- their photo
- their job
- their last few emails
- the last time you saw them
- their spouse's name
- their cat's name (joke, but you get the picture)
So, um... how come you're not doing this?
Scenario:
Jennifer from San Diego, one of your fans, emails you randomly one day about how much that song you wrote affected them because their daughter, Mary, was in the hospital with cancer, and it was your song that got them through the hard time...The fan comes first. It's the artists that fully embrace this concept and truly understand it that are going to have lasting careers in the 21st century. (assuming you've got the talent!)
... file that information away.
Then, 6 months pass. You've had countless interactions with fans and not a word from Jennifer. Chances are, you've nearly forgotten about her. But then, you send out a newsletter about an upcoming release and Jennifer responds:
Ooo, yay! I'm so excited, can't wait!When the email pops up, so does her profile and her past email and her daughter's name and her location and, etc. etc. etc. So now you can write back:
- Jennifer
Dear Jennifer,
Thanks for your enthusiasm. Those little emails are just as inspirational as the long-winded ones I get, like that one you sent me 6 months ago. How is Mary by the way? Maybe when I come through San Diego on the tour for the upcoming release on March 8th, we can meet up for coffee. I'd love to meet Mary and you.
I have no doubt about this statement.
So, what are some ideas you have for putting the fan first?
So, what are some ideas you have for putting the fan first?
Posts
I've thought about this trend a lot lately - artists really making a concerted effort to get to know fans as individuals.
ReplyDeleteI'm not sure I (artist perspective) like the idea of having a personal relationship with every fan?
The notion that lawyers should know personal details about their clients I think is a false one. After years of work a lawyer will develop a clientele and only through repeated meetings with clients becomes familiar with them. However, at no point does their relationship exceed the boundaries of a professional relationship - as that would simply remove objectivity from contract/case they may be working on.
This aside, the successful artist's fan-base is exponentially larger than a successful lawyer's clientele. In terms of sheer numbers, it seems implausible to develop a relationship with every individual who listens to your music.
Further, I think that it is somewhat unhealthy to develop a relationship with fans (or anyone for that matter) under false pretenses. One doesn't really remember Jennifer's daughter Mary. This is natural! How could one ever remember every individual one met on the street, let alone received an email from?
To give the idea to a fan that you really know who they are, when they have felt that indescribable connection to you through listening to your music, is incorrect.
It is misguiding them through information collected by software as opposed to being remembered through the sincerity of human emotion.
No human relationship can have a good outcome based on such an indifferent and illusive foundation.
Good information.
ReplyDeleteFans will always be the KEy to any artist success. Whatever you want to call it, just make sure you do have a 'real' connect with them, which means they will support you by buying your merch. and coming to your shows.
Yes! Be genuine. Be transparent. End of story.
ReplyDelete