the radio."
— Hunter S. Thompson