Michael J. Media

YOUR MONTHLY DIY PR TIP FROM MIKE FARLEY

MARCH 2008

Don't Be a Hater

If you've been in the music business, or any business long enough, it's not always easy to avoid becoming crusty and bitter. But I for one refuse to become that way. It doesn't do anyone a bit of good, and only makes everyone else around the bitter person more, well, bitter.

There are a lot of "haters" in the music business, and I apologize in advance that I'm going to target some musicians here. Many of them think they have paid their dues and are owed a big payoff, be that a huge record deal or an investor to let them work strictly on the creative side, i.e. making music. And many of them have paid their dues, but the smart ones know that their work is never, ever done, even when they hire outside help. You still have to be act and be professional, show up to gigs and appearances on time, and be nice to your fans. That is, if you want to have longevity and make a nice living doing something you love.

Then there are the haters, those who feel the industry and everyone out there has wronged them and that they deserve a better fate. Some of those people have a tendency to lash out and stereotype music industry professionals, calling them money grubbing do-nothings. Before I go any further, I have an example of this I'd like to share.

I published this article http://hubpages.com/hub/When_To_Hire_a_Publicist

partially to share my expertise and to help young bands (I've been there myself), and partially to draw attention to my own PR company. Almost 1,300 people have viewed this article since it was published in March 2007, and a year later a "Jack Jones" posted this comment:

Absolute NONSENSE!! Musicians Beware-MOST people WILL take your money, sit back with their feet on their desks, and do NOTHING for you! Musicians work very hard, and THEY are the ARTIST. Period. Musicians-USE your fan base-your website-and YOU will GROW. After all, ITS ALWAYS BETWEEN the Artist and The Fans. Most of these so-called pubs are lookinnnng for work themselves, becuase the internet has put most out of business. THEY should PAY the BANd 500-1000 to be part of the band. Again-NONSENSE TOTALLY.

I have the ability to approve or deny comments, and I feel like free speech is something we have a right to and shouldn't mess with, unless it's explicitly profane. So I let Jack's comment stand, and responded that most publicists I know are extremely hard-working and honest, and his post was absolute NONSENSE.

But it made me feel sorry for him, because Jack is a hater, and because he is a hater will probably never enjoy the best part about making music--connecting with your fans and making new fans one at a time. Most successful artists are also very gracious and thankful that they are able to do what they do. I can almost guarantee that Jack will never make a good living at it, and probably never enjoy what he does. And that's sad.

So amid all of this being somber, the message is "Don't Be a Hater," and if you know anyone who is, by all means call them out!

Thanks for listening.....

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