By Jeri Goldstein, Copyright 2006 The New Music Times, Inc.

In any business contacts are your life blood! They could mean the difference between getting booked in a choice club, getting reviewed in a major market rag, getting that record deal or getting your song covered by a major label artist. Don't get me wrong, talent and all of your efforts thus far play a major role. But, from my experience and from so many stories told to me by other artists, managers and industry professionals along with historical accounts about industry luminaries, dropping a name or two can get you in the door. With that in mind it is so important to build solid relationships with your contacts and nurture those relationships to benefit your future career.

It is so import to rely on the contacts you have already developed in order to connect with their colleagues in the field. This contact expanding technique is particularly important as you broaden your base of operation from your hometown and begin touring to neighboring cities. Calling upon your hometown contacts in the media and business to help you gain access to their contacts in other markets, can speed up your success in those new markets. This process, works wonders on a career when your relationships with each and every contact you make is carefully nurtured. When you treat your contacts as part of your growing industry family, they respect you and feel comfortable and are willing to help when they are able. Take your contacts for granted and you will run into many dead ends and wait long hours for calls that will ultimately not be returned. I suppose it is a matter of industry manners.

Here are some of the things that you can do to develop good industry manners and networking common sense to aid in your career development. Some of these suggestions may seem so simple I can hear you say, "Oh, come on now!" Yet, those artists that follow through are the ones well thought of and called for return gigs. Here are a number of scenarios I offer for your consideration. How did you act when you found yourself in a similar situation? If you haven't yet had these opportunities, perhaps these suggestions may influence your future strategies...

Jeri Goldstein is the author of, How To Be Your Own Booking Agent The Musician's & Performing Artist's Guide To Successful Touring 2nd Edition UPDATED. She had been an agent and artist's manager for 20 years. Currently she consults with artists, agents and managers through her consultation program Manager-In-A-Box and presents The Performing Biz, seminars and workshops at conferences, universities, for arts councils and to organizations. Jeri has released a 3-hour seminar on CD-ROM, Marketing Your Act. No expensive conferences to attend-learn at your convenience to boost your career. Her book, CD-ROM and information about her other programs are available at www.performingbiz.com or phone (434) 591-1335 or email Jeri at jg@performingbiz.com.