So, my roommate and friend, who is the assistant to a reasonably well known artist, advised me that I should really get a publicist to help get the word out about my CD. That sounded like a good idea. She had one particular firm in mind that she works with with her artist, so she put me in touch with them. I think it’s always best to work with someone who knows you in some way, even if it’s roundabout.

My roommate had me call the owner of the company. I was in kind of a hurry because I had my CD release only a month away and I felt like I needed all the help I could get, as always. I finally heard back from the owner’s assistant a few days later. We chatted a bit but nothing firm got said. I found that a bit peculiar, but whatever.

A day or two after that, i got this email from the assistant, Jen:

Hi, Jim.

I forgot to ask you if you would send us a copy of your new CD. Tara would like to take a listen so she has a better idea of your work.
Many thanks!

Jen

I wrote back that friday and said sure, but I got distracted that day, so I asked if I could just bring it by hand in an email on Monday. She said okay, and gave me directions. Their office is down town, approximately ten miles from my house. I didn’t have my CD back from the duplicators yet, so I just took her a burned copy with a label on it that I printed at home. I figured they just wanted to listen to it, so it wouldn’t make a big difference, and besides I was in a rush because I only had a few weeks. This was a mistake.

I found their offices and parked. I called jen to tell her I was there, but the person I spoke to said she was in a meeting and couldn’t meet me right now. So I hung out on the sidewalk for a bit. Finally, a girl peeked out the door and took the disc from me. I thought I would probably come inside for a minute and say hello and meet everyone, but the girl just said “Thanks!” and went back in.

My coffee, my flip flops, and myself were left to our own devices on the sidewalk. We went home.

I didn’t hear anything for a week, so on June 26th I sent this:

Hi Jen! Just wondering what’s going on. Have you had a chance to listen to the disc yet?

Hope you had a great weekend!

She wrote back later that day, after she talked to Tara, the owner:

Hey, Jim.
I talked to Tara about your release and she said we wouldn’t be able to take
you on as a client under such a short timeframe as our schedule is very
full.
I do have the CD and Paula in my office will listen to it. She takes first
listen to all music we get in.
I’m sorry we can’t do more right away but let’s keep in touch about any
near-future opportunities.
Many thanks and have a great week!
Jen

Hm, okay. I felt like I had wasted two weeks of four between starting to contact a publicist and my CD release at this point, not to mention a drive down town, so I sent the following email. I felt like I was doing everything I could to supply them with whatever they needed to help me and nothing was happening. I had money and I wanted to pay them to help me!

Okay, I still need things like reviews and any and all attention I can get from my project, but I must say I don’t feel that my business is particularly welcome. I’m not going to play a single gig and stop there. What I need is a team to lend their expertise for the life of my career.

So, thanks anyway, I guess!

I figured that was that. I told my roommate about it, and she said she’d make some calls and see what’s up. I got this email later on June 26th:

Sorry…I think my email came across in the wrong tone. What’s your number?
I’d like to call you.

Jen

I didn’t really want to be called, I just wanted to exchange some money for some attention for my project. I replied:

Hi Jen! It’s cool. If you guys are interested going forward then I am too. I know you guys run a good operation because my roommate recommended you, and she’s no fool. I’m just at the beginning of a long haul and I want to know that people are as interested in me as I am in succeeding, as I’m sure you can understand.

I have absolutely zero idea how to market an operation like this, so I’m in need of a group like yours. If I can’t find anyone I have to learn how to do it myself, and that will take too long. :)

For future reference, my number’s xxx.xxx.xxxx

So, okay. I figured it was just a bgi misunderstanding, but we were back on track now. They would help me in exchange for my money after all. All that went down on Monday June 26th. A few days later I was at rehearsal and got a call from Jen. She said she was sorry if she came across the wrong way. I repeated that it’s totally fine and I’m completely a novice, I just need help and I want someone to help me get going. The phone call ended great, and I felt like I was back on track again with their operation.

I didn’t hear anything form them for two weeks, so I sent them this email on July 12th:

Hi Jen!

