Anatomy of a (Missed) Interview Booking

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

Depending on whether you’re a glass half-full or glass half-empty person will determine whether you are drawn to the artist (or artists) in this post who blew it on potentially getting booked for an interview, or, the individual who seized the moment and was successful in consummating the appearance. 

Here is the timeline of events that I had a front row seat for recently, with names withheld, of course, to avoid public embarrassment.  Like any other entry that gets posted here each Monday, read and learn.

To set this up, understand that Artist A contacted me to initiate the conversation, not the other way around. 

Monday, dinner time – Artist A agrees over Instagram DMs to be interviewed for “Now Hear This Entertainment” that coming Saturday in-person in Orlando.

I ask then and again the next morning what time we can meet to record.  I have gotten a hotel to agree to let us use space in their facility for an hour at no charge, but they are asking me when this will take place. 

Tuesday, late morning – The guest’s mother (manager) is now taking over the DMs and gives me a specific time, so I let the hotel know that we will be there at 1:30.

Tuesday evening – I email the address the artist’s mother provided just over an hour ago, giving the details and instructions, including what I need sent back to me to prepare for the interview. 

Wednesday afternoon – Through Instagram DM I ask if the email that I’d sent last night has been seen.

Wednesday dinner time – The artist’s mother says no (“Haven’t checked it yet”), so I reply and mention that there were assets I was asking to have sent back by dinner time Thursday. 

Early Thursday evening – The artist’s mother DMs me to ask if I got it yet (note that last word).

Friday morning – I write back and say No (and that I’d even checked my Spam folder). 

Friday lunchtime – The artist’s mother writes back and says that someone in the band was supposed to have sent the email.  Thus, the use of the word ‘yet’ above, meaning, (unbeknownst to me) she wasn’t actually the one sending what I’d asked for.

At this point we are just under 25 hours until the interview is supposed to happen. 

Friday afternoon – The artist’s mother explains that the band member is going through some family issues, so instead she “will get into my emails right now and send you the information needed.”

Friday, just before dinner time – I send a message saying that I’m “standing by, watching my email closely as I need to get started with this ASAP.” 

Friday evening – I send a message saying that “I just checked my email and still don’t see anything.  We’re really cutting it close here.  Hoping you’re working on everything I asked to have sent for tomorrow’s interview?”

The artist’s mother responds, “I am I’m working on an (sic) I apologize for how close we are cutting this…”  I answer with, “Okay.  I will keep watching my email.” 

Two hours, 21 minutes later (now 10:28pm Friday night) – I message the artist’s mother and tell her, “At this point we might just have to cancel,” and the response I get starts with, “I think so.”

I text a colleague in California asking if there’s a potential referral that can be made last-minute so as to fill-in (over Skype) Monday (or “Sunday could be a possibility too”) and I even throw out a specific – who we will call – Artist B as a potential option. 

Late Saturday morning – I call the hotel and tell them we won’t be coming in to do an interview after all.

I hang up and wipe the egg off my face and DM who we will call Artist C on Instagram.  This had been a referral from another guest somewhat recently and was filed away in my memory bank. 

One hour later – My colleague from last night texts me saying Artist B “is in” and that an email has just been sent to connect me with Artist B.  I hit Reply All on the email and ask Artist B about availability for Monday (or Sunday/the next day) and note that “I need some lead time for you to email me assets that I will be requesting.”

Saturday, dinner time – I text the guest who’d referred me to Artist C asking if a gentle nudge could be put in towards the Instagram DM that I’d sent.  Thirty minutes later I get back a, “Sure.  I’ll touch base with her!”  Eleven minutes after that I get a screenshot texted back to me of a text conversation that the two of them had, including instructions for me to be given Artist C’s cell number to text.  I immediately text Artist C who responds four minutes later with, “Yes I would love to do it lets work out a time.  I’m at my brothers wedding right now so can you text or call me tomorrow…?”  Admiring that this artist is taking time out from her brother’s wedding to text with me, I ask for an email address, get an answer back immediately from her, and I write an email with the details and instructions for an interview we agreed to do Monday. 

Late morning, the next day – I text Artist C to follow up.  She answers me twelve minutes later while on the road returning from the wedding.  Just 79 minutes later she texts me again, saying that the “email is sent.”  Yes, already.  What a pro.

