Whts Ur Stry?

In the recent e-edition of Music Connection (http://musicconnection.com/digital/), Tommy Boy Entertainment Chairman/CEO Tommy Silverman, astutely commented, “…That’s how Susan Boyle sold more records than anyone else last year. She had the best story and that story sold her record. The story is the most underrated part of what an artist has to do.”

As you work on your voice, practice and program ‘til blisters form, go through the pain you will later pen into lyrics, how will you communicate the art of your experiences? How will you market your story? As an artist, you toil to perfect your talents with a dedication others envy. Why shrink to silence when it’s time to succinctly, engagingly, honestly tell the story of what makes you a unique artist and what makes your music so relatable to the “potentials,” i.e., potential consumers, potential congregants, potential concert goers, potential fans.

Be eloquent and be open in the telling of your story. What audience are you trying to reach? What are their stories? Keep it real. What do you have in common that makes people cry, laugh, dance, work out, get down, get pumped or give praises all courtesy of your music? Use your talent and your testimony to entertain, minister and collect potential fans - one by one.

As you consider your material, consider your message. What is it you want to talk about, communicate with your music? Consider the flow of your music as you open, close and pace your CD. Mull the content of your lyrics to express uniquely. This may be either your first or your most recent visit with fans; regardless, make it great. Be unafraid. Be compelling.

Now, couple that sound with an impeccable image. What are you trying to project? Outlaw, Pastor, Good Girl Gone Bad, Rocker Dude? Hair, makeup, clothes, fashion style, location, etc., are all majorly important. Harnessing the power of transformation, connect that image with the sound and themes of your music to tell your story.

Your story should be your truth. Transparency for art can feel awfully exposed in a fishbowl, but you’ve got to figure out what you can handle. Given 21st century marketing, the immediacy of media and permanency of posts, there is no room for regret.

So, you were saying?