Articles from Jeffrey P. Fisher

Word of Mouth Promotions
Many people cite "word of mouth" as the main way they get business. This magical, mystical promotional strategy seems to bring in sales with little or no effort. People just contact you or buy your stuff with little intervention on your part.
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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The Anatomy of Music Success
Those who play sports competitively know the value of getting your head into the game. Along with immense physical preparation comes intense mental concentration. To be a success with your music you need to bring the same physical and emotional power to the table. Specifically, you need your head, heart, and stomach at their peak performance.
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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How Musicians REALLY Should Save For Retirement
As Congress and the Bush Administration duke it out over Social Security's future, don't sit idly by and wait to control your retirement destiny. There are proactive alternatives to just collecting government checks in your golden years.
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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Four Paths to Artistic Success
Many musicians try to do too many things at one time. It's a plague that affects many creative people. I feel it's the side-effect of the creative spirit -- helpful when you require the muse and destructive because you never finish anything (or burn out trying).
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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Nurture Your Musical Creativity
The creative process comprises four basic steps.

(1) Doodling. Here you play around with ideas, collect material, and generally putter around without any real focus. When "doodling," many people feel guilty that nothing "real" is getting done. They confuse this crucial step with wasting time. It's not. Give yourself permission to "play" because out of the play can come some real inspiration.

(2) Do nothing and let everything percolate. This is where "writer's block" lives. It's often frustrating because you can't seem to find direction. Recognizing the importance of this stage can help you deal with the anguish of hoping for something good to happen.

(3) Ah, the muse. Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hits and the creativity flows from a higher place. Often, the work is effortless and productive. When inspiration strikes, we all welcome it with open hearts and minds. It is here where we'd all like to spend our days, in the throes of passionate creativity

(4) The real work. Now you call upon all your skills to create something special from your inspiration. Once again, it's another place where we like to visit often.
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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Seven Steps to Getting What You Want
To promote your creative business effectively and make more sales, ask and answer these seven questions:

1] What do you sell?
2] What gig do you want to land?
3] What does it take to get the sale?
4] Are there any obstacles or drawbacks?
5] Who is responsible for buying?
6] How do you make contact?
7] What will your pitch or offer be?
Mar 24 2006 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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Enthusiasm Rules!
There is one simple skill you should master that can often have a surprisingly positive effect on your music career. What is it, you may ask? Enthusiasm.
Oct 27 2005 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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Ruthless Self-promotion in the Music Industry
How do you ...
-- Get your band more paying gigs?
-- Land a publishing deal?
-- Increase bookings for your studio?
-- Score new soundtracks and jingles?
-- Make more money from your music products and services?
Oct 27 2005 by Jeffrey P. Fisher
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