As an independent artist
it’s very difficult to grow without major record
label support.
If you love this music and would like
to help me move forward to perform to others around
the world or introduce my work to ??? I would love
your help, support, comments, marketing, ideas, contacts,
etc…
Working as the sole artist, writer,
producer, manager, promoter, webmaster, band leader,
booking agent, etc… is difficult and a very
slow journey moving forward. My life’s goal
is to make a difference in peoples lives around the
world through my compositions, recordings and live
performances, however as an individual, the task is
massive. Together as a collective group, our efforts
and ideas will help spread music around the globe.
If you wish to help, I have a few ideas that would
make a difference and here they are:
The Main Theme Here is Getting
as Many People as we can to the Web Sites:
www.johngilliat.com
www.guitar-music.ca
www.acoustic-guitarmusic.com
1. Word
of mouth is always the best and the
most effective way to make new fans. Your enthusiasm
will make our job so much easier. Try and get others
to www.johngilliat.com
and listen. If you are serious about it, I will mail
you some business cards with this link on it and you
can hand it out to people at your own pace. Just email
your address to me with the words “send me cards”
to gilliat@shaw.ca.
Also tell them that if they like what they hear, to
sign up for my mailing list. I am not that intrusive
and only mail out a newsletter to let people know
about new gigs and band news. The email list is a
very valuable tool for me and I don’t take it
for granted.
2. If you want to make
a fan website and help promote the
music by making a link that goes to my website that
would be amazing. Then, submitting your site to a
search engine or two is always cool, that just gets
your link to more people. If you don’t feel
like making a site, another idea is to attach a link
to your already existing website…personal or
business. It helps if you write a little comment below
recommending the music.
3. Call
local radio stations that play world
music and rave a bit about the group, requesting a
tune in the process. If they have not heard of me
and wish to have a listen, please send me an e-mail
with whom to contact and I will forward a disc and
press kit.
4. Submit
our links to music newsgroups, message
boards and any website that allows it. Please don’t
post whole MP3s anywhere though, just clips from the
record or better yet, the links: www.johngilliat.com
and http://members.shaw.ca/gilliat/music.htm,
which have the clips already.
5. Let me know if you
have a lead on getting us to the press,
magazines, TV, radio stations etc.
Web publications, college newspapers, local rags,
I mean whatever. I don’t think anything is too
small; it’s all worth my time and I will follow
up. Exposure is the only way a musician can make it
these days and it all helps.
6. If you would like
to make a donation which goes toward the next record
and all advertising and publicity expenses. You can
do so by clicking the donation button. Donations are
safely accepted on my behalf though PayPal.
Thank you all for your support and efforts!
Best wishes, John Gilliat
