Most artist don't realize how powerful a fan list is. Many don't take advantage of this tool, even though it has proven countless times that artists that are good about staying in touch with their fans have a better chance of always gaining new fans, increasing music sales, getting more people to shows, and having longer careers.
I've decided to give everyone my top 3 fan list strategies that everrybody should know.
1.) Social Networks are NOT a fan list.
Your friends/followers on MySpace, Facebook, or Twitter aren't a real fan list! They are real fans, but you don't know much about them other than that. Having a fan list gives you an opportunity to own your fan database. You'll have accurate, detailed info about fans. Helping you target messages to specific fan groups and more.
2.) Communicate Regularly.
Artists know that they have to communicate with their fans on a regular basis, but they often are at a loss for things to say. The good thing is what you say to your fans is not as important as how regularly you talk to them. Fans signup for your list to hear from you! If you keep in touch with your fans, your list will continue to grow. Build a relationship with them by not just promoting projects and shows. Talk about your experiences and interests so that your fans connect with you as a person. If you don't communicate often, you will lose fans.
3.) Include links to places you want your fans to go.
This one seems obvious, but you'd be surprised by how many artists don't include a link or call to action in each message. You should include a link to your website, any profiles on social networking sites, your merch store, a place to download your music, and anything else that's important. They don't need to be huge but make sure you include it somewhere.
FanBridge is a great way to manage your fan list. I know some artists that use their services and highly recommend them. Hopefully, these tips will help you build valuable fan relationships.
Check out this video on the importance of maintaining a fan list.
Friday, December 11
Digga's Story Part Two... Personal
Every business man knows that you have to have some personal time if you want to stay sane enough to be successful. Digga is no different. In part two he talks about his passion for the youth and I even got him to speak on his love life.
Rashida: Last time we talked you were talking so passionately about the youth and about how the youth has been failed. Just tell me a little bit about how you feel about this generation and what it is that you plan on doing with helping for the next generation.
Digga: Wow. It's so sad what's going on with this generation. And to all the young people in this generation that come across this on the web, this is not about bashing y'all. 'Cause it ain't y'all fault. The adults, the ones my age and after me, or before me. We all have to understand that we had a job to do, we failed the ones that are coming up now. We are so quick to point the finger and say "Look at these lil' niggas!" or "Look at her! She got her ass hangin' out and her thong showing."... Where you think they got it from? It goes all the way back to babies having babies, the lack of education that the school system has brought about. The cats that's in the media, they don't make it no better. We glorify the wrong things in life. We all grew up out of wrong things in life. From drinking liquor and smoking icky sticky, popping pills, and the whole nine yards! We gotta understand that when we do all of these things in front of the youth the only thing that youth is gonna do, they gonna think it's cool because they see you do it. We need to stop setting trends in the worst way and starting doing things to better these kids. 'Cause when you get old and these kids start coming in your house while you watching T.V. 'cause they ain't got no hope for the future, don't be mad at them.
Rashida: Now I want to get into my silly questions.
Digga: Ain't no question a silly question!
Rashida: (Laughs) Well I took a cue from Tyra and came up wit some questions that play on your name to help get to know you a little better. The first one is "Digga Hole". Talk about being in a hole or situation that you never thought you would get out of. Something that you've conquered or overcome.
Digga: Wow... I have a few. And it's funny that you asked that. 'Cause these are things that I talk to myself about. I don't answer myself! (Laughs) That's a sign of hospital time. But you talking about family wise or street wise?
Rashida: We can talk about street wise.
Digga: Well, street wise, one thing that I thought I wasn't going to be able to conquer and I thought that I was in a whole no matter how good I was doing... 'cause talking about this money thing... A lot of people don't know what it's like to be nigga rich, and I've been that a few times over. I had a mill ticket, like y'all say no cappin' no hollin', I had a million by the time I was 28 years old. Maintained it for many moons. And basically, the moral of it is that I never thought that I would be able to get out the game without people coming to my funeral. All my niggas locked up or dead. Cats don't know what it's like to lose 50 people that's close to me in one year. I just came from a funeral in Cincinatti. I've been around so much death right at my front door. And to this day I just sit and wonder why. Not asking God, 'cause that's something that I won't do, just me, "Nigga, what makes you so speacial?". And all I can say is I got that armor on me. I got that shield [of God]. And I always did what I had to do to move right. It's just an overwhelming feeling to walk away from the game and the fans still love you.
