Hate Marketing Yourself? I Found a Better Way!

There’s an article I keep seeing in music circles, a client even sent it to me. It’s about this universal dread of self-promotion we all seem to share while recognizing it’s necessary. And honestly? I get it.

For a long time, self-promotion felt like this massive, insurmountable task that only the ‘gifted’ or the overly confident could climb. The thought of being constantly ‘on’ social media, pushing the ‘me’ brand, just didn’t sit right. It felt...off.

But then, LIGHTBULB MOMENT! I found a way to market myself that felt genuine, packed with personality and dripping with value. And guess where this golden nugget was hiding? Right under our noses, in the most classical musician-y place possible.

Cue the drumroll...the MASTERCLASS METHOD.

Ah, the masterclass, our good ol’ friend. A concept so brilliantly simple, yet profoundly impactful, pioneered by none other than Franz Liszt himself. A space where a student not only learns but performs, where the audience gets schooled in the art of music, and where the teacher gets to strut their stuff – all under the guise of education.

So here’s the breakdown, the REAL genius of the masterclass:

1. The student gets to shine: They get the spotlight, the critique, the growth.

2. Performance under pressure: They get to work on their presentation skills.

3. Audience learns: The repertoire, the technique hacks, and the musicianship.

4. Teacher markets: Here’s the kicker – while all this learning and performing is happening, the teacher is subtly, effectively marketing themselves, their studio and university. It’s genius. Pure genius.

The masterclass vibe – it’s about providing insane value, teaching, sharing your craft FIRST, and letting the marketing do its thing in the background.

Instead of blasting out ‘Hey, come work with with me!’ messages, think about the VALUE of what you’re offering.

When you share your craft, your knowledge, your passion – you’re not just teaching/performing; you’re MARKETING. And not in a sleazy way, but in the most authentic, you-can’t-help-but-listen way.

So, next time you’re dreading that self-promo post, remember the masterclass method. Dive deep into your ZONE OF GENIUS, share the heck out of your value, and let the world come to you.

Because honestly, when we market ourselves by sharing value, it’s not marketing. It’s just us being our awesome, talented selves. Let’s do more of THAT.