People skills vs. Skills

Ruslanio wrote:

BGBEATS wrote:Hey Ruslanio man first thing you need to do is Believe in your own skills and material enough to put it out in the world. You will no doubt get some negative remarks /feedback, hate even. If you already believe in yourself/ your material, you won't quit, you will keep going for it and find your audience. You will never please EVERYBODY but don't sweat it, you don't need to please EVERYONE to succeed.


Good luck man

I see man. I see you got mad promotion going on even with the promo girls. What are some other ways you promote yourself? I alredy got a domain to link to my myspace that I'm making right now, so I was thinking of ordering about 500 custom stickers, with my website and some sort of a design on em. I would put them like anytime I'm on the train or some ****. Let me know if that's a good idea, or can the personell put down the website somehow.

Yeah man, you spread the word to everybody what you offer as you never know if they or a friend of their's may need what you offer. See it's true that thousands make/offer beats for sale BUT potential clients don't have time to go through thousands of profiles/site to find the BEST beat in the world, they only have time to check out the ones that catch their eye, get recomended by a friend, or get contacted as a result of marketing/networking. Then you just need to make sure your product (beats in this case) are good enough to fill their need, and satisfy them.
Focus on your client needs and not on other people that make beats say, as 9 times out of 10 beat makers like beats that are different than what will actually sell and please your clients/potential clients.

Ruslanio wrote:
What are some other ways you promote yourself? I already got a domain to link to my myspace that I'm making right now, so I was thinking of ordering about 500 custom stickers, with my website and some sort of a design on em. I would put them like anytime I'm on the train or some ****. Let me know if that's a good idea, or can the personell put down the website somehow.

Here ya go Ruslanio, this is what you should do as far as your custom stickers/ web Domain

you can use vistaprint.com too

Follow this step by step and you WILL get results your beats only have to be "good enough" to fill the need, not be bet of the best right off the bat.






design your custom stickers like this ( i'm assuming business card size)

put that picture on the card, "rappers" (your target for beat selling (hip hop) will notice it is "them" your speaking to or a friend of a rapper will notice and pass it to a rapper.


Top of card put this question in bold print

ATTENTION RAPPERS!!!! ATTENTION RAPPERS!!! ATTENTION RAPPERS!!!!!

Are you tired of recording your tracks using those already overused Industry beats ?

YES!!!!!!!!!!

Let us HELP YOU get NEW HOT BEATS that will let YOU & YOUR songs stand out from the rest of the crowd!!


join our e- beat list by sending an e-mail to ( insert your e-mail address) and we will e-mail you back a HOT

BEAT for FREE to help you get a head start on your next mixtape.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** you make the initial contact with a free beat, a free sample of your product, after that you can sell to them
first you need them on your contact e-list (opt in)

Don't put any other info on your card/sticker you want them to E-MAIL you (join your e-list) not call you on the phone etc.

Giving a free beat mp3 ( non exclusive each subscriber gets same free beat mp3 ) in exchange for their true

working e-mail address(they will give a valid one since that is where the free beat gets sent) will build your client prospect list so you can contact your e-list once or twice a month with new beat offers (paid.. the free beat was your foot in the door) When you contact your e-mail list subscribers you don't hit thm will just a sales pitch but give them helpful information, tips, tutorials that can help them, then just put your one line after the info that again informs of your services offered (beats etc)

BGBEATS wrote:

Ruslanio wrote:

BGBEATS wrote:Hey Ruslanio man first thing you need to do is Believe in your own skills and material enough to put it out in the world. You will no doubt get some negative remarks /feedback, hate even. If you already believe in yourself/ your material, you won't quit, you will keep going for it and find your audience. You will never please EVERYBODY but don't sweat it, you don't need to please EVERYONE to succeed.


Good luck man

I see man. I see you got mad promotion going on even with the promo girls. What are some other ways you promote yourself? I alredy got a domain to link to my myspace that I'm making right now, so I was thinking of ordering about 500 custom stickers, with my website and some sort of a design on em. I would put them like anytime I'm on the train or some ****. Let me know if that's a good idea, or can the personell put down the website somehow.

Yeah man, you spread the word to everybody what you offer as you never know if they or a friend of their's may need what you offer. See it's true that thousands make/offer beats for sale BUT potential clients don't have time to go through thousands of profiles/site to find the BEST beat in the world, they only have time to check out the ones that catch their eye, get recomended by a friend, or get contacted as a result of marketing/networking. Then you just need to make sure your product (beats in this case) are good enough to fill their need, and satisfy them.
Focus on your client needs and not on other people that make beats say, as 9 times out of 10 beat makers like beats that are different than what will actually sell and please your clients/potential clients.

