iExperience...SXSW

I'm back home and headed to Virdiko’s annual  “Monday after SXSW DJ mixer.” But before I get fixated on that, I have to report on a horrible iExperience at SXSW. The “i" in iExperience stands for "Independent." This HORRIBLE iExperience is one that nearly all artists have seen sometime in their career. Have you ever thought that the "Good promoting idea," is the "Bad promoting idea?” 

Indie artist’s have a goal and a dream to perform during the music week of SXSW. This yearly event can set the mood for your music career and spark new ideas that could lead

you down the path of, "music turn-up!" But to those artist who don't have a stage to perform on, being there in the trenches of 6th street, gives them the hope that they can make the connection to the fans. From my #Meerkat app, I streamed live from #SXSW2015. I saw the hard work from many artists...on the ground. Yup, the ground became an ugly reality of what may happen to a artists project. I'm never ever ever ever (in my Smokey voice) going to discourage from promoting, but I will always encourage you to seek out the effective outlets and ways to get your music to the public. Hopefully something I say helps you gain a fan or two, or even a hundred. 

Standing out is hard work no matter what method you come up with. Fans want to know

what makes you unique. How are you presenting your music? The way you present your music gives you the advantage over the not so serious artist. These not so serious artist dilute the independent music genre. I suggest you make the DJ your fan. Whenever I go out, I would hear Definition DJ, DJ Papa Ron name in songs. Artists know he's spinning indie artists records. In my head I hear Slim Polk’s “Tattoos” playing..."Papa Ron got the club crunk!" In order to sustain your career you must provide the fans a unique iExperience. If the DJ is your fan…Give him a shout out! This type of attention could give you an edge and could lead to you getting shows. And you know shows are always career milestones. 

Let's just put things into perspective, and hopefully this won't fall on deaf ears. In the words of Coach Diana Williams..."YOU BETTER BRING IT!" Shout out to the Dancing

Dolls…#DD4L! But seriously, I would rather talk about Hot New Music instead, of the "Hot Mess" that covered thesidewalk. The “Hot Mess” that made Austin's 6th street look like a dumping ground for unwanted CDs. When I see artist with chains and medallions on and belt buckles shaped like 2 G's 😜, the mystery is solved on why the CD presentation is so lack luster...👎❗️ Dressing up your project is the most important thing after the sound has been mastered. Let’s take care of music!

SXSW is still growing believe it or not. More stages and venues are opening up, and to an indie artist, performing during the music industry's biggest week is the ultimate iExperince. But priorities need to be addressed people. During SXSW I was asked to do some marketing and promoting for

Ludacris, Wale, Big Krit, and a few more DefJam Artists. You can imagine what kind of attention I received from Indie Artists, “Check me out…Listen my mans and them…etc.” At the end of my first day of collecting CDs, I found a trend amongst the indie artist…paper sleeves and artwork thats nothing more than contact info. This is unacceptable…SMH. I Know...I Know, I've said it before, but it's not clicking...PRESENTATION people! Music is alive, it breathes, and it evolves. Dress the music up properly and then send it to the people. Let the fans bug the DJ to play your track. The best iExperience, is when your song comes on and you didn't have to ask for that spin. But hey, I completely understand this career choice cost and I can recommend a simple start. My blog community has a very instant response system that will tell it like it is before you put your hard work out there. Submit me your music to Fluence, and watch what happens…the iExperience that you're looking for. 

#LeslieMac