Just wondering how everything is going. We talked about moving forward but I’m not sure how to proceed from here. Perhaps you have some suggestions on how I can get us started!

Thanks in advance!
Jim

She replied later that day:

I saw on your website that the CD Release went great! That’s killer!
Do you have another show scheduled in town?

and I sent this back that same day:

Not yet, my next dates on the books are out in portland/seattle area. I’ll definitely let you know when I get something in town again. I dont really want to spend a lot on promoting these far flung shows because I don’t know when or if I can get back to that market. I’m really just doing it to go see some friends and hopefully offset the trip costs with some CD sales.

I could really use reviews and things like that just to boost general awareness. Of course you know much more about this process than I do. Should that wait for another gig in town?

I heard back from that email on July 20th:

Hey Jim.

Sorry if I’ve come across as being wishy-washy with your project. I’m
playing the role of conductor and your CD is making its way around the
office. It’s on the boss-ladies desk now and I’ll be better able to give
you some direction once she listens to it.

Do you already have the CD packaged with case art or are you planning on
sending it out without that? I ask because the copy you sent me didn’t have
anything.

Jen

I realized then that it was a mistake to take over the burned copy of the CD. I thought at the time that my relationship with them would be that of a client, so it wouldn’t matter as much. Turns out you have to court the help of a publicist when you are a small operation, even though you are going to pay them to work with you. Your appearance matters, they may not take your project on if they don’t like you.

I replied the same day:

Hi Jen. Thanks for getting back to me. I must seem like a pain. I guess I’m just new to working with publicists. Mellie says I expect too much and that these things take time. I certainly am impatient, as anyone who knows me will tell you, so I defer to her greater experience.

Yes I have CD art. I did the layout myself as I have some experience with Illustrator and I like to save a buck here and there when I can. You can see it on my awarestore page here:
http://www.awarestore.com/index.php?op=view_item&item_id=15212

I just didn’t have the CD back from the duplicators when I brought that by your office. I was in a rush to get moving and I thought a burned copy would do, but I guess that was a mistake. I should’ve waited for the more professional finished product. If it would be helpful or beneficial, I can bring a few of the real deals by. They are shrinkwrapped cardboard sleeves. I have this theory that you’re better off producing EPs every year or so and always having a new story to tell than you are doing a full LP every three years, especially since people buy music by the song anymore. As such, I don’t sweat things like 4-panel liner notes and so forth.

You’ll have to excuse me, this is my first solo CD. I really have no idea what I am doing unless it involves the actual music. I’ve never started or marketed a business before. :)

I just booked another in-town Atlanta date at Smith’s on 8/31 opening for Sam Thacker, so that’s coming in just over a month after I get back from Seattle. I also have a contact at Southeast Performer who says he will review my disc for me, so I’m working that angle as well. Wheels a-moving!

I didn’t know what to think at this point, but I did feel like an idiot for the burned CD thing. I didn’t hear anything back until today, July 31st:

Hi again!

You certainly are not a pain.

Your CD made a good impression in the office but I’m sorry to say that we are not going to be able to take on your project. As much as we support local musicians and love to be a part of their journey, our roster is really busy and we lack the time and manpower to do a thorough job right now. The last thing we want to do is take on a project and not give it our full attention.
I hope you can understand where this decision is coming from. Please feel free to keep us in the loop on upcoming shows and your progress.

All the best to you and your journey.

Jen

Well, shit. I feel like I really did something wrong. I don’t know if they didn’t like my disc, or if the burned CD thing hurt me, or if I’m just not well known enough, but I’m out of luck, so it’s back to square one on the getting publicity for myself deal. I’ve exhausted the leads I can think of, and they have been okay, but I was hoping to get some help.

Like I said, they got their contacts somehow, which means I can do the same thing if I put my mind to it, it’s just going to take a long time because no one knows who I am.

Anyway, that’s what happened when I tried to get a publicist. If you are trying to get one also, I highly recommend you contact them WAY in advance of anything you want promoted, and don’t take them any non-professional materials like a burned CD.

This entry was posted on Monday, July 31st, 2006 at 8:24 pm and is filed under Snarky Invective, Progress. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.