Increasing Your Views on You Tube.

I was surfing the net as I often do for new tools to grow my business, when I googled "how to increase my hits on Youtube". To my amazement, I found a few software programs that allowed the user to manipulate the number of hits documented a specific video. I immediately started to wonder how many "popular" videos had been manipulated. Which begged several questions; Why is such a program necessary?  The obvious reason being that everything is up for fraud and that is very sad because now every time I see the staggering number of hits on a stupid "cat dancing on hind legs" video I am going to wonder if it was manipulated. Next I wonder why Youtube does not have a system to track hits and decipher which ones are real and which ones are not. My web host Hostbaby  and my CD distributor CDBaby both have very specific tracking methods which give me daily stats on my hits. Is it because Youtube like television stations can charge advertisers more to advertise on popular videos than obscure ones? I don't know, but it makes me wonder. I have tried to increase my hits by emailing info to people, using keywords that bring the videos up in searches, about once a month I search for info videos on Youtube. I have not figured out how to get huge numbers. I do not plan to manipulate my hits because my videos are not for the mainstream and like caviar, my video productions are an acquired taste.

Derby Day

Better late than never. This is what happens when you don't have staff of writers yet. I recently had the pleasure of performing at Derby Day in Derby Connecticut on Saturday, June 26th, thanks to our recent affiliation with the Valley Arts Council. I must admit, I was a little apprehensive. I had never done a street festival in Derby and I wasn't sure what to expect. It was a beautiful day. The ride from my house was effortless and I found parking a few feet away from the entrance. I planned to bring jewelry and CD's and my drum, but I ended up leaving everything in the car except for my Street Performing Case (This is a big travel tote on wheels with a pull up handle that I can put my Street Cube and other stuff. It is large enough for me to have put my jewelry, CD's and drum, but I did not prepare my case in advance. (Remember the importance of preparing in advance. This way you don't forget things.) With a deep breath, my son and his friend and an open heart, off I went to play my heart out. My partner in crime, Moonshine Kellie and I set up at the entrance of the Derby Green under a nice big tree in what appeared to be the children's area. There were lots of games, activities and people. The first songs are always the roughest as you get your sound and feel correct. As we were setting up, a 4 piece "barber shop" style band came over and proceeded to play a song. I am sure the expression on my face said everything and one of the members assured me that they would only play one song. As we played people stopped to listen, sat down and chilled and the people in the tent next to us encouraged us to keep playing. Some people put money in the tip basket. After an hour or so, we moved on to the next spot right on the street in between The Hill Health Center tent and a toy tent. The vibe was great! People stopped, tipped and applauded. I was feeling the love and the kids were having a ball. The music flowing onto the street, and latched on like a soundtrack to the sights and sounds of kids playing, families walking together, merchants hawking their wares and scents of various foods dancing in the air. I was at home. I felt like I was in NYC. People got it. Unlike a lot of cities in CT, people in Derby seemed to fully embrace and understand the Street Performer and the natural thing to do was to listen, applaud and tip. Simple and fabulous. Its amazing how some of the biggest ideas can come out of the smallest towns. Thanks Derby CT. and everyone at The Valley Arts Council!

Maintaining Enthusiasm

Ever have a great performance and then after the show someone comes up to you and tells you how much they were touched by what you did? Do you feel great knowing that all your hard work has paid off and you feel confident that you are doing the right thing even if you are not winning awards and signed to a big record deal? Then a few days later you find yourself coming off this emotional high only to crash into what seems like a bottomless pit of self pity littered with doubt about your calling, and jealousy over not getting the recognition you deserve? All artists, well all humans visit this dark place periodically. We are only human. Our feelings are valid and this is only normal.

Many artists work seemingly thanklessly for years and sometimes die before their work is recognized. Ultimately what will make or break our spirit is our vision, our view of not how the world sees us, but how we see ourselves. It is the unyielding desire that drives us to put pen to paper, pic to guitar string, stick to drum, mouth to microphone and share the truth within us with who ever is willing to accept it. It really is about the one, not the many. It is about what we feel on the inside, not what is going on on the outside. It is about following our hearts and not our heads.

Success does not occur by chance, it is created through hard work and persistence.