11.11.09
Interesting discoveries…
During my research yesterday, I made a few interesting discoveries:
1) If you have an account with Ping.fm, you can now update your page on a Ning network of your choice. All you need is the link to the network, your email address and your password. I love the idea! Now, I hope they will let us do it with more than one network in the near future.
2) If you have an account with Twitter and are an independent artist, you will surely love this: Tweet for a Track. The idea behind this site is to virally help to spread the word about you and your music. This is how it works: link your twitter account to the site, upload a track that you would like to make available for people, and send your message. Every time someone will click on the link and tweet the message through the site, they will be entitled to download your song (for free, of course). You can also choose for your tweet to be sent automatically every three days.
When the person has downloaded the track, you have access to their e-mail address and twitter username. That’s a great connecting tool!
3) Now, what about being able to sell all your merchandise, books, and CDs in one convenient place, with cool options? FreeWebStore is the way to go! It is completely free and they claim that they do not charge anything for their services. All you need is a Paypal account to be able to receive money from customers’ orders. You can also use other payment services, such as Google Checkout. Choose your template, upload your files, and add all the necessary information, as you would with any product. You can also choose if you want to offer special promotions. If you upgrade, you can even issue coupons, let customers send you cheques, or display more than 15 items in your store.
Here is a list of cool perks:
- many free templates to choose from;
- the possibility to add YouTube videos and widgets from other sites in product descriptions;
- the “OFFER” section of your store page lists all the discounted articles;
- entire control of your stocks;
- customers can add items to their cart and continue shopping like they would with online stores like Amazon;
- customer reviews; etc.
The only major con is the long link, such as http://www.freewebstore.org/SoulpoetrysiteStore. Staff advise that you should get a domain name. However, apart from that, the site is user-friendly and the control panel, pretty much self-explanatory. I was able to launch my own store after a couple of hours. See for yourself HERE .
4) I discovered a few new websites for music promotion. You may know them already, but I think that it is always nice to be reminded that they exist! 
So, here goes: Acid Planet, Garageband, Last.fm, Soundclick, and Bandcamp.
Now, you know what to do! 
Cendrine Marrouat
http://www.soulpoetrysite.com
11.04.09
How to get more exposure for your creations
Independent artists find it hard to get exposure for their art, especially poets and spoken word artists. What are the possible solutions?
The venues to get one’s creations noticed are many and few at the same time. It takes months, and mostly years, of hard work and patience to finally hit the general public. I have connected with some of the most incredible artists and supporters in North America and have followed their tips and advice very carefully. And as a result, I received more exposure in a couple of months than I had managed to achieve in more than three years!
IMPORTANT CONSIDERATIONS
A lot of independent artists believe that once their CD or book is available for purchase, the work is done. They think that they can rely on the quality of their work for it to sell itself. While this is not a bad thought at all, it is also important to realize that sales obey the 10-90 rule: 10% creativity and 90% promotion/marketing.
Start by asking yourself the following questions: “What is my long-term goal as an artist? What do I want to do with my creation(s)? What is my mission statement?” Be very honest in your answers, because they will determine your career and how long you may last in the business. Being an artist entails many things. You must be professional in your approach, dedicated, and aware of your surroundings and global issues. It is also essential that you be willing to support other artists and causes, and serve as a positive role model. Always acknowledge your fans and supporters, those who work in the shadows for you. And most importantly: build relationships before thinking of sales! This is the first step to get respect from fellow artists, and hence exposure.
WEBSITE/PROFILE PAGES
Nowadays, if you want to attract more followers, you need to build a website or at least have a regularly updated profile page. This is very easy to do, especially if you are not computer-savvy, and it is free.
For a website, use Wix or Weebly. They are excellent! I have experience with both, and you can see how I used them: “Rizen – The CD” and the Soulpoetrysite.com store
If you are a musician or a spoken word artist, you have probably heard of Reverbnation. I use it myself and I love the fact that I can send pre-formatted newsletters to my fan base, build a street team and launch missions with the click of a button, and promote my CD and tracks through easy-to-share widgets. What’s more, people can also help spread the word by sharing the widgets almost everywhere on the Internet!
BLOG/COMMUNITY
If you want to build your online presence, it is very important that your fans and followers be involved. They want to know more about you and what you care for. A blog is a very nice tool to use. You can talk about anything, address questions and concerns from your fans, educate them on topics that matter to you, and invite them to take part in discussions. You can also promote yourself. The best blog services are WordPress and Blogger. I use WordPress myself for my two blogs: this one and my poetry blog.
