Call to Arms, Phase 2

valemmich:

Let me start by first apologizing for my lazy use of that overused and insensitive warring phrase.  I used it because a) I couldn’t think of anything better because b) I wanted to act fast while my impulse was strong and demanding.

So many of you have already done so much for me.  My new record was only possible through the generosity of the people who donated to my Kickstarter project.  But consider that Phase 1.  The album is made.  The question remains: how do we get more people to hear our collective love project?  I’m not sure, but I know I can’t do it alone.

Phase 2 involves one thing and one thing only: Word Of Mouth.  That old standby that never goes out of style.  It’s simple and yet mysterious.  Can it be generated?  Or can it only happen on its own?  I say we can make it happen.

Many of you have written to me asking how you can help.  You tell me you love the new album and you’ve been talking about it nonstop.  Well, sadly, if it didn’t happen online, then it never really happened.  If other people don’t see it, then our little click never grows and if our little click never grows, then…

Do I like how things are?  Fuck no.  I don’t like that I have to go on Twitter and Facebook to share mundane details about myself.  But I like it better than the depression I feel every time someone writes me asking when I’ll be touring to their city and I know it’s not happening any time soon and may never happen again. 

Let’s change that.  Life on the internet is our reality and so let’s make the most of it.  How?  Simple.  Let’s talk.  Talk loud.  Talk often.  And most importantly, talk passionately about Val Emmich & The Veeries and their brilliant fucking album Aide Memoire.  Which brings up an important point: if you don’t feel the new album—I mean really feel it—then that’s okay.  This little project isn’t for you.  This project is for those that really fucking feel it.  Those who insist on using adjectives like “brilliant” and placing f-bomb exclamations in front of those adjectives. 

This is for all the people who ask me how they can get more involved.  I present…

THE VAL EMMICH PROMOTIONAL HANDBOOK

(a work in progress)

***99% of this stuff can be done on your computer and/or portable god-device***

Like me (Not in that way)

• Like, share and respond to my posts on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr.  Sounds simple but it happens relatively infrequently.
• Like my Facebook page at facebook.com/valemmichmusic.  Let’s get that number up to 5,000!
• Follow me on Twitter and if you like a certain tweet, ReTweet it.  If you retweet, I’ll hold up my end of the bargain and I’ll tweet more.
• Tumblr readers: when I post something on Tumblr click LIKE.  If you’ve got a comment, share it.  I want to hear from you and I want to engage.  Don’t be shy and I won’t be either.  Ask me some questions about the new album.  Let’s intrigue people.  Let’s get them thinking, I have to hear this fucking album.  

Write Reviews

• Write a review of Aide Memoire on iTunes and give it a star rating.  
• Write a review at Amazon.com.  There are no reviews there.  Be the first.  Use the same one from iTunes.
• Write a review at CDBaby.  There are currently no reviews for the CD.  Hmm, I know many of you have the CD.  I personally shipped them to you.  Did you like seeing your name in the artwork?  If so, tell people about it.  Tell people about the booklet.  Tell people why they might be interested in buying the CD as opposed to just the digital album.  Use the same review that you used for iTunes.  If you’ve bought my music through CDBaby.com before than you already have an account.  If not, it’s easy to set up.  Post your review here.
• If you’ve bought and read our book, Proof We Were Here, please leave a comment at blurb.com.  There are currently 0 (yes, that’s a zero) comments there and I know people have read it because I’ve talked to several of you.  While you’re over there, click LIKE.
• I know it’s daunting to think of what to say in a review (trust me, even this post is hard to write).  Just take a deep breath and be honest.

Stream the music

• Streaming is free.  What better reason is there than that?
• Aide Memoire will soon be available on Spotify and Pandora.  In the meantime, I have other music to stream on those services.  Stream the music!
• When listening to VE on Spotify, click the little STARS next to the songs and then tell others you’re listening to VE on Spotify by sharing on Facebook, Twitter, etc.  Don’t have Spotify?  Get it.  It’s free.  Play any song in the world whenever you want.  It’s pretty awesome.  All my older albums are on there or will be soon.
• For Pandora, currently only Little Daggers is available, but I’m working on getting other albums up there.  (Thanks to whoever posted that idea on Tumblr.)  When listening, hit the Share button and tell others what you’re listening to.

YouTube

• Post the “Wooly Mammoths” video on your Facebook pages, blogs, and Twitter.  It currently has less than 1,000 views.  That’s boo-hoo sad.  Let’s get that up to 10,000.  Watch it here: http://youtu.be/4Ynt0qxhNZI
• Let’s make a second video.  Tell me which song is your absolute gun-to-your-head favorite song on the album that you want the rest of the world to hear?  I want to know.
• Perform your own cover of a song from Aide Memoire and post it on YouTube and share it with everyone.  Who cares if it’s lo-fi and timid, that’s cool, as long as it’s honest.  Make it your own!  To help you, I’ve already posted guitar tabs for a few of the acoustic-friendly (and easy to explain) songs on the Music page at valemmich.com—“When I Grow Up”, “Galoshes” and “Experts.”  More coming soon.
• Make your own music videos for Aide Memoire songs on YouTube.  I give you free reign to use the songs for promotional reasons.  Just make sure you list the artist name, album name and ideally a link to where the stuff can be bought (iTunes works).