Around this same time, Artist B is finally emailing me back.  Too late.  The ship sailed.  And as happens so often in this industry, you have lost the booking to someone else. 

Decide which artist you are going to be.  The one that makes excuses and drags their feet, or, the pro who is present, who is attentive, who is timely, and who seizes the opportunity when it comes their way.

Which one are you?  Has the above account inspired you to shift out of Artist A and Artist B mode into Artist C mode?  Share your feedback with me on Twitter via @NHT_tweets or on Facebook, LinkedIn, or even through email.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Don’t Be Fooled – Live Entertainment is NOT (All the Way) Back

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

As I surf the feed on Instagram every day, watching what past guests from my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast are up to, it’s encouraging seeing some of them posting about being back out playing real shows, meaning, in-person, not sitting at home and broadcasting via livestream.

Frankie Raye (pictured) from Episode 279 is loaded with gigs in the greater Tampa Bay area.  Shannon LaBrie from NHTE 340 just played a show or two in Nashville last week.  Missouri-based Paralandra (NHTE 267) has been performing.  Melissa Bret (NHTE 9) is performing live in Atlanta.

Ah, just when we thought it was safe to assume that the country and stages were opening back up.

Friends, do NOT get fooled into thinking that everything is okay now and we can all take live entertainment for granted as though it will be there for us as it always has been in the past.

For starters, here in Florida our (Coronavirus) numbers are trending back up.  Noticeably.  To the tune of 5,500 new cases over the weekend.

But even more than that is the fact that despite what I reported above, there really isn’t a full compliment of live entertainment options out there.  In fact, it’s quite the opposite and it’s not good at all.

One month ago I wrote a blog inspired by the National Independent Venue Association making a push to get Congress to pass a Save Our Stages Act and a RESTART Act “to ensure the survival of independent venues, theatres, and even the event promoters across the United States.”  One month before that, a guest blog was published from a performer who had suffered a string of canceled performances due to the pandemic.

And now, over the weekend, I saw something that told me that we need to keep this discussion going, even if it does mean three months in a row of having a blog written on this site about steps needed for getting our entertainers back where they belong.

Granted, I do very much realize that not everything you see published on Facebook is true (lots of it is far from accurate, I get it).  However, when I see something that paints a very bleak picture for one of our major entertainment markets in the U.S. (New York), talks of massive job loss from big time employers in the industry, and tells of the countless people having to scramble for some kind of work, I mix in reality to know that it’s one post that you probably shouldn’t question the accuracy of – at least, out loud.

So yes, it’s great that some folks ARE getting SOME work back, but let’s not be lulled into thinking that everybody is happy, healthy, and living large.  There’s still a LOT of work to be done so that entertainers can get a LOT of work again.  Do what you can to make a difference, even if that’s only by supporting them with music downloads or tipping them while watching those who are still having to livestream from home.  They need it now more than ever.

Share your thoughts with me about this via @NHT_tweets on Twitter.  Or, instead, use Facebook or LinkedIn, or even good old email.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Making Introductions with No Ulterior Motive Just the Right Thing to Do

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

I, myself, am almost getting sick and tired of hearing my own voice preaching to people about the value of connections.  You can never have too many contacts, I always say.  There are just so, so many benefits to networking.

But there’s another very popular expression out there that wasn’t originated by me, yet I feel such a strong attachment to.  “Pay it forward,” you’ll often hear people say.

To some that’s paying for the order of the person behind you in the drive-thru line.  And I love hearing those stories, by the way.

But what if you could combine paying it forward with the equally impactful power of networking?

That’s what I’ve done twice very recently, and you know what I got out of it?  I just flat out felt good.  There was no ulterior motive.  There was no, “Let me sit and wait to see if one of those people comes back and does something good for me.”  It was just the right thing to do.

Let me explain these scenarios so that this could be a potential teaching moment for others.

In the first instance I was interviewing a guest for my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast and knew that although there were lots of other highlights to talk about (and we did cover those), there was a particular interest in talking about that guest’s podcast.  The more we had that conversation, the more the wheels turned in my head and I started thinking of potential guests I could recommend.  In later writing a follow-up email about one of those individuals I even made clear that this person was not a client and so I had no attachment here.  If it wasn’t a fit, I wasn’t going to be upset.  Voila, it ended up being a great referral and the host was most appreciative of my having made the connection.

