Friday, September 11, 2009

Words that rhyme with frustration

OK, so the bad news is that I had a really frustrating day in the studio. Long story filled with techno-talk, but basically, I was hoping to finish up all the vocals today for the kids' record, leaving me with only a few acoustic parts to do, then mix. But it didn't happen.

That's the bad news. I'm a few days behind now. This shouldn't surprise anyone. I mean, the tentative release date for this thing has changed like 9 times. I think it was originally supposed to come out in '06 or something.

I blame the economy. Or the health-care reform. Or Sarah Palin. I don't know. It's someone's fault.

Anyway, here's the good news. I'm tired of waiting and working and talking about this project with nothing to show for it. And I know that all 17 of you are tired of that as well. I'm really excited about this music and I can't wait to share it.

Sooooo, it's time for more GIVE-AWAYS!

That's right, kids. It's on. Just like last time, only this time you'll be getting (unmixed!) songs from the new kids' record.

But here's the thing. I'm going to make this one a little more involved. I mean, posting a comment on my blog to get free music is a no-brainer. So I think I'll ask a bit more of you on this one, but I also think you're getting something a little more significant.

Here's what we're going to do:

As most of you know already, I'm extremely close to being finished with the record. I'm going to write more about it in the next couple of weeks as the release gets closer, but for now my big issue is HOW DO I MARKET THIS THING?

I mean, I've never done a record even resembling this one in terms of musical style, lyrical content, or target audience. So I'm just honestly at a loss for how to get it "out there." My usual methods for this kind of thing just don't seem like they will work this time.

So that's where you come in. I will send 2 of my kids' songs -- again, these are "rough draft" versions, not the final mixes -- on two conditions.

First, that you promise to send the songs to 3-5 friends each. Preferably these will be the kinds of friends that you think might be interested in the record once it comes out. So, mainly parents of young-ish children.

And second, that you promise to buy the record when it comes out.

I don't think that's too much to ask for two free, pre-release, sure-to-be-chart-topping-hit tunes from a formerly almost regionally famous celebrity like myself.

After you get the songs, you forward them to your 3-5 lucky friends, and then you just email me and tell me that you did it. You must do this! Obviously you'll already have the songs, so I can't coerce you to do it; and obviously if you do it, I'll just have to take your word on it, because I can't monitor what you're actually doing.

But the ethical standards of RKWT blog posters have always been top-notch (other than an occasional inappropriate joke, but I'm usually the only one that does that; and maybe Johnny), so I know I can trust you.

Basically, here's the plan in 7 easy-to-follow bullet-point steps:

Step 1: Post on the comments page, and give me your email (even if you sent it last time; I'm a songwriter, not a book keeper).

Step 2: Wait for the songs to come to your email. Take deep breaths and try not to call me at home and bother me while you're waiting.

Step 3: Enjoy songs with your children or the borrowed children of loved ones.

Step 4: Forward songs to 3-5 friends and/or family members (potential buyers!)

Step 5: Wait with eager anticipation for whole CD to come out, all the while spending inordinate amounts of time on various Ross King online venues.

Step 6: Buy CD upon release date.

Step 7: Hound aforementioned friends and family to buy CD also.This is what the kids call "marketing on the cheap." I am shamelessly engaging in it, and using the lure of free stuff to entice you to do the same.

Got it? Cool.

I think this can be a great tool for buliding relationships and blessing people in your life. I mean, who doesn't want some free music to play for their rowdy kids in the car? You? You sir? How about you, madam? Don't look away from me! Take this free music and find much enjoyment!

So,who wants some free stuff?

Final thought: I'm only going to do this for maybe a week. So don't tarry.

56 comments:

Jill said...

I'm not tarrying at all... and I might send to 6 friends. There I go, raising the bar again.

jlejcar75@hotmail.com

P.S. Social media would be a good place to start when you are ready to market (i.e. tell all your facebook friends).

joe.peebles said...

Count me in! I'm sure I can rustle up some folks to get in on the magic.