Rashida: That's a hell of a whole to come out of. To leave the game with your life is a blessing. Moving on to the next one, "Digging the Ladies". Now I know that you are not single, but I still wanna touch on the things that you look for in a good woman.
Digga: Originality. Don't get me wrong, it look good. Most cats look at the girl that's all made up. Very materialistic. Got to have her jewelry game up like your jewelry game up. Somebody who feel like they got to go shopping every weekend. Real talk from a real nigga that's a turn off to me. Looking nice is good for the heart. That's good for the soul, but you can do it in your own original way. You don't have to go outside your means. If you can cook that's a plus. A damn plus! At the same time you have to have pretty feet. I don't fcuk with no female who feet fcuked up. That's a rule. It's just like women. When a nigga walk up y'all look at his shoes first. My baby she done seen the best of me. She's seen me in all forms. I like a laid back individual. That's why I soughted her out as opposed to the others. Plus the things that we went through when we met a while back. And just how interested she was in what I was doing. She was interested in the music and it touched me. I want somebody who compliments me, is a good representative of Dig, and says "You can't get to me to get under his skin." I need a rider, not just a female that's trying to go along for the ride. And all that weave, I don't rock with that! (Laughs)
Rashida: Next is "Dig Your Eyes Out". Talk about your pet peeves. Things that make you want to dig your eyes out or pull your hair out.
Digga: Me? One thing about me that people always have to understand is if I'm around you long enough, I can tell you everything about you right then and there. That's me. I see your bullsh!t and everything. So me, pet peeves, I don't really have any. 'Cause I'm one of those people that I really don't give a fcuk.
Rashida: So there's not one thing that irritates you?
Digga: Stupid people!
Rashida: The last thing that I have is "Digging Yourself". Do you have any silly things that you do when nobody's looking?
Digga: (Laughs)Yeah. I be rapping and sh!t! You wanna hear something?
Rashida: Yeah.
Digga: What you want me to touch on?
Rashida: The youth. You can do that!
Digga: Nah! I don't want no problems with them niggas! (Laughs)
After doing a short freestyle about candy that was... let's just say he tried! We wrapped up the interview with him sending his final shout outs to his whole Certified Hustleas camp, the Hushmoney family, Geno & Bo from Playa Made Ent., and my mentor, Shimmy!
R.O.B.'s mixtape "I Look Better In Person" is in the streets now. If you've been under a rock and don't have it, you can get it here.
Also check out his video for "Watch Me Ride By"
Digga's Story Part One... Business.
As founder of Certified Hustlas Ent. and manager to R.O.B., one of Cleveland's most popular rappers, Digga has his hands full! His passion for music, good business, being a positive example for young black men helped him start a promising career. But growing up in the streets influenced him to make some bad choices in life, that he's had to pay the price for. He's only been home six months after spending time in prison. I had a chance to sit down with the man himself as he spoke about his relationship with Hush Money Management, shady promoters, why he said fcuk Cleveland DJs, and tons more! Too much for one blog post, so join us in part one as Digga speaks on all things business...
Rashida: The first thing that I wanna do is get some background on you. Who you are and what it is that you do. What part of the city did you grow up in?
Digga: Actually, I was born and raised in East Cleveland. As I like to call it: The Real East Cleveland. After I came out of school in 1990, I moved to Cincinatti, Ohio. Certified Hustlas Entertainment got founded in 2003. At one time we had about ten artists on the roster. As far as Cleveland artists we had Young Ray ("I'm from E.C."), and of course R.O.B. He was the first artist on the label from Cleveland. Then branched off into HollyHood a.k.a. Hood, Young Cash, Da Guide, and Showstoppa. Unfortunately, a lot of guys aren't with us. Maybe if they get a chance to read y'all blog, as far as Hood and Cash, I want them to know they always welcome home. Because we all go through our differences within the camp. I feel like they're talented guys and I don't think they should waste their time doing anything else. But I understand how hard it is out here. A lot of times we resort to doing things that we really don't wanna do, we just do what we gotta do.
