5 Things You Need To Have Ready Before You Tell Anyone About Your Music

Having music is all well and good, but when it comes to getting a relevant party interested, your ephemeral window of opportunity can't be wasted. Here we Chris Robley details five critical elements you must be able to call upon if you want to cultivate interest in your work.

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By Chris Robley of CD Baby for the DIY Musician blog

No, I’m not talking about a recording. Not a press quote. Not a marketing plan. Not a logo. Not a social media following.

This is about something else.

Right now I’m at Folk Alliance International, a conference in Montréal where thousands of musicians will each have a hundred conversations about their music. One thing is clear during these types of events: It’s easy to waste someone’s time — and once you do, your window of opportunity will close.

It’s true whether you’re asking someone in the industry for help or sitting in the barber’s chair and fumbling for the words when they ask “What kind of music do you make?”

Your barber might come to a show, or stream your music, or recommend you to their cousin who books acts for a local festival, but not if you waste their time.

Talking about your music might be a waste of time unless you have:

1. A unique description for your music

You don’t hesitate when someone asks your name, right? If your music is one of the most important aspects of your life, you should be able to unapologetically and succinctly describe it, the same way you’d tell someone your name. The more intriguing the descriptor, the better.

Know who you are! If you don’t, the other person