STORY TIME: Am I Selling Shoes? Arts Marketing Frustrations

Hello Hello,

STORY TIME: Am I Selling Shoes? Arts Marketing Frustrations [and yes, I am still salty about this one…]

You know those moments when you’re giving it a proper go, trying every angle, and all you hit are brick walls with some people? This was one of those. I’ll admit, it really really really got on my wick.

No matter how I tried to frame it, nothing would budge them. Even when it was clearly in everyone's best interest, the shutters stayed firmly down.

// I would wholeheartedly recommend Aubrey Bergauer's book I mentioned: ‘Run it like a Business’ for some great audience-centric thinking. //

It says a lot about the beliefs floating around parts of our industry. There’s this idea that the art form sits on a pedestal, far too precious to get its hands dirty with modern strategies or anything that whiffs of popular culture or commercialism. As if engaging with the world outside somehow cheapens the music.

So, the very basics I was brought in to sort out and boost revenue? Shot down, thanks to those lofty ideals above.

Don’t get me wrong, I am a big believer that not every tactic fits every situation, and there is a balance to strike.

But this wasn’t one of those times.

This was textbook resistance for the sake of it.