Rashida: I didn't know that you were involved with so many artists. Some of them are well known.
Digga: Yeah. One of our biggest shows was done at the OH10. For those that remember that club. We did a opening that consisted of my entire camp, which was like 75 guys mixed up from Cincinatti and Cleveland. I put that whole thing together. It's always been easy for me to do. One thing that I try to get these guys to understand is that we need to interact, whole heartedly, with the other parts of Ohio. Not just doing a song with them and not promoting the song or you might not deal with them again or call them again. If you wanna be a artist, especially from Ohio, we have to connect our dots.
Rashida: Definitely. Unity is important isn't it?
Digga: Yes! Because, for one, we're not being recognized the way that we should. I feel like we need to form a big bond of unity. Because a lot of peple that I've rubbed elbows with, from major labels like Def Jam and Atlantic, I've had deep conversations with these cats and they've said "Dig, the reason a lot of people don't pay y'all no attention is because y'all don't have no loyalty for self up there." and that's deep. Cats in Cleveland need to stop being so self centered and realize that the only reason that we mad at everybody else is 'cause we mad at ourselves.
Rashida: I don't know why that seems to be such a hard concept to grasp up here. What have some of your experiences with that been like?
Digga: Well, you know me and Rob have been through the wringer just like so many of the artists in the city have. Me and my other family, Hush Money Management, we do what we gotta do to support the other artists, the venue. But at the same time, we look at the game so different because Certified Hustlas and Husmoney Management together are one of the only teams that travel a lot. And a lot of people don't understand what needs to be done here. You have promoters who throw [shows at] venues and they don't realize how big your name is or how long you been grinding. Local artists need to get paid. Even if it's $100. Kind and courtesy don't cost a dime. Sometimes it's cool and they'll let you open for a major artist and you don't have to pay, but there are so many guys that had to pay to perform. And, no disrespect, but if you're a real promoter and this goes out to all of them. I'm just calling it like I know it. You need to pay these local artists because they are providing a service to you and for the city! Give a cat a appreciation bottle of Moet or something! I mean, it's a no brainer. You can't expect someone to respect you and you don't respect them back.
Rashida: You probably don't remember this but the first time that I saw you was at the Ohio Hip Hop awards this year. You were stealing cranberry juice and stuff from the bar! (Laughs)
Digga: (Laughs) I do remember that! Since no one wants to pay Certified Hustlas Ent. or Hush Money Management at this present time, yeah! We stole y'all liquor off the bar at the Hip Hop awards. Get it understood or we gon' make you understand. We gotta get something out the deal. It's all in fun and love. (Laughs)
Rashida: There has been a lot of debate this year about the Ohio Hip Hop awards. There are people that thinks it's helping and those that think it's not helping. What's your take on it?
Digga: I'm glad you touched on this. I'm gon' be honest with you. Mad love to everybody that got they hands in the Hip Hop awards. Shout out to Quincy and In The Way Marketing. Q, you know we been dealing with eachother for many moons. On the other hand, I actually feel that they need to stop having it in Cleveland all the time. You have to go to a different city. Because if you think about it, majority of the artists that win the awards and are nominated are from Cleveland. Don't get me wrong, at one point in time I felt like my label should have won label of the year. No one in the state of Ohio has a movement like mine. You never seen us out of pocket. You never seen us in or start any drama. Never saw cats not groomed. I have to give much respect for that to Rob. Because he customize clothes, shoes, he can draw, the whole nine. He made sure that everybody looked according to what we were trying to do as a movement. The only other cats was Aristocrats from Cincinatti. So when I see people from New York, Houston, and Atlanta recognize the movement and not my own people it's like a smack in the face. But we need to realize that we got a lot of hot cats in Youngstown, Akron, Cincinatti, Toledo. Especially Dayton. Cincinatti and Dayton got some animals! It's a good thing, too. I've seen a huge advancement from where it was to where it is today. And the Ohio Hip Hop awards should only be for local artists. You think a cat with a deal care about a award? No disrespect to Hi Tek or Ray Cash, but y'all need to pass those awards down. Whenever you ready to touch on this DJ thing I'm ready! (Laughs)
Rashida: Okay. Let's get to the DJ issue. What's that all about?
