My Subscription Service Is Online!

[JimOfferman]

My 'patron' subscription service is finally online! Getting everything just right was a lot more work than I thought, but now I'm all ready to go!

The service is explained here: Patronage | Jim Offerman
And I've made an announcement on my blog: Jim Offerman - music that moves you

Tell me what you think!

Jim.

[uberinquisitive]

Jim, how are you getting your music out, besides this web?

When you answer this, I think I will have more constructive feedback.

So, please answer:

- how are you getting out your music, besides the web
- what is your plan on how to get your music out? The big picture.

[JimOfferman]

Besides the web, I'm getting my music out the old fashioned way - sending it out to radio stations, opening for established bands, etc.

But for now, my main focus will be on increasing my fan base through the web. Fans are the key to everything. Any venue will book me if I can convince them that a large enough number of people will show up for the gig - it's that simple.

There are a lot of gatekeepers in the offline music world and I have no interest in wasting my time with them. I know there is an interest in my music and I know that I can grow my fan base considerably. So I'm shooting for those fans directly. Again, with a large enough fan base, the offline gatekeepers will go out of their way to assist me (because then it suddenly is in their best interest to do so).

The big picture, then, is to grow online and then branch out into offline.

[abcZen]

Good on you for actual making a difference and getting something out there

I hope it is a big success for you

[JimOfferman]

Originally Posted by abcZen

Good on you for actual making a difference and getting something out there

I hope it is a big success for you

Thanks!

[uberinquisitive]

Originally Posted by JimOfferman

The big picture, then, is to grow online and then branch out into offline.

If that's the case, then I suggest the following:

Music videos: THIS IS CRUCIAL!!!!!
I became a big fan of We Are Scientists because I happened to see their music video on YouTube.

And, I'm sure you've heard about how Ok Go became successful after their video went viral.

Everyone I know - we send each other YouTube links to cool songs. And then, if we like the song from watching the video...THEN we get the mp3.

We're an MTV generation. Videos will bring you a bigger audience.

The "What's In It For Me?" syndrome
Subscription is a great idea - but it will probably work better when you are more established (at least 500 hardcore fans).

If your first priority is to get your name out there, then this subscription thing may work against you. Right now, you need to use all your "good" material to build a following.

I believe in VIP, but the timing may not be ideal right now.

***

I read that people need to visit your website 8-10 times before they buy anything. That's right: 8-10 times!

I need to visit your 8-10 times before I sign up for your subscription.

Right now, I highly suggest you focus on building 500 obsessed fans by whatever means necessary - even if that means free EVERYTHING. Once you reach that tipping point, and they become Jim Offerman evangelists - then a subscription may work very well.

[JimOfferman]

Uber,

Thanks for your advice. Please understand that the subscription is targeted at the hardcore fans. The casual and newbie fans newbie are well served by the free music on my website, but I did not have anything on offer for the small, but steadily growing, group of die hard fans - now I do.

I don't think that videos are essential to the promotion of my particular brand of music. It certainly doesn't hurt to have videos, but I've found that my blog and the music itself are much more important.