SkatterBand Blog

If someone has a bad experience, (whether it be at a restaurant, while renting a car, or getting snubbed by their favorite band or musician) there is no doubt that they will tell at least 10 people, and those 10 will each tell someone, and before you know it, you are out of business. As musicians, (and even more so as people), we need to understand that the very foundation of our success, lies within the people who take out the time to support us every step of the way.

A great example of this was seen during the 1996 Fan Fair, where Garth Brooks showed up unexpectedly, and signed autographs for more than 23 consecutive hours.

This video not only demonstrates how every artist, big or small, can do their part to show every one of their fans how much they care and appreciate their support, but also the impact that it can have on an artist’s career.

Twelve years later, Garth Brooks continues to sell out 63,000 capacity arenas, chart #1 on Billboard, and on November 5, 2007, was again named the best selling solo artist in US history, surpassing Presley, after audited sales of 123 million were announced

That being said, here are some Do’s and Dont’s

Dont’s

• I don’t care how big you get, or how successful your career becomes, NEVER turn down an autograph to a fan. Not only will this transform the fan’s image of you (from hero to Class A Asshole) but you can better believe you’ve lost that fan for life

• Never think that your are better then anyone….as hard as it was to get to the top, its that much easier to lose EVERYTHING.

Do’s

• Talk to your fan’s on a personal level. Whether it be through your blog, MySpace, or Twitter account, giving that personal touch can go a long way.

• After your show, try and make it back to your merch table so that you can interact with the people who support you everyday. Sign autographs, take pictures, talk to them about their everyday life. This is what turns a “regular fan” into a true fan.

• Get your fans involved in some of the things you do. Whether its putting your next album cover up to a fan vote, or asking them to decide on which of your next t-shirts designs should be printed, make your fans a part of your career, and their loyalty will be yours for a lifetime.

Until next time,

Eric Schechter