You can also join writing communities and forums like Red Room and share some of your stuff there.
NETWORKING
Social networking sites are essential for promotion these days. The best part is that they are totally free! Make sure that you check out Facebook, Twitter, Ning, YouTube, and Myspace. Ning is especially impressive, as it offers tons of options! Feel free to join my network.
You can also use Internet radio. I recommend Blog Talk Radio. There are tons of broadcasts every day and the neat thing is that you can also interact in chat rooms. Hence, you have the golden opportunity to “meet” hosts and listeners who often happen to be hosts or promoters of the art themselves. I used this medium and got to know great individuals. I have been a guest on numerous shows, which has allowed me to promote my books and CD, and tell the world why I am a poet and spoken word artist. I got introduced to many new listeners. The traffic to my site has been huge since I started listening to BTR shows!
If you are not camera-shy, you can also host your own show, using your webcam. This is something that I do once a month with Livestream (and people love it!). When you join their site, you receive access to a personal studio. From there, you can upload your own videos or videos from YouTube and stream them on a 24/7 basis. Then, feel free to embed the screen anywhere you want. See for yourself on my website.
UPDATING YOUR STATUS
Part of your promotional time should be used to update your status across the different networks you belong to. You will attract more followers. However, it can be very time-consuming. You need to be able to do it in one convenient place. Use TweetDeck or Hootsuite.
BUILDING A STREET TEAM
You can only do so much on your own. At some point, if you are like me, and work alone 14-15 hours a day, you will get burned out. You need to be able to rely on others.
A street team is a group of people who are committed to help an artist spread the word about their work. The artist sends the group on miscellaneous missions (never involving money on the part of the group) and the best street teamers are rewarded in different ways. The thing I love about this concept is that it allows an artist to connect with their fan base on a different level. It brings them exposure and makes fans a complete part of the artist’s success. On the other hand, street teamers get free stuff, which is always nice!
Reverbnation offers you the perfect way to do it: once your mission is launched, the site keeps counts for you and all you have to do is check your stats!
SELLING ONLINE AND OFFLINE
95% of poets go the self-publishing way. To me self-publishing is more rewarding than challenging because I have to promote all my products myself, and it gives me the opportunity to really get to know my readers and listeners. Print-on-demand or POD is a great service and I recommend Lulu. Open an account, upload your files, fill in the necessary info, and you are on your way. They will print your books, CDs, calendars, photo books, and pictures for you. Use your Paypal account address to receive royalties when people purchase your products through your personal (free) store.
If you only focus on music or spoken word, there are a few nice options out there. I heard that CD Baby is very good. I personally use Reverbnation & Audiolife. Both sites have partnered to allow Reverbnation members to sell their merchandise and music for free. All you need is a Paypal account. Set up your store (in two minutes), upload your files, fill in the information, and start selling your CDs, MP3 albums, individual tracks, Tshirst and tote bags within minutes! And to be honest, the royalties are very decent. For more information, visit my ReverbNation/Audiolife store.
You can also sell your music digitally, using major retailers like ITunes or Amazon.com. Reverbnation lets you do that very easily!
DIVERSIFICATION
I have a motto: the more you have to offer, the more exposure you will get! It means that you have to diversify. And do not wait for others to do it for you. Do things YOURSELF!
Make a list of all your skills and see what you have to offer. If you are a poet/writer, you could offer poetry/speech-on-demand or proofreading services. If you are an amateur photographer, why not sell your pictures to other artists for their book/CD covers? And if you are really fluent in two or more languages, you could also translate documents…
Another good idea is to design your own exclusive merchandise (Tshirts, bags, mouse pads, mugs, greeting cards, etc.) and sell it using services like Zazzle or Cafepress. All you need is a Paypal account. They provide you with a free store that you can promote everywhere you want. And royalties are quite decent. You can see what I did with my Zazzle store.
The great thing about diversification is that it makes it harder for people to label you in one category. You may end up attracting a lot of different people!
LAST WORDS
Always remember this: treat others the way you would like to be treated. Before throwing links at someone, introduce yourself properly and get to know them a little. You will be surprised by how much help and support you will receive in return!
