Yes, yes, I’m the same guy who just under three months ago wrote a blog under the headline, “You DO Have to Spend Money to Make Money.” And for the record, I still stand by everything I said in that post, so, don’t email me or message me through social media trying to call this a contradiction.
The fact is, however, that you have to draw the line somewhere, right? If you have an unlimited budget, then doesn’t it stand to reason that maybe you don’t even need to work? And if you don’t need to work, then why are you putting money into opportunities to get more notice? Oops. I’m only in the second paragraph and already I’ve gone off on a tangent.
You do have to decide, though, when and where you’re going to draw the line. And I personally stop and take a step back to take a very (very) long look at pay-for-play activities. You probably won’t be surprised to hear me say that the overwhelming majority of the time I take a pass on them, or, if it’s something I’m evaluating for a client, I probably recommend they do the same.
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Now, don’t get me wrong, because I understand that small businesses – many times solopreneurs – have to make money. But when you charge an entry fee for people to be up for an award, it feels kind of icky. Someone could have a far better song, podcast, short film, or another item that they want to enter, but just not the budget. So, it might not be the best creator who won but rather the individual that had the deepest pockets.
Paying for radio promotion, I get it. A price tag attached to a Facebook ad? Of course. Having to fork over a given amount to boost your video on YouTube? Yes, that seems logical.
But I just don’t have peace thinking about someone sitting there receiving all these entries for something they’re not even going to get up from their desk to do anything with. What is that money going towards? There’s no in-person event, there are no actual trophies or certificates, and it’s not being televised or even live-streamed. So again, what costs are there that you might tell me you’re trying to cover? And if you’re going to say, “My time,” I’m going to ask you for details – specifics – of what all you do with all those entries that takes up so much of “your time.”
It doesn’t make it less upsetting when it’s an annual event, but I remember a past guest from my weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast posting on Facebook about being scammed as part of something that is offered MONTHLY!
There is also a service that puts out a call for music that is said to be needed for film/television placement and, yes, you guessed it, there is a fee to send in such (I know, they’d say, “This is where we see how serious you are about your music career”), yet I’ve talked to artists who’ve told me, “I don’t know anyone who has ever had a song placed through them.”
So, follow up. Ask if you won – or came in second, or third. And ask for the list of winners. For that matter, contact the winners and ask them about it.
In one of the modules in my Interview Tips Course I point out that when you’re looking to get interviewed on more podcasts, you’ll find some that (unfortunately) want you to pay to be a guest on their show. To them I say the same thing that I’m going to say to you with regards to everything you’ve read up to this point. Just say No because there are SO many others out there that DON’T charge.
Want to bounce off me something that you’re considering that’s pay-for-play? Ask me my opinion on it based on my almost 20 years of experience running Now Hear This and helping clients from around the country (indie music artists, authors, entrepreneurs, podcasters, small business owners). Let’s have a live call so we can determine if it’s a sound investment or if there’s a better way to spend your time and money.