Creative communication

Creative communication

By Derek Sivers

The way you communicate with people is part of your art.

For people who have never heard your music, it’s the start of your art!

If you make depressing(dəˈpresiNG) music, send your fans a dark black announcement that’s depressing just to look at.

If you are an “in-your-face country-metal(ˈmedl)-speedpunk(spēd pəNGk)” artist, have the guts to call a potential booking agent and scream(skrēm), “Listen you crazy dirtbag(ˈdərtˌbag)! Book me or I explode! Waaaaaah!!” If they like that introduction, you’ve found a good match.

Set the tone(tōn). Pull in those people who love that kind of thing. Proudly alienate(ˈālyə-,ˈālēəˌnāt) those that don’t.

There’s a minimalist(ˈminəmələst) classical music composer whose emails to me are always just one provocative(prəˈväkədiv) thought. Like when I posted something online about being an introvert(ˈintrəˌvərt), he emailed me just one sentence: “Are we not ever-changing, both gradually(ˈɡrajo͞oəlē) and per situation?” That’s it. No greeting or closing or manners in-between. His communication style always makes me smile, and reminds me of his music.

The gentle new-age artist always calls me “sweetie(ˈswēdē)” and reminds me to nourish(ˈnəriSH) my soul.

The surf(sərf)-music artist always uses the Hawaiian(həˈwīən) greetings “aloha(əˈlōˌhä)” and “mahalo(ˈmäˌhälō)” when he emails, along with other surfer slang(slaNG).

The rebellious(rəˈbelyəs) punk never calls me by my name, but instead just says, “Hey sellout(ˈselˌout).”

Be different. Show who you are.

It gives people’s lives more variety, too.

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https://sivers.org/reach