Social Manipulation...or Connection?

It's been a long time since I posted a new article. I admit, social networking is quite a commitment. Writing, responding to e-mails, blogging, updating...of course, having enough content or motivation to express new ideas, share new events and articles. is a challenge. How does one get their audience or passers-by to even feel interested enough to take a moment to stop by your profile for a while and read, share or comment on what you are writing about or selling? I'm sure many fellow bloggers have stopped from time to time to ponder this question. But it seems that many of the social networking sites ponder this question vigorously, as well. Case in point: both MySpace and Facebook have now introduced new layouts for their user profiles. Now viewers can be intrigued, excited and newly interested in the content that the members share on their pages. Or manipulated? Honestly, do I see a remarkable increase in my viewer count each time one of these sites 'updates' their layout styles? No. Do I even see a new and fresh surge of interest when even I update my own profiles...not really. But all of this must have a purpose.

I believe that true connectivity begins with a face-to-face meeting, a shared experience, a common interest. From there, effort needs to be made to cultivate and nurture the connection...over time. Demands do not always produce the desired result of constant connectivity, nor does a 'feeling'. In fact, a 'feeling' might inspire an intention, but an intention always needs action behind it to make the 'first blush' of connection come to fruition. I admire the social marketers. On a daily basis, their job is to 'reach out', observe, determine who and what group of 'who's' might share a common interest so great as to constantly support a product or a personality. Further, these marketing professionals also figure out how to maximize the chances that these core groups of common interest sharers might inspire and influence others to join in and support and promote the same interests. Just writing about it makes me a little exhausted, I'll admit.

But let's just say that today, in my effort to connect, network and motivate new listeners, I am inviting my current supporters and passers-by to check out my website. To think of me-- one, lone, small voice--sharing her music and talent with the World Wide Web...and to tell their friends...and so on...and so on...and so on...

Just putting it out there.

CHEEKY PROMO

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Life after WMC 2010

Now that the page has turned on another chapter of the saga known as the Winter Music Conference- this year's chapter title being "The 25th Anniversary Edition"- it is time for another year of maintaining contact with producers, publishers, promoters, labels, musicians, DJ's and other contacts not previously known to me in my constant search for new collaborations and fresh inspiration. I believe to be successful as an independent artist, one must create a certain distinction in the eyes of those the artist is connected with, be it through their image, personality or through the sheer uniqueness of their talent. Once that distinction is evident, the task of building and maintaining relationships that support an artist's growth and notoriety becomes an essential part of promoting the artist's music.

The Winter Music Conference, a yearly Miami Beach music summit helps to do just that. By both highlighting and introducing DJ's, performing artists, recording artists and musicians from around the globe to their peers and to the public, it has the distinction, itself, of being one of the few music summits that is driven and supported by creative artists in the electronic music 'sub-culture' with emphasis on creativity through remixing, programming and promoting electronic music to the masses. By electronic I mean genres that are not often favored by mass radio airplay such as house music, broken beat, chill out, lounge and even club, techno and trance, which get a huge nod from the 'sister' music festival, ULTRA, which takes place at the same time of the WMC.

And OH the PARTIES! This year's WMC boasted 400+ parties spread throughout South Beach, Miami Beach, the Design District, Wynwood, Downtown...even Coral Gables: a wide and diverse surface area for the public to get their electro-fix and rub shoulders with some of the biggest names in the DJ based, sub-culture of the music industry. Not only were there attendees from as far abroad as Europe, Eastern Europe, India, Japan...but even the locals finally started buzzing about "the festival". A good sign. Let there be HOUSE...MUSIC!

My thanks and respect go to DJ Bill Kelly, founder of the Winter Music Conference, who has done it again! For more information on the Winter Music Conference, visit the link at the header of this post.