Don't Believe the Hype

I used to play in a great band. I played in a lot of bands in my 20s, but one sticks out. We were really, really good. You know what happened with that band? 

Nothing.

In a year together, we played two shows and released one record that no one bought. Other groups I played in were far more successful, even though our songs and our playing weren't nearly as polished. At the time, I thought that artists did well or poorly based on skill or talent. I thought my band failed because we weren't good. I was an idiot to think this. 

Creative people succeed through MARKETING. 

Of course, the work has to be good. But good work by itself isn't worth much. A successful artist must spread the word, get people excited, build hype. My bands failed because we were knuckle-heads in our early 20s and we had no idea how to market ourselves. (Oh, and some of the groups I played in were truly awful).

I gave up performing music over a decade ago, but now I have a new creative career, one that didn't even exist when when I was playing and recording music. I make videos on the Internet. The videos are pretty good (most of the time). But I know that just being good won't cut it. I work in a crowded field with a lot of other people who do good work. If I'm going to build a sustainable career in this field, I have to be better than I was in my 20s. 

I have to be smarter. 

Yesterday, I appeared on the Make or Break podcast. It's my second appearance on this kind of show and I think it went well. The feedback has been good. I reached a few new people. But it's not nearly enough. 

I know that the next step for me is better marketing. I do okay on YouTube and Instagram, but I have almost no profile on Facebook or Reddit. My Pinterest profile is a mess. I need help. 

So today, I'm announcing a new Patron goal. When I reach $1200 a month, I will hire a Social Media Manager. I'm going to start paying someone to do the things I struggle with. My new hire will promote my work, hype my books, and help me get more exposure in the places that matter. And I'll spend more time on the thing I'm good at: making the damn videos.

You all have been amazing at helping me reach my previous goals. My new camera and professional lights are a JOY to work with. My video finally looks the way I want it to. Now, I'm looking to build a real media company on the foundation you've helped create. 

A business like mine has to grow and this is the path. Thank you all for getting me this far!

Big things are coming. Stay tuned. 

--Rex