Ruslanio wrote:
What are some other ways you promote yourself? I already got a domain to link to my myspace that I'm making right now, so I was thinking of ordering about 500 custom stickers, with my website and some sort of a design on em. I would put them like anytime I'm on the train or some ****. Let me know if that's a good idea, or can the personell put down the website somehow.

Here ya go Ruslanio, this is what you should do as far as your custom stickers/ web Domain

you can use vistaprint.com too

Follow this step by step and you WILL get results your beats only have to be "good enough" to fill the need, not be bet of the best right off the bat.






design your custom stickers like this ( i'm assuming business card size)

put that picture on the card, "rappers" (your target for beat selling (hip hop) will notice it is "them" your speaking to or a friend of a rapper will notice and pass it to a rapper.


Top of card put this question in bold print

ATTENTION RAPPERS!!!! ATTENTION RAPPERS!!! ATTENTION RAPPERS!!!!!

Are you tired of recording your tracks using those already overused Industry beats ?

YES!!!!!!!!!!

Let us HELP YOU get NEW HOT BEATS that will let YOU & YOUR songs stand out from the rest of the crowd!!


join our e- beat list by sending an e-mail to ( insert your e-mail address) and we will e-mail you back a HOT

BEAT for FREE to help you get a head start on your next mixtape.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
** you make the initial contact with a free beat, a free sample of your product, after that you can sell to them
first you need them on your contact e-list (opt in)

Don't put any other info on your card/sticker you want them to E-MAIL you (join your e-list) not call you on the phone etc.

Giving a free beat mp3 ( non exclusive each subscriber gets same free beat mp3 ) in exchange for their true

working e-mail address(they will give a valid one since that is where the free beat gets sent) will build your client prospect list so you can contact your e-list once or twice a month with new beat offers (paid.. the free beat was your foot in the door) When you contact your e-mail list subscribers you don't hit thm will just a sales pitch but give them helpful information, tips, tutorials that can help them, then just put your one line after the info that again informs of your services offered (beats etc)

Thank's for putting effort into the reply, alot of useful information. By the way, do you do any graphic design?

Ruslanio wrote:


By the way, do you do any graphic design?

I myself just kinda play around with the graphic stuff


but I can refer you to my friend http://www.facebook.com/RAKSOUNDS

he did this one for me (I've since changed phone # to a toll free 1-866 # though)




he built like a robot out of music production/dj gear to represent my "PRIME SPINISTER" dj alter ego then used a portrait pic of me kinda mean muggin a bit and put his effects on it

he can do pretty much whatever type of design you are looking for just tell him Brian G sent ya


http://www.facebook.com/RAKSOUNDS




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BG I see you got no problems puttin your name , face and product out there but something tells me you were always the outgoing , networking type . My problem is more like , I believe in my music but I've never really been the networking type . I'm about to be in an enviorment that will let me do all types of networking and I plan on taking advantage but i've never been an ass kisser . Throw people like me some ways to make a smooth transition from a reserved / laid back type to a outgoing / networking like crazy type . I know I will eventually have to step out of my comfort zone and step my networking game up tremendously if for nothing more than to just be visible .

Mr Guiness wrote:BG I see you got no problems puttin your name , face and product out there but something tells me you were always the outgoing , networking type . My problem is more like , I believe in my music but I've never really been the networking type . I'm about to be in an enviorment that will let me do all types of networking and I plan on taking advantage but i've never been an ass kisser . Throw people like me some ways to make a smooth transition from a reserved / laid back type to a outgoing / networking like crazy type . I know I will eventually have to step out of my comfort zone and step my networking game up tremendously if for nothing more than to just be visible .

You need wingman , get a friend to go with you to whatever networking events you have coming up that knows what you do, that can start conversations and then ease you into them after the ice breaker

a creative alternative to passd out at your networking opps is inkpend with your name/ web url.. etc

people lose biz cards but people hold onto pens cause they have more use than just to be advert


another one is custom printed matchbooks...

most dj's smoke and each match book 20 matches so 1 matchbook has 20 views of ya info and they get passed around too.


but mainly if your the quiet type, just get an outgoing friend to be your mouthpiece (just make sure they know what they are talking about when marketing your services

the first step before anybody else will believe in ya is you gotta believe in ya

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manmaoyy wrote:the first step before anybody else will believe in ya is you gotta believe in ya

Truth! And you have to look confident and show competence!

