Is it strange or interesting to find another drummer on the podcast?
We're just multifaceted artists, not just musicians with sticks who like to hit things, ha!
I was intrigued by Roberto Hernandez from the first message he sent me. Perhaps that's because he chose one of the most unique ways to introduce himself.
Instead of the same generic "Hi this is me and let me give you my bio and a zillion links so you'll pay attention to me" intro message, he did something different.
He took a page out of the DIY Musician's Radio Handbook and reached out in a personal way.
 
 
How Roberto Hernandez Proved His Uncommon-ness
Roberto made a video specifically for me. He talked about listening to The DIY Artist Route Podcast and what he enjoyed from it. Then he mentioned his book, The Unstarving Musician's Guide To Getting Paid Gigs.
Then he asked what it would take to jump on the podcast.
I was interested from the beginning. That's how it works. That's not just how it works with me, it's how it works with most music curators and media hosts. It's how it works with people.
That's the story behind how I heard about Roberto Hernandez and why I brought him on the podcast. It's why I read his book. It's how we became friends.
What Being Specific & Relationship Oriented Gets You
Since this podcast episode was recorded, I've connected him with many folks in my network including past podcast guests because I believe in him and what he's doing. He has a great message to spread to musicians to get one BIG piece of the puzzle figured out: how to get gigs that pay you.
If you're tired of doing free shows for "exposure" or struggle with the How-To of gigging, Roberto is your man. I highly recommend his book for not just musicians and bands, but also anyone who is trying to get paid gigs including speakers. His method works.
This podcast is about more than just gigging. It's a closer look at effective strategies for that oh-so-difficult introduction to people you don't know.
When I said that friends can ask for gold but strangers can't even get candy, this is what I'm talking about. Part of the difficulty in getting people of influence's attention is the perspective we lack when we make that introduction.
Appealing To The Basic Human Nature
Who's the #1 person you're the most interested in, or the person you want others to know most?
It's human to say it's you.
Even the most empathetic people in the world have self-interest. That's not a bad thing. It's an honest thing.
Yet most of the time, we greet a new person that we want to connect with by talking exclusively about ourselves instead of appealing to the person we want to talk with. That little bit of extra time, even if it's 30 minutes, goes a long way. It appeals to the primary interest of that person.
It's also a way to show you're not just reaching out to get a handout and a back scratch.
Back scratches are the "hook me up with a review or an interview or a feature on your platform" ask.
I'm not in the back scratching business, and neither are any music curator, media host, or booking agent worth their salt.
Take Your Relationship Building & Submission Outreach To The Next Level
How can you go from being a stranger to being connected? Listen to this podcast episode (player at top of post) and be enlightened. Add Roberto's book & podcast to that mix, as well as my new Ebook that covers the introduction for music ...