"Should Creative People Remain Clueless When It Comes To Self-Promotion?"

One of the major difficulties that creative persons as artists and musicians have is promoting themselves. In fact, I would have to go so far as to say that many of these individuals are clueless when it comes to marketing, networking, creating a niche image, selling, gaining publicity and the benefits of the Internet. They may even be bogged down by stringent guidelines or the "what will people think and say" syndrome if they dare try something novel or creative to promote themselves.

Author Lee Silber is an entrepreneur, graphic artist, drummer, and workshop leader, radio and talk show host. His most recent book, Self Promotion For The Creative Person, is a packed filled guide aimed primarily at the creative person who may be very talented as a musician or artist, however, seems to be lost in the shuffle when it comes to recognition.

Silber divides his book into eleven topics that he examines thoroughly, namely: making yourself more marketable, right-brain marketing plan, hustling and persistence, i.e. taking no for an answer, creating a niche for yourself where you become memorable, getting across your message, networking with the right people, word of mouth marketing, selling yourself without comprising your beliefs and objectives, creating positive publicity about yourself and Internet marketing.

Each chapter is prefaced with an appropriate quotation related to the topic at hand. If you look at the chapter entitled "Show Off (Get Your Ass Out There)," Silber quotes Martin Scorsese who said: "It's important who you meet-after all, if you meet forty or fifty people, the one person who will produce your first film might just be there." The author then goes on to elaborate what it is to show off and he delves into the sub-topics of how having a high profile helps, as you never know whom you will meet. In other words, treat every person as if your professional life depends on it.

Other suggestions in the same chapter examine ideas as to going where the action is, proving yourself to skeptics, get out and meet people, don't turn down little gigs, attracting the media, developing a fan following, challenging yourself, and many more hundreds of ideas and suggestions.

What is interesting about Silber's book is that it is filled with hundreds of very useful suggestions and ideas, all centered on creativity. After all, the book is addressed to creative individuals. Why should they not be able to leverage their creative talents in marketing and promoting themselves?

Another useful feature of the book are the "action item" and the "ask a pro" short paragraphs that are sprinkled throughout. An example of an action item: "write the kind of review you have always wanted. Paste your product at the top of a best-seller list. (I pasted the name of this book at the top of the New York Times best-seller list). As for "ask a pro," Silber includes sage advice from such individuals as music writer, producer, and musician, Bart Mendoza, songwriter, Jason Blume, media relations consultant, Joan Stewart, author and self-promotion specialist Ilise Benun, graphic artist and author, Chuck Green and many more.

The author also has included quizzes that reinforce the learning process of many of his ideas and suggestions. A look at the networking quiz, you will notice 10 true or false questions that immediately make you examine your networking techniques or your deficiencies.

The book's strongest points is that the author effectively proves that it is a myth to believe that promotion is both a waste of time and beneath the artist or musician. As Silber states in his introduction, "if you maximize your creativity and craftiness, self-promotion can be a right-brained affair." There is so much interesting subject matter in this book, that it would be very difficult not to be able to find and immediately apply some idea or advice in promoting your creative talents.

Reviewed by Norman Goldman
Courtesy Bookpleasures
Posted May 21, 2004

Summary

Are you a creative person who desperately wants to tell the world about your talents and your art but lacks the time, money, and know-how? Self-Promotion for the Creative Person is full of clever and creative ideas you can use to successfully get the word out about who you are and what you do quickly, easily, and cheaply. Everything you need to know about marketing yourself is included in this book. Self-Promotion for the Creative Person is packed with proven techniques that will work for you whether you are an author, actor, artist, or accordion player who wants fresh, off-beat, and cost-effective ways to build a business or develop a successful and fulfilling career. Full of winning strategies, innovative ideas, and proven sales and marketing techniques, Lee Silber will show you how to go from starving artist to superstar status with smart advice, including: * How to market without money * How to create marketing materials that will sell you even when you're not around * How to build a buzz using word of mouth * How to use the Internet in ways you never thought of to promote yourself * How to get the leaders in your field to endorse and help you Self-promotion is one of the most difficult things a creative person must do. It is also the most critical. Open this book to any page and chances are you will find something that can help you overcome this hurdle and get the attention and recognition you and your talents deserve.