Booo Yaaahhh! The First 30 Days…

I am excited to say that I am coming to a close of the first 30 days of the 90 day Challenge.  I was looking back at my goals for the Challenge and I think I have made a few adjustments along the way. My goals consisted of balancing family, health, singing career, and my spiritual health.  I think the ones that really stayed on top of the most was the commitment to my family and spending quality time with my baby girl and hubby, and blogging on my singer songwriter website so that you, my fans, friends, family can really get to know me.  The blogging actually is also helping me gain clarity in the direction that I want to take my career at this time.  Of course I’ll be sharing that “Ah Ha” clarity with you every step of the way.

I haven’t been video taping myself singing, so that has to be something that I push through to do asap.  It’s ridiculous.  I haven’t been setting aside the time to showcase myself to my own “peeps”.  I know you all support me and lift me up…I think the fear of being seen all over the world wide web performing, which is my dream, is getting in the way.   Also questioning the “what if’s”…what if I sing the wrong somg, What if people start talking about me?”…etc.   I’ve gotta listen to my own advise about FEAR, “False Evidence Appearing Real”.  You may have read the blog I had saying “Don’t Be Sciirred”, talking about conquering your fears by facing them head-on.

I have also gotta get my online store up and going.  Everyone is asking what things they will be seeing in the store other than music…well, your gonna have to wait on that.  I am still making up my mind on what I would like to offer that really imparts some value into your quality of life.  The next 30 days is going to be more awesome than the first.   I’ll also track my workout regimen better…I think I’m down about 5 pounds.  Now it’s time to step up my exercise routine, not that baby girl is finally sleeping through the night.  Why don’t you join me now in doing the Challenge and making the end of 2009 the best time in your life.

What Are the Specifics

I really believe that by putting my goals out there for the world to see will put me under the pressure and keep me accountable enough to actually accomplish these goals.  It’s definitely something I think is scary to do, BUT I think it will keep me in check because I don’t like to give excuses as to why I didn’t accomplish something.  So before I write down my goals for the 90 Day Challenge, I have to truly analyze what I can give myself to do without overwhelming myself.  I’ve to balance and be realistic.  So here is a list so far…

I want to get out at least one email newsletter a week, so that my friends,family and fans (which can all be one person:)) can be kept up to date on the new things that are going on in my life as well as when they can see a new performance or get my latest release.  I need to hire a babysitter just to assist me a couple of days a week so that I can practically have another set of eyes and hands watching the baby.  I can set aside some time to practice more, get some performance footage, get my email newsletter out and get some much needed couple time with my hubby.  I want to maintain a good work out regimen.  I have been running  a few miles at a time with 4-5 mile runs on Saturday mornings at the beach…BUT haven’t been for the past couple of weeks.  I’ve gotta get back on it because I need to lose the last bit of baby weight that I gained when I was pregnant.  I want to step my workouts up a notch and probably go to the gym a couple of times a week during lunch. I want to find and buy a house, too.  Ok…weremy goals a little too ambitious; 1 email newsletter a week, hiring a babysitter, practicing and tapig performances, date nights with hubby, regular workouts and, buying a house.    I think it is all doable, especially if I follow my own advise I’ve written about in previous blogs about scheduling mytime as a Singer/Mommy/Wife /Motivator. 

I’ll keep you all updated as to where I am and what has been accomplished.  Let me know what your goals are and we can keep eachother accountable.  Good luck.  Peace and soul grease, Nichole Ayanna

5 Great Tips for Street Team Marketing-Music Ideas for Hiphop R&B Artist

1. Paper the Heck Outta Major Events – Make some great black white fliers of your band on semi-glossy paper. It cheaper than doing the post cards so you can paper( “papering=pass them out) the heck out off all kinds of great events where you know there will be a crowd. Make sure it has A Photo of the band or great graphic, your website, your myspace page, and dates and venues of your coming shows. We did this at the Greek Fraternity and Sorority Fest one year. A few of our friends were going and they said that would pass out fliers. We had people saying they saw us everywhere and we weren’t even there…crazy.

2. Tell Everyone About Your Music – word of mouth is still a great way to “get the Word Out”. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, just tell them. Verbally invite them to your gigs and ask that they make a commitment to bring a few of their friends with them.

3. Promote At Radio Street Team Events – Show up at local spots where there will be a radio station promotion and pass out CDs or fliers. You know you’ll hear on your favorite radio station anounce where their street team is going to be, and at what time and day. Plan to be there, too. Give a CD to the Radio Street Team, and pass out fliers and free CDs to the people that showed up for their promotion. It’s like having free radio advertising for the crowd type of crowd that likes your type of music IF the radio stations music fits your style.

4. Email Blast – Your street team should each have a list of friends and family that they can send emails too regardining upcoming shows, or just about you as an indie artst in general. These should not be spammed messages to people they don’t know but warm contacts of their friends and family. They are just “sharing” with them information about you, their favorite artist, and what they are doing with you, and here is what you look and sound like…

5. House Concerts – Perform at one of the Street Teams members’ homes, or the home of one of their friends. You’ll be able to really connect with your warm market, people who know they are coming to hear and see you perform, and are open to having a good time. They also may know a little more about you and your indie music because they probably visited your website before coming to the show. This is also a great opportunity to ahve street team members gather people in the audiences email address for you mailing. You can also set up to sell them your CD and other merchandise.

Next, contact any local or regional newspapers or entertainment type papers in your area. Most of these newspapers have weekly band listings in their entertainment sections. Email or call the papers until you find the proper contact and send them all the info they request. Usually you’ll want to send Show Place, Date, Time, Band Name, and Cost of show (if applicable).

Lastly, search for concert calendars on the internet for free listings in the city or regional area your playing the gig. Many concert calendars will list your shows for free. Find some of the more popular ones that may get more internet traffic. Do a search on Concerts listings, events listings, free band listings or something of this nature, and add the city to the search.

Above are a few ideas for inexpensive or free self promotion of your band. Try to use all or most of these tactics for every show you self promote. Remember, the more fans you get to the show the better the chance you’ll have of getting booked there again and building a career in that city or region of interest. Good Luck, and get out there and self promote your indie music.