Also, do not hesitate to ask for tips and advice from those who have a proven successful background in your industry. Always keep a notebook and pen handy, and write any suggestion and idea given you. Sometimes, one little thing will make a huge difference.
Finally, frustration and discouragement are part of the job. Take a few days off, enjoy life, and come back refreshed!
Do not hesitate to visit my website to see all the above tips and advice in action!
//
Celebrating Great Minds – Part III
Below is the script I used to present my “Poetic Moments” show on Jiddu Krishnamurti, one of the most important spiritual figures of the 20th century.
To read it, visit http://hubpages.com/hub/Jiddu-Krishnamurti
10.29.09
Record your own poetry!
You had always thought that you needed to own a studio to make your own CD? Think twice! With some good tips and advice, you can go a long way!
Read more at http://hubpages.com/hub/Record-Your-Own-Poetry or http://www.squidoo.com/recordyourpoetry
The Significance of Poetry
After a busy night listening to Eddie Benitez being interviewed by Olivia Wilder, writing, and doing miscellaneous other things (ah! the exciting life of a night owl!), I came to reflect on a topic that is very dear to my heart: poetry and its significance in this world. A few months ago, I had been asked a similar question about music, and my answer had been published in “The Spiritual Significance of Music”, an online magazine.
It is only when I started writing poetry that I came to realize its meaning. When you study it in school or at university, it is honestly very dull and boring. I still remember one of the essays I had to write for the national examinations I was taking at the time to become a teacher (the most difficult exams teachers have to take in France). The topic was John Donne’s poetry. I recall stopping in the middle of my 10-page essay and thinking: “This cannot be happening! Poetry is awful!” Never could have I imagined that I would be typing this blog article seven years later! The truth of the matter is that poetry stalked me until I was finally ready to give it a try.
A few weeks ago, one of my friends called me a “motivational poet” in a conversation. After almost five years in the poetic world, I thought I knew exactly what poetry was about. But sometimes, we need others to remind us that nothing should be taken for granted. As Krishnamurti says, “Life has to be discovered from moment to moment, from day to day; it has to be discovered, it cannot be taken for granted.” And it cannot be truer with poetry. We all have so many preconceived ideas about what it stands for, what it seems to mean, how we are supposed to read it, etc. In fact, human beings like to imagine that words and ideas have a life of their own, when all they do is create them and then put them in small boxes.
So, I started to reflect on the meaning of “motivational”, “inspirational”, and “spiritual”. I did a bit of research in my etymological dictionaries, and this is what I found:
1) “Motivational”
“Motive” comes from the Latin word for “move”. A motive is what causes/has power to cause motion; it is what moves or excites to action, inducement, reason. The verb “motivate” means: to provide with a motive; to induce. ”Motivation”/”motivity” are nouns describing what has the power of moving or producing motion.
2) “Inspirational” and “Spiritual”
These two words are closely related. “Inspirational” comes from “inspire” and “spirit”. “Inspire” means: to breathe or blow (into); to draw or inhale into the lungs; to instruct by divine influence; to instruct or affect with a superior influence; to animate (a person with feelings, thoughts). “Inspiration” is the act of inspiring or breathing in; a breath; instruction or stimulation by a divinity; an inspired condition/thought.
Here are a few synonyms of the word “spirit”: vital principle; the soul; actuating emotion, disposition, frame of mind; animation, verve; courage; cheerful/exuberant vivacity; the real meaning, intent; etc.
So, if we pay careful attention to these three words, they have a lot in common! What causes motion will affect and animate the spirit, hence the soul, mind, and body.
The Merriam-Webster’s Online Dictionary defines “poetry” as such: “1 a: metrical writing; b: the productions of a poet; 2 writing that formulates a concentrated imaginative awareness of experience in language chosen and arranged to create a specific emotional response through meaning, sound, and rhythm; 3 a something likened to poetry especially in beauty of expression b: poetic quality or aspect <the poetry of dance>” Source: http://cougar.eb.com/dictionary/poetry
Since I started writing poetry, my definition of the art form had always been “the language of the soul”. My friend helped me to understand that when poetry truly comes from a deep place within us (heart, mind, and soul, what I also consider as the trinity), it becomes more than a language. It becomes motivation, inspiration, pure spirituality, and true beauty for the poet as well as the reader/listener. And in that sense, it has the power to excite/move/animate us to action and reflections. And that’s exactly what the definitions of all the above words are!
