Platform? I Don’t Need No Stinking Platform!

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Imagine you’re a producer for a hit TV show. You’re looking for the perfect piece of music for a scene in an upcoming episode. Finally, after listening to dozens of tracks you find it. It’s perfect. You love it.

So that’s all you need to know, right?

Wrong.

Turns out the first question a music supervisor asks about a potential track is the same question a publisher asks about an author, and a label asks about an artist:

“How big is their platform?”

(Meaning, how many followers do they have on Twitter, Facebook, Google+, etc?)

This was a surprise to me, I think because it didn’t used to be that way.

In the old days, publishers, labels, networks, radio, and even clubs saw their job as finding new talent and then helping them build an audience. That’s the world I grew up in. But now it’s the opposite. Now they’re only interested in you if you’ve built your own audience first.

I knew this was true with publishers and labels, and it actually makes sense to me there. A built-in audience guarantees sales. (Otherwise they would have to, you know, market you.)

But with licensing, they already have the audience. Why would they care about an artist’s platform?

I really thought this was one area where the quality of the work was all that mattered. But an old music-biz friend of mine rid me of that fantasy for good this week. According to him (and he does a lot of work in licensing), even with a hit show, producers still need all the promotion help they can get. So they look for artists who can post to their list and help with ratings.

Of course it makes sense. It just never occurred to me.

So there it is. It’s official – or at least I finally understand that it’s official. It’s all about platform now. I surrender.

I’ve actually been working on this for a while already, but there was still a small part of me that was resisting. But I’m all in now. Time to make it part of my everyday work.

And if you’re a creative who’s looking to make something happen, it should be part of yours, too.

Here are the favorite books I’ve read on the subject so far:

Any one of these would be great for getting started or taking things to the next level.

Then you should let me know what you’re doing, because I’ll be doing the same thing.

One final thought. Does a big platform guarantee success? No. You still have to do great work. ( Big Platform + Crap = Reality Television ) You don’t want that.

But great work with no platform doesn’t get you anywhere either – and I have many friends who are evidence of that.

The truth is, neither one works on its own anymore. From now on, you need both. Might as well get over it and get to work.

So let’s get to it, shall we? I look forward to hearing what you’re doing.

On we go!

In Art, Music, Success
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Mourning the Loss of the Neighbors

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Mourning the Loss of the Neighbors

Our quality of life just took a big hit. Our favorite people moved away.

Two years ago, we moved here to be near them (among other things). We ended up a block and a half away. Neighbors!

It’s been incredibly great. Even better than we’d imagined.

But now they’ve moved. (Don’t blame them. It was always the plan.)

It’s not that far. Just a mile out of town. Five-minute drive. Shouldn’t be a big thing. But I’m realizing now, it’s a very big thing.

We’re not neighbors anymore.

Here’s what the last two years have been like:

  • Walking /riding to school together. The crazy caravan. A chance to chat.
  • Taking their kids, if they need.
  • Them taking ours, if we need. Same thing on the way home.
  • Checking on their cats when they’re out of town.
  • Them watering our plants /picking our garden when we’re gone.
  • Borrowing mayo in a pinch or a cupcake pan.
  • Kids coming and going – early, late, short, long, scooter, walk, run, skip – all on a moment’s notice.
  • Driving /walking /riding by the house. Waving, smiling, honking (or stopping) on the way to somewhere else.
  • Feeling them in our lives many times a day, even if we’re not doing something together.
  • The comfort of having that kind of neighbor.
  • The pride of being that kind of neighbor.

All gone now.

We’re still connected, of course – and always will be.

But we’re not neighbors.

It’s a bigger loss than I expected.

If you want to make a major improvement in your life, find a way to live within a block or two of people you feel connected to, especially if they’re in a similar phase of life – kids, etc.

Truly, you’ll love everything about it. It adds to your life precisely the things that bring the most happiness.

The only downside is, they might move.

How about you? How close do you live to your favorite people? Ever lost neighbors you loved? How did you adjust?

Leave a comment, while you’re here. I’d love to hear your story.

In Kids, Family, and Parenting, Life, Life philosophy, Quality of Life, Success
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3 Reasons You Need To Stop Following The News

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Inner Game Mastery

This is amazing to me, but I’m on day nineteen of a Daily News Blackout. (Note: This was originally posted 3/27/12 at JustBeHeard.com)

I have literally not checked any of my daily sources of news (other than the weather and the blogs I follow) for almost three weeks. And no, I’m not on vacation.

This might not sound like a big deal to you, but I have a serious news habit. It’s embarrassing, but some days I will “check in” as much as thirty or forty times a day. Crazy. So checking in zero times is really hard.