Unknown said...

dspark93@gmail.com

I happen to know a few childrens minister types who would love to receive two free songs for kids. I will be happy to pass it on. :) And you know we'll buy it when it comes out. Can't wait!!!

ken said...

ken.fogle@gmail.com

Count me in!

leslie said...

I'd love to help!

leslie.follmar@gmail.com

Got some people at work & church in mind to pass this along to!

Debbie said...

I'm all for passing on Ross King Music!

debbprince@yahoo.com

Chris Taylor said...

Ross, I want some free stuff. I promise to abide by all 7 dispensations (whoops, I mean criteria) of your proposal.

Chris Taylor said...

whoops...here's my email.

chris@ctay.net

Drushah said...

my church is like 90% kids. send it my way.

rpcoke@gmail.com

rk said...

Chris--
best comment ever.

Everyone--
i'm going to wait until tomorrow night and see how many requests i get. send the songs then.

thanks. i feel like a rock star. well, sort of.

Unknown said...

add me to the list

acreamer02@gmail.com

Megan said...

Count me in!

megan.fraiser@gmail.com

Embolina said...

Can't wait to send the songs to all my friends!

esloan99@hotmail.com

Technology Reporter said...

I love a good children's ditty everyone now and then...
Have you thought about using iTunes as a marketing venue?

risehigher@gmail.com

Thanks Ross!

Jenny said...

I'm in & I'll send to out-of-state (that's out-of Texas) moms & grandmoms in an attempt to broaden the loop... of course you are known world-wide, so everybody already knows, I'm sure.

We Cavins miss you Kings.

jennycavin at gmail dot com

Hollie said...

I would love to share your music with my friends!

hollie_jp@yahoo.com

Unknown said...

I'm up for some free music and for some marketing to my kidded-friends.

ddarr97@att.net

Laurie M said...

The Mounces are ALL about the music. Bring it!

mouncefamily@gmail.com

Chuck said...

I'm in.

chuck.rhine@gmail.com

Thanks!

Nathan T said...

Ross, I have a feeling with your kick-a** comgroup and adorable kids ya'll could come up with a pretty good video to accompany the first single!

Robert Conn said...

I'm all for the Ross King Pyramid Scheme.

robertlconn@gmail.com

Leavener Guy said...

I'm in bro... Rusty@Leavener.com

Steph Cherry said...

i'd like some music. I will also promise to blog about it when it comes out.
stephanie@denbighcherry.com

Unknown said...

Prefer a song that has a kazoo.

cgeorges@doxag.com

Chrystal Sturm said...

I do! I do!

You should also create a "Facebook Event" for the launch. Not a real-life party where people show up and wear costumes, of course...a Facebook Party. You've 'attended' one right? EXCELLENT way to get your friends to post the release of your new album on their facebook pages. All they have to do is 'attend' the party and then ka-blam! hundreds of fans sharing with hundreds of friends = awareness = sales. Especially since you'll be posting your freebie tunes to your Facebook page as well. Right?

Is your FB profile set up for fans? Do you have a FB profile at all? It needs to be and you most certain should. I've got other ideas for viral marketing if you're interested ;)

chrystal.sturm@gmail.com

buffalocreative said...

sounds good to me.
ryan.gikas@gmail.com

Bowser said...

done and done.

chrisbowser@gmail.com

Dave Wyble said...

This is cool. I have somewhere between 50 and 100 million friends on facebook, and they will all receive a notice when the CD is released.

dave at wyble dot org

rk said...

again, thanks everyone for the comments, encouragments, ideas, etc.

I'll send the songs out later today.

ross

Lindele said...

Me, please.

Lindele@juno.com

brandon said...

I'm game...

fivehix at ymail dot com

rk said...

OK, the songs are sent! Let me know what you think. Unless you hate 'em, in which case maybe you could just sort of softball it and say "yeah, those are really melodic" or "i like the beat" or something like that.

jstew said...

jeremy@aggiestewarts.com

I'd love to hear some songs. I pushed hard for you to finish this project before my first-born came into the world. Unfortunately my wife wasn't willing to carry our child for an extra four months, so you missed that deadline. Oh well, at least we'll have two songs to get my baby addicted to so that when the album comes out she'll be ready for more!