Poetry is much more than simply writing words on a page, as well. It has rules and forms, and they were created for a reason: to help the reader see underlying messages that words alone may never be able to convey.
Great poetry is not hard to write. The important ingredients are: some basic knowledge of the written language and poetic forms (and it doesn’t mean rhyming or following the same pattern all the time); the willingness to study one’s own soul and listen to what God has to say (or whatever one truly believes in); and the desire to use one’s own positive energy to create messages that will leave a lasting impression on people, and probably help a lot of individuals in the process.
And speaking of poetic forms, here are some cool resources for you!
1) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Category:Poetic_form
Now, go write some poetry!
10.27.09
Big thank yous to…
There is one thing I like to do once in a while: acknowledge my friends and supporters for all their help and kindness. Without them, I would not be where I am, as an artist and a person. As my friend April Sims says it: “We are greater than I!” It is also a good opportunity for me to spread the word about what they do (so, please support!)… Today, I am calling names! And the list is long.
So, my biggest thank yous go to:
- Sierra Lewis, a.k.a Just Cici, my number one fan and supporter. We chat every day on Yahoo messenger and spend more time laughing than actually being serious. She is a beautiful person inside and out. Please, check out her BTR show. You know I love your crazy hair, girl! LOL
- Saffiyah Muhammad, a.k.a Amina 1389, my oldest online friend, and one I can always rely on. Her positive voice spreads love wherever she goes. She is one of the most talented poets I know. You rock, lady!
- the Mari mafia. Mari Torres and “Dazzle” Dawn Mangham, a very talented singer, from That’s My Word, a daily BTR show. Had Mari not threatened to kick my French butt if I didn’t call in on her show to recite my poetry, I would have never fought my shyness, and made my CD. Tmill, the host of In Tune with Tmill, has been a constant supporter of mine since the beginning of my spoken word career. Last but not least, Anita Charlot, the owner of Anita Charlot International, has been a wonderful supporter! A beautiful lady inside and out. You guys are the bestest!
- Jon Pear, a.k.a neuroaster, a very good friend, talented poet and neighbor!
- Danny Sillada, a unique and multi-talented artist, for his constant support and belief in my abilities.
- Tracey Fennel, a.k.a Elder Beatmaster, one of the most amazing spoken word artists you will ever hear! He supports absolutely everybody.
- Sarah Clayborne, a.k.a Dr Emma Sarah, for her constant words of love and encouragement. She is an enlightened lady whose voice is truly needed in our community! Please, support her foundation!
- Shannon Parker, one of the most beautiful persons I know.
- April Sims, the host of BTR’s April Sims A and E, for her friendship and useful advice. She should get the award for most inspirational woman of the year!
- Lady Flava, the owner of Flava News, for being one of the truest supporters of independent artists. She often spreads the word about what I do.
- Michele Green, the multi-tasking owner of RM Greenhouse Services Corp. and host of Author Speak, for her amazing support and friendship.
- Sheree Margaret, one of the hardest working hosts on BTR. She is one my biggest supporters and always finds a way to help! Please, support her show!
- Janice “B” Buerkli for her constant support and presence during my BTR interviews. She is a beautiful singer with a voice that soothes and caresses the mind. Check out her new CD, Watch Me Fly, and support her!
- Natalie Brown, THE Kanuck singer and “Kindest Artist of the Year” Recipient.
Et puis, un petit paragraphe en français, pour remercier du fond du coeur plusieurs personnes qui comptent beaucoup pour moi:
- Christèle Guinot, la meilleure amie que quiconque puisse avoir.
- Richard “Tigger” Bouchard, l’un des garçons les plus sympas que je connaisse.
- Nolween Eeway, Laura Kita Kejuo et Astrid Desmarécaux, les écrivains françaises les plus gentilles du circuit indépendant mondial.
- Natalie Burgun, une super copine et une sacrée supportrice!
- Laëtitia Ery, aka Azelle, qui malgré les apparences, finira par épouser un personnage de manga! Ma fille, je suis ravie qu’on se soit retrouvées. Tu es un quelqu’un de génial!
Why independent artists need to change…
As most people know, I am big on quality. Quantity means nothing when people do not feel concerned. I have always valued relationships before anything else, and lent my support and help to countless numbers of people. I am not looking for thank yous, I did it because I wanted to. As a result, God has blessed me without limits!