The second instance was somewhat similar, with just a bit of a twist.  This time I was interviewing someone for NHTE again, however, in listening to this guest’s story – not to mention what they wanted to promote – I saw the proverbial light bulb turn on over my head.  After we stopped recording, I asked if there would be interest in and permission for me to try to place this guest onto another show that could likely be a fit for an interview.

Some months ago, I had learned about someone who does a podcast whose subject matter left enough of an impression on me that I was ready to do some digging.  I got in touch with one of my key contacts and asked what they knew about the show and its host (and contact information).  Next, I used some of that information to dig up the show title, read up a bit on it, and prepare for the final step – the e-introduction.

Another successful match was made and the two of them would take things from there to arrange a date and time to record.

Meanwhile, I found joy in being able to help essentially four people, all by being a listener, being present, and having a giving mindset rather than a “what’s in it for me” approach.  I suggest you give it a try and share in the satisfaction that I got.  There is strength in numbers, and we can all help one another in some way.

How have you been able to pay it forward to someone?  Tweet at me to @NHT_tweets or tell me on Facebook or LinkedIn.  Alternatively, use email to let me know as well.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Facebook Horrors and Twitter Absences

 By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

Seven weeks ago, vocalist, actor, songwriter, and producer Terry Barber wrote a guest blog (published here) that talked mainly about how his official music page on Facebook had been hacked.  While you should go read the whole post that he contributed, the bottom line is that now we’re sitting here at the end of September and he still hasn’t gotten it back.  He had well over 14 thousand likes/followers on there, yet has had to start over again and currently has 345.  No, I didn’t leave out a digit.  Instead of well over 14 thousand he has well over three hundred.

Getting hacked on Facebook is real.

And it’s a shame because, as you’ll hear in the interview that I had done with Terry back in June on Episode 333 of the weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast, he is extremely talented and doing big things.  Yet, scores of people won’t know about all that he’s up to because the method they used for following him is gone.

The day after tomorrow, Episode 347 will come out.  As I was preparing for that interview – as I always do with everyone else – I went on the guest’s website and social media (in addition to using notes, talking points, that they send to me).  When I was on the website and clicked the Facebook icon, it went to a Facebook page with a message saying, “This page isn’t available.  The link you followed may be broken, or the page may have been removed.”

I emailed the guest to ask if they were aware of this and the answer I got back was, ‘Yes, long story… it got hacked.’

And if you still aren’t convinced, I also saw a recent post on Instagram by NHTE 236 guest Carly Jo Jackson where she was saying, “My Facebook page was pretty much abducted by aliens for a while ((hacked))…” and then someone in the comments said, “The same thing happened to me!!!”

Maybe the craziest part of all these music pages on Facebook getting hacked is that obviously everyone is putting a huge priority on that platform, yet with little use for Twitter.  As upsetting as it is for me to hear about the former is as frustrating as it is for me to consistently observe the latter.

I look at Twitter accounts that performers have and so (so) many of them are doing very (very) little with them.  Their following is poor.  The frequency with which they tweet is poor.  Some of them pin a tweet and then obviously forget that it’s up there and, as a result, you look at their Twitter feed and it begins with something that they put out more than a year ago.  Others haven’t updated their Twitter bio and/or the image header, and you quickly understand that they are only on there to say that they’re on there.

Protect your Facebook account.  Change the password if you feel compelled.  Make it something tough with weird characters and numbers and symbols.  But then safeguard yourself further by placing a priority on Twitter and posting just as regularly on there as you obviously feel moved to do on Facebook.  In my opinion, Twitter is a stronger platform than Facebook when it comes to potential discovery by way of hashtags, so even if you only do it for that reason, then good for you.  But if your Facebook gets hacked and you’re scrambling for where to redirect people to while your help ticket gets reviewed, know that being regular on Twitter will provide tremendous relief for you then too.

Continue the conversation with me on (yes) Twitter via @NHT_tweets.  Alternatively, use Facebook (sigh) or even LinkedIn.  Plus, there’s always good old-fashioned email.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Get More Notice for What You’re Creating

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

I have often adapted the expression “You can’t be all things to all people” to instead imply that you can’t be on every single platform – industry-specific or social media.  But you do, however, need to be on some, meaning, enough.