Digga: I was getting a lot of flack on Twitter because I said fcuk all Cleveland DJs.
Rashida: Wow... I missed that one!
Digga: Yeah. People gon' say "Dig was going in on niggas. He had this and that to say anout the DJs." Hell yeah I'm gon' talk about the DJs! 'Cause y'all ain't right! One of my uncles is a DJ. Johnny O. Johnny know I ain't holding my tongue for nobody. A lot of you cat's ain't right. Like I said, I call it like I know it. They got mad at me but so damn what! Y'all know Dig. I speak my mind. It's only right.
Rashida: So what is your issue with Cleveland DJs?
Digga: The thing is, is this. And I like all of 'em it just that I don't like y'all technique on how y'all do what y'all do. Because if you think about it, this is what we need to incorporate into Cleveland. Snoop had a video on World Star and he said that when he step in the club in the south they'll give him a 20 minute set. They'll bouce his music for a hot 20 minutes, and it's probably not a whole 20 minutes. But after that it's like 'Okay back to this ATL shit'. And Snoop said 'I respect the game 'cause ATL doin' it the right way'. So my thing is if these DJs is really paying attention, and I'm not telling y'all to copy cat, but at the same time don't you want your city to blow? Don't you think that if you break a artist that he's gon' come back and fcuk wit you and say "I'm gon' take you on tour with me and get you some of this money". In Atlanta, their local artists down there are the shit. But you can't get one DJ here to play nobody but Fat Al and Chip tha Ripper. And it's not respect to them. Fat Al, that's my cat. I never got a chance to chop it up with Chip, but I respect his grind. He kick it with my lil' cousin, Young Ray. But when is it gon' be a time when we walk in the club and all y'all play is our shit from all across Ohio? Quit fcuking with these other niggas from outside. 'Cause guess what we look like. A whole bunch of d!ck riders. That's basically the concept of what y'all doing! I can understand radio. Y'all puppets they got a hand in your butt. But the other ones we shouldn't have to walk in the door and walk to the DJ booth and say " Hey, would you play my song?" man that's corny as hell!
Rashida: What's up and coming for Certified Hustlas Entertainment?
Digga: We got Kobane. You know he 'bout to pop off. His joint drop March the 4th. As y'all all know his CD been in the streets. It's been out for a couple months now. But it still hot. It's stll doing it's thing, doing numbers. We got Mizzike. He'll be home. He's in a federal institution. We got Miss Bei. We got a lot of things popping off it's just we strategizing rigth now. The thing about Certified is all we have to do is resurrect. We're not dead. We got a few things working that I'm not at liberty to talk about. (Laughs) That's my lawyer terminology. R.O.B. got a new single coming out. It's crack! It's called "My Phone Body Rockin'". Kobane got one called "Hood Sh!t" and one with some Cincinatti cats called "Three Hours Away". So all I can is say is watch what we do next. CJ and Skent got their projects on the move. We trying our best to be one big happy family, but you know, you got a whole bunch of talented people and cats is hungry. Cats is trying to make the best of the opportunities that we got. So a lot of times we got our own personal issues, but for the most part it's all love. We ain't got no problems with nobody. Because at- I'm tired of saying at the end of the day! At the beginning of the day we got to sit down and have a discussion among our camps. Because you can't have leaks in your camp or none of that. If we start off good today, we need to be good tomorrow.
To be Continued.....
Wednesday, December 9
The Cleveland Classic
Finally! A showcase to not only bring some of Cleveland's hottest artists together under one roof, but to show appreciation for their hard work and good music! Make sure you attend history, the Cleveland Classic!
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I Run Ohio Vol. 2 Three city release
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Congratulations to DJ E-V and his entire team on the launch of his "I Run Ohio" T-shirt line and mix CD of the same name.
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