And this is actually my second attempt. I first started a couple of months ago but fell off the wagon a few weeks ago. (Curse you, Republican primaries!) But I’m back on it again, and it feels great.

Now, before you freak out on me, I haven’t shirked my civic duties. I still know what’s going on. I’m just not giving it my attention Every. Single. Minute. Of. The. Day.

I’ll be sitting at my computer working on something, and every few minutes I get this impulse: Hmm, wonder what’s going on? So I take a little tour of my computer. Quick check the news. Scan scan scan. Stock prices. Okay. Quick check email. Scan. File. Read. Trash. Back I come.  Except, I’m not really back. I forgot what I was working on.

Same thing continues when the work day is done. I’m sitting at dinner. Suddenly, there’s the impulse again: Hmm, wonder what’s going on? So: iPhone out. Quick tour. I’m back. And what does that get me? Knowledge Points: Plus Two (maybe); Honey Points: Minus Twenty (definitely). I’m down eighteen points!

It would be one thing if the news was filled with relevant and helpful information. But it’s not. It’s negative and sensational–and it has no direct bearing on my life. It’s the worst possible combination: It stresses you out but there’s nothing you can do about it.

The funny thing is, checking the news like this feels like I’m doing stuff. Handling things. Staying on top of the situation. But the truth is, I get very little done. And it costs me a lot.

So I’m done with it. And so far, it’s great.

Here’s why I think you should try it, too:

• It Hurts Your Work
• It Bums You Out
• It’s Contagious 

It Hurts Your Work

Creating is like digging. The first ideas you get are the obvious, surface ones that everyone finds. It takes time to get down to the good stuff. Every time you break your attention, you start over again at the surface. Do it regularly and you’ll never create what you’re capable of.

Also, “Garbage In, Garbage Out.” Our ideas are triggered by the last thing in our attention. (You’re thinking about one thing. Your next thoughts are a riff on that.) When you put negative, sensational stuff into your mind, guess what comes back out?

It Bums You Out

Constantly following the news is like wearing “depress-o-matic” glasses: everything looks dark and hopeless. It’s like the Matrix in reverse. The virtual world is frightening. The real one is inspiring. (Want proof? Watch this TED talk: http://www.ted.com/talks/peter_diamandis_abundance_is_our_future.html) So the news not only bums you out, it disconnects you from reality. That can’t be good. :-)

It’s Contagious

Do you want to be the kind of person who lifts people up or pulls them down? I thought so. Me too. (Up!) When you’re coming from a lower level, it brings others down, too. It just does. You don’t want to be that person. And the rest of us need you to not be that person.

Bonus Reason: You Don’t Need It!

Question: When was the last time something happened “out there” that you honestly couldn’t have waited a few days to hear about? I’m not talking about tornado warnings, tsunami alerts or nuclear crises. This is just your daily (or hourly) dose of news. How often have you needed to know right away?

Answer: Practically never.

Repeat after me: I don’t need it. I don’t need it. I don’t need it.

It may feel like you do, in the same way it feels like you need that next cup of coffee or that jelly doughnut. But you don’t. You really don’t.

My “Expert” Program

Okay, if you’re thinking three weeks into my second round doesn’t make me an expert, you’re right. But hey, I’m three weeks ahead of you! :-)

Here’s what I’m doing to kick my news habit and still stay informed.

1) One Day a Week

I’m limiting my news intake to one day a week. I also follow quite a few daily blogs and, of course, the weather. But no headlines. And no politics.

2) Read “The Week”

On my designated news day, instead of any “dailies,” I read The Week Magazine. I get everything I need to know in all the areas I’m interested in–and it’s great. Takes about an hour. I totally love it. It’s on the iPad now, too, which is even better. (I don’t get anything for promoting them, by the way, if you’re wondering.)

3) Mark a Dedicated Calendar

I print a blank month calendar in iCal and tape it on a wall in my office. If I’ve been successful for a full day, the following morning I mark an “x” in that day’s box. It’s surprising how well this little tactic works. There’s only one box missing an “x” so far this month.

That’s it. That’s my program. You don’t need to do exactly what I’m doing, of course, but whatever you do, you should really give it a try. Once a week. It’s all you need. Get your mind back, get your attention back. Do great work. Love your life.

Now, in the comment section, tell me:

How bad is your news habit? What’s your best story about it? If you’ve kicked it, what specific things helped you the most? Your experience will help others (and me) so don’t be shy!

Thanks, as always, for reading and sharing.

If you find today’s post helpful, forward it to two news junkie friends. They’ll thank you for it. Or at least they should. :-)

Onward!

David

P.S. If you’re serious about trying this, sign up for the Daily News Blackout HabitForge.


HabitForge: Daily News Blackout

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In Creative Process, Mind Management, Productivity, Self Discipline, Success
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