Sarah McLachlan With Hiccups
By Molly-Ann Leikin
Songwriting Consultants, Ltd.

          When I wrote my first novel, which was hilarious if I do say so myself, an agent whose representation I desperately sought asked me to describe my “voice” as a writer.  I told him truthfully that it was romantic and comedic.

          “Oh,” he yawned. “Whose book isn’t?”

          I didn’t know any other agents so I regrouped and called back, describing myself as the female Dave Barry.

          Same yawn from the agent, who stopped taking my calls altogether.  

          Geeze…I’d spent three years on that book and sure wasn’t dumping 325 great pages because I couldn’t come up with a ten syllable, Pepsi-esque pitch line.    

          So I dug deeper into the marketing me I seemed to be becoming by default, held my breath and presented the agent “Dave Barry with boobs”.

          Jackpot.   

          Ever since then I’ve known I can’t just be the person who creates my work.  I also have to be its advertising team.   

          So do you.

          I recommend you work on ten words or less to snappily and cleverly describe what you do in a way that is as unique as your music.

          For example, you might be trying to market yourself as Susan who sings by herself at the acoustic piano, which is absolutely true and a perfect description of your CD.  Nice.  But where’s the marketing zing?

          I know – I know - you’d think people on the other side of the desk would just listen to your good work.  Period.  Well, they don’t.  They need to be seduced by clever.  They want you to tell them something new.

          So try being Sarah McLachlan, with hiccups.  

          My hunch is you’ll get more people at higher levels of “yesability” listening to you.  And isn’t that exactly what you need?
         

          © 2008 Molly-Ann Leikin
           aka Norah Efron With a Nicer Neck
           www.songmd.com
           songmd@songmd.com
           800-851-6588


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