💡✍️ADN #052: Become A Digital Guerilla

Hey Friends -

Welcome to the Artist Development Newsletter.

Every Sunday, I send an email providing actionable tips for artists and industry on one area of the music business.

Last week, we covered The Social Signal System.

A simple approach for better organization, consistency, and, in turn, growth for your audience via social media.

You can re-read last week’s newsletter here if you want to refresh.

Today, I want to give you a free tactic to become a digital guerilla with your marketing.

Let’s go — ->

 — — -

This idea hit me in a conversation a couple of days ago.

A friend who is in a band themselves told me their favorite band was coming through town.

The band would be a perfect fit to tour with if they could get on their radar.

This process is most likely years away through conventional channels (management, booking agents, etc.).

My friend’s band makes great music and videos but struggles to get on more prominent artists’ radars like many young artists do because they are still developing.

• Developing awareness
• Developing relationships
• Developing confidence
• Developing tactics
• Developing knowledge

So, I quickly put on my digital guerilla hat and said, “Well, why don’t you drive down to the venue and get within cell phone range of their tour bus and see who’s phones pop up on Airdrop?”

Here’s the entire digital guerilla marketing tactic I suggested:

• You and a friend or bandmate drive to the venue where your favorite artist performs.
• One of you films, while the other explains what you are doing for your social media channels.
• Get within the Airdrop range of the artist’s phones or touring vehicle.
• Click on the Airdrop button on your iPhone.
• Select each phone that pops up.
• Airdrop your most compelling content (Video, song, etc.)
• Film your reaction to the moment.
• Then, take the footage, quickly edit it (or post it raw), and share it on social media.
• Tag your favorite artist, saying you airdropped the music or video to their phones and that you will be at their show and would love to meet them.

I’m not going to tell you this will work 100% of the time, but it’s hella entertaining to try, and you could do this once a week if you live in a major city with the number of artists that come through town.

Turn guerilla hustle into one of your superpowers.

In a world with more up-and-coming artists, you’ve got to find a way to stand out to the more established artists if you want to jump the line and find a great opportunity faster.

This is one of thousands of ways to use guerilla marketing to bend luck in your direction.

The next time an opportunity is nearby, don’t assume it is out of reach.

Be a digital guerilla and take a shot.

You won’t get where you want to go by waiting for an opportunity to knock at your door.

Find a way to knock at opportunity’s door.

Do it in a way an artist would respect, laugh at, take note of, and check out.

You only need an idea to work one time to change your career.

Until next week, fit out, not in!

-Neil

Artist Development

 — — -

Did you enjoy this week’s newsletter?

Please share it with someone you think would enjoy it!

If you haven’t already, you can subscribe to the newsletter here.