Along the lines of marketing, I would contact Pine Cove. Their latest studio worship album is for children. They have a camp just for 2nd-5th graders (over 2,000 per summer), three family camps, and they have parent/child conferences throughout the rest of the year. There's a lot of folks there that are looking for good "safe" (your favorite) music.

Motivational Babies said...

evan_weppler@baylor.edu

I would love to share the ross king kid's music magic. Thank you so much for doing this!

Vickie Otts said...

Yes, send them my way. I already sent out an email blast to a few of my closet 40-50 friends!

v.otts@tx.rr.com

Matt Allen said...

denalyn@hotmail.com

Can't wait to hear some new kids music and test it on my 3 yr old and all those around me!!

Mindy Hart said...

Ross- I love every song you've ever done and am sure I'll feel the same about the kid songs! I was already planning to purchase the CD- but would love to have a couple songs to send along to others to encourage them to buy too!

Thanks for doing this!

mindy.l.hart@gmail.com

Ashley Hoover said...

Totally will do Ross!! I'm campaigning among my freinds for your music as it is. This will be no exeption.

shadowoftheAlmighty@windstream.net

God bless!

haleybirkel said...

sounds good! i know LOTS of mommies! and you should do a fb blast as well - get some "fans!"

haleybirkel@yahoo.com

Marci said...

I'm in for some good free music and spreading the sounds around! Facebook would be a good marketing arena, as well as other blogs. I'd blog about it! All five of the people that read my blog would be interested. :) Really, getting some of your cds in churches would be good too. If the kids listen to it at church and like it, the parents like to have it at home too.

marcilinc1@gmail.com

billy newhouse said...

I hope I'm not too late to get in on this.

billynewhouse@yahoo.com

JLReed said...

I'm in:

CaedmonRWK7@aol.com

Unknown said...

Shoot me some kids tunes!

misterkling@gmail.com

david said...

I'm a recovering pirate. I don't think this will cause me to relapse. I kinda miss the thrill.
Was excited to hear you'd be in Lufkin next week.

drunnels@lufkinfirst.com

freetosing said...

I'd be extremely happy to share some of your tunes with some people who are bound to buy the kids CD once they hear them.

kcampbell77853@yahoo.com

BCS Fitness said...

Ross, please add me to your list! I heard some of the songs from Amy~they are GREAT. I can't wait to get the CD when it comes out!


karatillery@gmail.com

Unknown said...

kurtkop@gmail.com

KelliD said...

can't wait to hear! Thanks!
kel_davis@sbcglobal.net

Romack said...

Super chaotic week - can I still get free stuff even though I'm way behind the curve here?

jromack@gmail.com

I'm patiently waiting...

Andrew Best said...

I'm a fan of children's music, and I'm a fan of Ross King's music. Send 'em my way.

Lechuck@sbcglobal.net

Jeremy said...

sir rosstoven, i would like to enjoy. i'm actually curious to see how my itsy 18month old niece will respond to them. :)

jeremy at jeremysimon dot! com

Desiree said...

I'll share your work into the frozen cement jungle of Chicago. I can (and will) play songs for my girls and send songs to all the moms I know. It may not make you world famous, but at least all the mom's I know will have heard the songs.

desireelynch@gmail.com

Unknown said...

i, too, am shameless..I'll send it to at least a dozen people.

tom@fbcpville.org

sorry, i'm behind on all this... you may have already received some great awards for this project...and I'm just now coming to the table...

:)

Amanda Davisson said...

Ross, if you're still sending out the downloads I would definitely pass your music on to all my friends w/ children.

kyrieeleison95@yahoo.com

Also, can't wait for you to start touring again. We definitely want to have you out in our neck of the woods.

Amanda Davisson

Thomas Morris said...

Pretty great idea - I'm excited about this CD (and I don't have any kids)

tomtomdrumdrum@gmail.com

Unknown said...

Can you hook me up in Florida? Wayne wants to share some Ross King love on the Emerald Coast!

wayne@gracedestin.com