Skills = Ruthless self promotion

The Grublet wrote:Skills = Ruthless self promotion

No,


EFFECTIVE ruthless self promotion= people skills & psychology


since this is most likely referring to beats



people overcomplicate the production process, it really is not hard to produce tracks that artists or other end clients will respond to once you learn what their needs/wants are. People tend to act like it's some kind of big mystery.


ANYBODY these days is capable of producing the music and because ANYBODY can do that part, the better people person, that can connect with the client prospects and/or fans, will get the biz.

If your too shy to communicate with people and put yourself out there your holding yourself back.

producing the beats/tracks is the easy & fun part, that EVERYBODY does these days. the people skills, communicating spreading your name, your brand is work that most are not willing to spend enough time on

I dunno.

I know a ton of dudes that are known worldwide... and where I meet em is backstage at the show, or getting breakfast the next day before they leave town.

Theres two kinds of networking...

Networking upstream,

or

Networking Downstream.


I choose the upstream approach, to work with people with real talent and skill, who have been forging their name and stule for some time and making headway, then, I'll fux with ya.


selling beats to wack kids is not my idea of networking. its called being a myspace retailer.


I like working with cats that can teach me something about the "game" or are just plain dope in their own right.

I'd much rather hook up a track for FREE to someone who is definitely going to drop something in mass numbers.



I dropped vocals and mixed a track for MR. Dibbs new album "dead world", and I GLADLY did it for free... and my name is not on the liner notes whatsoever.


but that is not a big deal... because when brad comes to town, we kick it and drink beers; much cooler than "being internet famous"

to each his own, but I am not dependent on hip hop for paying the light bills... and I prefer it that way.

I don't have a business card, and probably never will,

but when im out and about, rappers and producers come say whats up to me, not the other way around... insomuch as people I never met being like: yo, you wanna DJ my set? I met josh martinez this way... he rolled thru... I asked him if he smoked before his shows or not, he said yes... I rolled one up backstage, and I said I'd be happy to DJ his set for him instead of him just playing his CD. He said cool, so we rocked it hard with no practice and it went off without a hitch.


simple is best... sales; eh... show me your wallet. hip hop is more of a "survivalist" income, not a real income.

The Grublet wrote:I dunno.

I know a ton of dudes that are known worldwide... and where I meet em is backstage at the show, or getting breakfast the next day before they leave town.

Theres two kinds of networking...

Networking upstream,

or

Networking Downstream.


I choose the upstream approach, to work with people with real talent and skill, who have been forging their name and stule for some time and making headway, then, I'll fux with ya.


selling beats to wack kids is not my idea of networking. its called being a myspace retailer.


I like working with cats that can teach me something about the "game" or are just plain dope in their own right.

I'd much rather hook up a track for FREE to someone who is definitely going to drop something in mass numbers.



I dropped vocals and mixed a track for MR. Dibbs new album "dead world", and I GLADLY did it for free... and my name is not on the liner notes whatsoever.


but that is not a big deal... because when brad comes to town, we kick it and drink beers; much cooler than "being internet famous"

to each his own, but I am not dependent on hip hop for paying the light bills... and I prefer it that way.

I don't have a business card, and probably never will,

but when im out and about, rappers and producers come say whats up to me, not the other way around... insomuch as people I never met being like: yo, you wanna DJ my set? I met josh martinez this way... he rolled thru... I asked him if he smoked before his shows or not, he said yes... I rolled one up backstage, and I said I'd be happy to DJ his set for him instead of him just playing his CD. He said cool, so we rocked it hard with no practice and it went off without a hitch.


simple is best... sales; eh... show me your wallet. hip hop is more of a "survivalist" income, not a real income.

Word. I dont really work with anybody else ever, but this seems more my style. Making money off your beats is sweet, but thats shouldnt be your goal. It should be to make some dope ass tracks and have some fun.


By the way which Dibbs track did you work on. I got to hear what a fellow minnesotan on something good like that.

Its called Fire Blind... It has my buddy Mike Shank (impulse) on it. I just tracked vocals and mixed it.

cool thing is Dibbs is going to be scratching on our EP we are wrapping up in a week or so when he comes into town for the show on the 22nd at the Fineline.

Eyedea already played guitar on 3 tracks and did a chorus.


Good shit.

Where you from again? Duluth?

Nice. I cant seem to listen to that track anywhere on the internet. Is the album worth the buy?

Yeah I'm from duluth. But I've been hiding in stillwater all summer. Youre gonna have to spread the word when your album drops.

Esquilo wrote:Nice. I cant seem to listen to that track anywhere on the internet. Is the album worth the buy?

Yeah I'm from duluth. But I've been hiding in stillwater all summer. Youre gonna have to spread the word when your album drops.

duluth,ga?