Bloggers, Journalists, Podcasters, Deejays

• Let’s do an interview.  The size of your audience or publication doesn’t matter to me, as long as you’re serious about what you do.  Blogs, newspapers, magazines, fanzines, radio shows, whatever.  Let’s do an acoustic performance for your podcast.  Let’s do something.  Let’s talk.

Calling All Visual Artists

• If you’re talented and you’re doing unique work and looking to team up with someone just as passionate as you in the hopes of having fun and perhaps gaining a wider audience, I want to work with you. 
• Want to shoot a music video?  Send me your idea for a song. 
• Want to create gig posters for upcoming shows?  I’d love to see your work. 
• Photographers…let’s do a shoot! 
• Artists…I’m always looking for a visual match for my music, especially for album covers.  My last album featured a painting by my friend and my next release will also feature a painting.  
• Web designers…let’s do an overhaul on my website and make it some place where people really want to visit.

The Issue of Touring

• If you happen to live close and can attend a live show, a) comment about the show afterwards on Twitter, Facebook, your own blog, etc, and tell people why you think they are missing out and b) post photos and videos from the show.  You’ll notice on the EVENTS page at valemmich.com, I’ve added all kinds of information about Past Shows.  You guys can provide me with the content—footage and commentary about each show—and by doing that we can leave footprints for other people to track.  Have old setlists, photos or videos from old shows?  Send them over.
• Buy Tickets in advance.  If possible, this helps.  It might cost you a little extra in service fees so I totally understand it if you can’t afford it.  But if you’re able to, it goes a long way.  Promoters get nervous when pre-sales are low and they start hounding me.  For example, we’ve currently sold only 5 tickets to our upcoming show at Jammin Java on 12/4 outside D.C.  Last time we played D.C. we had at least 30 people there.  That’s not a ton but it’s certainly enough for a party.  Enough to make a promoter feel like I have enough promise to invite me back.  Where did everyone go?  Are you still there?  If you were just waiting to buy a ticket at the door, don’t.  Get it now.  And if you’ve got other plans, cancel them and come to the show.  I vow to make it worth it for you.  Unless for some reason you’re getting married that day.  You should probably go to the wedding.  Ticket links for all shows can be found at valemmich.com/tour.php
• When I finally do make a trip to your town (like Philadelphia, for example, this Thursday 11/17), make sure you come to the show!  And bring your friends!  If I don’t have a good turn out, then it’s really hard for me to come back.  And when you come, sing along.  LOUD.  The people next to you will be like, Wow, they really like this band.  Maybe we’re missing out on something good.  We should listen.  And come up to the band and I and say hi after.  I want to meet you and talk.  “I only want a connection.”
• Musicians and Friends Thereof: I’m always looking to team up with other artists for shows and tours.  Think we can help each other?  Get in touch with me.  Have a friend whose band would work perfectly with me?  Have them reach out or send me their link.
• Subscribe to my email newsletter at valemmich.com/signup.  This way you’ll know when I’m coming to your town.  I average about 2 emails a month so I promise not to overload your inbox.

Talk to me

• Tell me what you want. I want to please you (if and when it jives with my heart).  Assuming your desires aren’t x-rated, I will come through for you.  I just need to hear from you.  Apart from coming to your town to play (we’ve been over that), what can I do for you?  Want a private songwriting lesson?  Let’s do it.  Want an acoustic version on YouTube of your favorite song?  Sure, which one?  Want me to play for you and your friends?  Let’s fucking do it.  Don’t think you can afford me?  Maybe you’re right but maybe you’re wrong.  I’m reasonable and if you can guarantee some kind of audience and the trip can somehow be worked out, then I’ll do it.  I just want to share this music with you and I want new people to hear it.  So talk to me.  I can’t guess what would get you excited.  You have to tell me.  If it’s not too dirty, share publicly on Twitter, Facebook and Tumblr. 
• You have ideas that I don’t have and I want to hear about them.  Let’s get on the phone and talk about it.  Yes, the phone.  If you’re cool with that.  If not, let’s do email.

Share

• The holiday season is coming.  Share my music with your favorite people.  Whether it’s gifting the album via iTunes or ordering a CD thru cdbaby.com or sending someone the mp3 album for free.  Of course, I’d rather you buy it but I’d much rather new people hear it than worry about a few dollars. 

My ideas are running out.  I’m sure you have ideas of your own.  Whatever they are, do them.  Just don’t piss anyone off.  New ears are good but I don’t need people hating my name when uttered.  That’s worse than not knowing it at all. 

I’m often surprised, maybe naively, by the assumptions I hear made about me.  People assume I’m famous because I was on TV.  I’m not.  People assume that I have a team of people working for me and that I don’t need your help.  I have one single person working with me and I really need your help.  Don’t assume that I have a record label, distributor, publisher, business adviser, publicist, website maintainer, email reader or whatever else people assume (most of the people on my Contacts page are related to previous albums, if you’re wondering).  I have none of these things.  I do almost everything myself and that’s fine but I’m limited.  People assume I have lots of money because you saw me in a commercial or two.  I get by.  I’m just a guy with an intense passion for music and art and art means nothing when it isn’t shared.  I need you.

Thanks for reading this and for allowing me to speak candidly.  You don’t owe me anything.  I am lucky to have what you’ve given me thus far.  If nothing else, I hope you see that I’m determined and perhaps that inspires you to do a little something extra.  If so, thank you.  If not, that’s okay too. 

Love,

Val

Email me anytime at ve.newsletter@gmail.com

Because this is serious business - let the brainstorming begin bitches!

@6 months ago with 25 notes