I just re-read a very informative blog post by Peter Bregman in the Harvard Business Review entitled “When Your Voicemails and Emails Go Unanswered, What Should You Do?" This is an excellent read for any professional, business person or creative artist.
Even though I rarely pitch artists and songwriters to labels and publishers, it is not unusual for me to get emails from people requesting that I do so. They hope I will listen to their music or songs – or both. And then present their material to labels or publishers. Incredibly, sometimes I get emails or calls back the same day asking if I have listened yet! I can be a bit forgiving because I assume this person really does not have any concept how busy lawyers and others in the music business are – and as I understand it in most any other business. But even if I accept their lack of business etiquette (and sometimes downright rudeness) as understandable, I nevertheless do not accept them as clients. I cannot represent everybody and attitude is just as important as talent, ability to pay, etc. So when I get emails or calls from people who show impatience to this degree, it helps me eliminate this prospective client quickly on the front end. And I certainly would not want to send someone like this to a label or other industry gatekeeper with whom I have a trusted relationship.
Now – perhaps more importantly for my artist and songwriter readers: A&R executives, producers and others in the business are just as attuned to who is going to be trouble for them and or their company to work with and all other things being equal, it helps eliminate one CD from the stack of submitted demos piled high in their offices.
Like the author of the Harvard Business Review Blog, I have experienced the same frustration with unanswered emails and voicemails. And I have also violated the patience advice I am giving to you. So I need to remind myself of the advice given in the HBR Blog.