5 key takeaways from our Music of Business panel

Massive thanks to all those who attended our Music of Business event on July 31st. Special thanks to Brent Heyl (16 on Center), Will Duncan & Jessica King (Fitzgeralds), and Seamus Doheny (Auris Presents) for joining us on the panel discussion that evening. We learned a lot and had some laughs along the way.

In no particular order, here were our 5 key takeaways from the evening:

It Helps to Be Human

Promotions, marketing tactics, newsletters, et al, are all useful tactics for driving sales. But to actually build a relationship, it’s helpful to be as human as possible in your organic channels. At the end of the day, customers knowing your brand the way they’d know a friend - who has real victories and struggles, and personal ups and downs -  drives positive engagement and sentiment.

Don’t Haunt the Festival

Landing a sponsorship is just the first step. It takes open and honest collaboration to make sure both the brand and the live event/festival are creating a unique experience that’s tailored for the audience they both share. Be real, honest and very creative about how to best do that.

Meet Your Audience Where They’re At

Yes, trends are important. Being aware of where culture is heading with regards to new channels and platforms is imperative to staying ahead of the game. BUT, if your current audience is not trending towards new channels and platforms yet, make sure you meet them where they’re at, or you risk alienating your long standing audience.

Culture Not Vulture Marketing

Brands that usurp the subcultures they borrow from without acknowledgement is a fast track to unpopularity. We all borrow, learn, and take from our experiences and make them into our own. A little acknowledgement goes a long way. Best to get ahead of it at the start. Because if you don’t, someone on Reddit will do it for you.

You’re Not The Arbiter of Cool

Whether it’s an outdoor street fest in February, an Americana music fest in Chicago, or yes, even a Shrek rave, we don’t get to decide what culture deems interesting or exciting. As brands and marketers, it’s important to keep an open mind, spot where the cultural capital is being spent, and look for opportunities to participate.

Please stay tuned for more information on our next panel discussion. We hope to see you there.