The more you’re “seen,” the less likely people are to forget about you and, of course, the better chance you have of doing more business, whatever that looks like for you.

For example, every Monday I publish a blog here on this site.  But I also publish it on Medium and on Blogger.  I did a consult last week with a massage therapist who was looking for some marketing help and she asked, “A different blog for all those sites?”  Exhale.  No.  This same blog that you’re reading here on the Now Hear This website is the exact same as readers on Medium and Blogger will be seeing.

While there is yet another website that I publish a completely different blog on (totally different subject matter), the bottom line is visibility.  Have you heard the expression, “Meet people where they are”?  It’s used a lot in Christian communities, but in the world that creators live and work in, you need to have your work available where your audience hangs out.

I always remind people too that lots of us just seem to have a favorite platform.  So, in the example above, even though I want traffic to my website, there are people who love reading on Medium.  Thus, I’m better off meeting them there rather than agonizing over them not coming to the Now Hear This website.  (Besides, a link or two within my blog – or in my boilerplate at the bottom – will get them over to here anyway.)

The other website that I mentioned that I publish to that is for totally different subject matter?  I do nothing at all to promote that I have blogs on there.  Yet, because they are so well established and have such a huge volume of traffic, the content that I publish on there is getting a good number of eyes on it.  (I can see the number of reads, even though I’m not paying to be on their site.)

There was a time when the future of SoundCloud was in doubt, but they have done a masterful job of reorganizing and all is well there.  I have long encouraged people in the music community to have their music on there.  Why?  For the reason I alluded to above.  That’s an online destination where music people hang out.  It’s why I’ve always had the “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast on there.  Since the show caters to listeners who are singers, songwriters, musicians, etc. who want to learn more to help them grow in their career in music, that’s absolutely a place where NHTE should be.  And as a result, I’ve gotten listeners from all around the world on SoundCloud.  Had I only kept the podcast here on the website and/or “just” on iTunes (Apple Podcasts) and Spotify, I would have missed out on thousands and thousands and thousands of listens from SoundCloud users.

To be sure, there are only so many hours in a day, and no, you can’t be all things to all people (can’t be everywhere and shouldn’t be everywhere).  But, social media-wise, if you’re not on what I personally consider “the big three” – Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram – you’re off to a bad start.  Take inventory of not only where you are, but where you aren’t.  If you want more exposure, go out and get it.

Remember that I am here to help you.  With the weekly podcast, through the blog I publish every Monday, and even through personal one-on-one consultations.  It starts with you, though.  Don’t wait any longer to kick your career up a notch.

Continue the conversation with me on Twitter via @NHT_tweets.  Alternatively, use Facebook, LinkedIn, or even good old reliable email.

 • • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Don’t Register for that Masterclass Just Yet – Consider the Source

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

Consider the source.  We’ve all heard that expression, but do we execute that when evaluating opportunities?  I’m really starting to wonder.

Musicians, podcasters, creators, it’s time for a little warning.

Quite honestly, I was thrilled to see a highly respected figure in the podcast community raise, in a Facebook post, the issue of all the inexperienced people out there who are offering lessons on podcasting.  Consider the source.  Do you really want to learn from someone who has only been podcasting for, say, six months?  How many episodes have they done?  Guess what?  They’re still learning themselves.  They are still the student and shouldn’t be the teacher.

Have you ever heard the expression, “I taught him/her everything he/she knows, but I didn’t teach him/her everything *I* know”?  That’s what I’m talking about here.

It’s not unlike how much the word ‘masterclass’ gets slapped on every course, webinar, or other class that someone is trying to sell you these days.

If someone is offering you voice lessons, do your research first to see what their background is.  What are their accomplishments, sure, but, have they, themselves, been classically trained in voice?  If not, that’s not the singer you want to learn from.  There are lots and lots of vocal coaches out there.  Consider the source.  Don’t be fooled by the word ‘masterclass.’

Dictionary.com defines it as, “a small class for advanced students, especially a class in performance skills conducted by a distinguished musician.”

Ya’ gotta love that ‘distinguished musician’ part.

