Can You Hear Me Now?

I joked over the weekend that someone who is a “low talker” should text or email me in all CAPS so I can hear them.  It’s commonly known that doing such implies that you’re shouting.

I feel like this week’s blog should be in all CAPS so that people will hear me – this time.

Four-and-a-half months ago I wrote a blog called “Just Say… Something!”  Not that I expect readership by every musician around the world, but the fact that people here in the States alone are still committing this frustrating act (regularly!) baffles me.

There’s an old saying, “Business must be good,” which is many times directed at people who turn away business or don’t even bother responding to an inquiry for their product or service.  Well, business must be good with some of the entertainers out there because I continually see individuals who don’t bother providing any type of answer to opportunities put before them.

An inquiry came in for a specific type of instrumentalist that a non-profit wanted for their black tie fundraiser later this year.  I contacted someone in my network for a referral, got it, and then proceeded to leave two voice mail messages for that musician whose name I’d been given.  Rather than going for strike three, I went back to the source, who then informed me that the individual in question, “is admittedly very bad about checking… voice mail.”  That, of course, will not get you very many bookings.  At all.

I happened upon someone else who told me – face-to-face, mind you – that they could provide a solution and would get back to me.  I think that has been two weeks now, but maybe even three.

Business must be good.

Countless potential guests are contacted for the weekly “Now Hear This Entertainment” podcast.  Since we will this week be releasing Episode 59, a great number of them get booked, obviously.  Then there are those who don’t get booked – because they never bother to write back.

In this case you’re talking about an opportunity to be heard by listeners in more than 60 countries, through major platforms such as iTunes, Stitcher Radio, and SoundCloud, not to mention here on our site.  Appearing on “Now Hear This Entertainment” would give you an outlet for two of your original songs to be heard, your online destinations and upcoming shows promoted, and a chance for your fans to hear your story in your voice while potential new fans get introduced to you.  But instead, it’s not even a ‘No thanks’ it’s – in the words of Genesis in 1981 – no reply at all.

Until you get to the level of Keith Urban or Bruno Mars or Katy Perry or Taylor Swift, remember that it should only be in extreme cases that you’re having to say No.  But there should be no reason to say nothing at all.