Being a poet is interesting nowadays, especially when one dabs into written and spoken word. I am a writer, first and foremost, because I love the written word. But I am also a spoken word artist: I want to give life to my poems.
I have seen a lot of changes since the inception of my writing career. I have connected with a HUGE number of people, and among them writers, poets, and spoken word artists. Some have become my friends; others (and there were many!) did not seem interested in pursuing the relationship beyond the please-buy-my-book-or-CD point. I have also had the great honor to meet people who work in the shadows and offer unconditional support, no matter what happens in their lives. These people will be the subject of a future blog article, because they deserve to be acknowledged and thanked! I will even call names!
What strikes me the most is the lack of support for independent artists. Let’s talk about audiences and readers for a minute.
80% of the population have no idea what being an independent artist means. The only thing they know is mainstream art. They listen to music, watch videos, and read magazines that demean women and portray them more as merchandise as human beings, promote violence, and encourage youths to think that money is more important than the rest. They hear and read the rantings and ravings of celebrities who have been thrown in the public eye in their teens and who have no clue how to behave properly and be an example to their own generation, because they are encouraged to do so by the big guns in the music industry. As a result of that smart brainwashing by the media, people have no idea what indie artists go through, and how hard it is to make themselves known. People root for what they see, because they do not know if there is something else available out there. And honestly, should I be in their shoes, I would not even want to spend much time doing any research!
20% of the remaining worldwide population is comprised of mainstream artists, independent artists, and people who know them. I am part of these 20%, and I will tell you in all honesty why 80% of people can be excused.
First of all, a big majority of people live in poor countries where music and books are luxury. They do not, or barely, have access to the Internet, a TV screen, or a radio set. Second, the rest of us live in “affluent” countries where (both societal and mental) wealth and poverty meet each other anywhere daily.
During my many discussions with artists from the North American spoken word scene, I have noticed one thing: disunity. We are NOT united! Most artists fight for their own piece of paradise, not concerning themselves with what goes on in the lives of their fellow artists or fans. They ask you to buy their CDs or books, but they will not even help you to spread the word about your own work, even if you purchase something from them. It is something that baffles me but also worries me greatly, because these artists are the most adamant that the world does not understand them. Of course, I am generalizing a little, because I know a lot of fantastic artists whose heads are properly screwed on their shoulders and who are big supporters of others’ work. But the trend of non supportive indies is growing.
Being an artist entails many things, and among them, one is to educate others. And education takes many forms. It starts with professionalism (in every sense of the term), dedication, awareness (of one’s own world and global issues), support, and the willingness to serve as a positive role model. You cannot be a real artist if you do not understand your mission in this life. If you are there just to make money and not worry about the world around you, then you are missing the whole point. Because, always remember that we have real supporters who work in the shadows and who are getting tired of the situation. If we don’t change quickly, they will stop supporting us. And when that happens, our chances of being acknowledged will be even slimmer.
It does not matter what each one of us has to bring to the table. We MUST become a community. We MUST have discussions. We MUST support and help one another. It does not have to be financial: a lot of us cannot afford it. But there is something that we can all afford: time. It takes one minute to help spread the word about someone else’s creations (for example, use the share button on Facebook to make the link available on your page). It takes two minutes to forward a message to all your contacts. Listen to BTR shows, even if you can only do it for 5 minutes daily. Connect with people, say hello once in a while, leave a comment under their posts or on their pages. Congratulate them on their work. Send them a note. And most of all, BE GRATEFUL for God and people in your life! Always remember that, without fans and supporters, all your hard work is worth NOTHING. So, we need to CHANGE and STOP taking people for granted. We have to learn to RESPECT everybody, even those who don’t have a voice.
Once we start this process, audiences will notice us…
10.22.09
Building a Street Team
I am in the process of building a street team. A street team is a group of people who help an artist spread the word about their work. The artist sends the group on miscellaneous missions (never involving money on the part of the group) and the best street teamers are rewarded in different ways. The thing I love about this concept is that it allows an artist to connect with their fan base on a different level. It brings them exposure and makes fans a complete part of the artist’s success. On the other hand, street teamers get free stuff, which is always nice!
So, if you are interested in helping me, see the banner below.
If you prefer staying on Facebook, join the team @ http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=160650268397
Have a blessed weekend!