Consider the source.  Does the person offering the class, the seminar, the course, the webinar, the ‘masterclass,’ have a website (about themselves, not about what they’re trying to get you to register for)?  What is their social media presence like?  Meaning, how many platforms are they on?  What’s their following like?  Do they post regularly?  What kind of engagement do their posts get?

Again, do some research to find out what they have done.  It’s not unlike the checking around that you do before you purchase a TV or a computer or plang a trip.  You look at price, you look at what you’re getting, you look at reviews.  And, of course, you’d rather purchase through a reputable retailer like, say, Best Buy, than an eBay seller who has four ratings.

Nowadays a lot of people can manipulate photos and leverage tools like Canva to make a good-looking Facebook ad or social media post.  Looks can be deceiving.  Are you buying/registering because of a well-designed ad or is it because this person is qualified?

Consider the source.

Continue the conversation with me through Twitter via @NHT_tweets.  Alternatively, use Facebook or LinkedIn or even good old-fashioned email.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.

Live Entertainment Industry on Life Support

By: Bruce Wawrzyniak

It’s Labor Day, when lots of people get the day off from work to, well, have a day off as a reprieve from all that they do every day at their job.  While the 2020 edition will probably look different thanks to the still-prevailing Coronavirus, this typically is a day when people will have a cookout and/or do some kind of family picnic.  Still others, though – and in large numbers, I might add – will say, “Ya’ know what?  It’s a day off from the job.  Let’s not do any work here.  How about if we have someone else do the cooking?  We’ll go out somewhere, get something to eat, listen to some live music, and relax.”

Sounds good, right?  Although one element in there is looking really, really precarious these days.

For months and months now, some part of the conversations I have every week with guests on “Now Hear This Entertainment” end up including the huge impact of the pandemic on live music.  While some have said that they’ve done some livestreams, that’s a knock off of what they really do.  While the pay scale isn’t comparable by any stretch of the imagination, it’s kind of like the NBA currently playing in venues in Lake Buena Vista, Florida, that look like college or high school teams should be competing there, not the pros.

And for recording artists, at home in front of a camera not only isn’t going to do it, but, if some action isn’t taken immediately, the venues that scores of them are used to plying their trade at will be gone.

In a blog I wrote two-and-a-half months ago there was a reference to an NPR report just under two weeks earlier that said 90% of independent clubs, festivals, and other music venues could close – permanently.

How serious is this?  The National Independent Venue Association (NIVA) is making a push to get Congress to pass a Save Our Stages Act and a RESTART Act to ensure the survival of independent venues, theatres, and even the event promoters across the United States.

Pointing out that they were the first to close and will be the last to re-open, the venues are not an option for the American public on this Labor Day holiday, nor will they be next month at Halloween, the month after for Thanksgiving, or the month after that for Christmas or New Year’s, not to mention all the days in between.  And as a result, performers have fewer and fewer and fewer outlets to go put on a show that isn’t their house or apartment.

Of course, all the while, operating expenses for those venues (i.e., electric bill, mortgage or rent) and routine bills that performers have (i.e., electric bill, mortgage or rent) continue.

Understand that this touches not only the live music industry, but it even reaches into comedy shows as well and the venues where comedians normally go to entertain audiences in-person.

It’s also important to realize how far the tentacles reach on this animal.  Venues need to be able to re-open not only for themselves and the performers that come provide entertainment there, but others are affected such as the sound and lighting industry, not to mention the neighboring bars, restaurants, and coffee shops that count on that foot traffic from people going to these performances.

Spend some time on the NIVA website, where you can even fill out a form, which will be sent to legislators.  Thousands of events have been canceled.  Jobs have been lost.  Businesses are failing.  It’s time to act.

Continue the conversation with me on Twitter via @NHT_tweets.  Alternatively, use Facebook, LinkedIn, or even email to be a part of this important discussion.

• • •

I am a manager and publicist, running Now Hear This, Inc., an agency that has served clients across the U.S. ranging from music artists to authors to small businesses and even an Olympic athlete. Since February 2014 I have also hosted a weekly podcast (“Now Hear This Entertainment”), which has gotten listeners from 153 countries around the world. Find more about the company and the podcast at www.NowHearThis.biz. I am also a national speaker. Visit www.SpeakerBruceW.com for more information.