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Next year begins my 41st year leading the Magnolia Jazz Band.
That’s a lot of celebrations, music, and a lot of practicing. Along the way, I’ve learned a lot about how to help people enjoy their wedding or party music.
For example, here we are setting a lovely, quiet mood at a recent garden party. Thanks to long-time friend, John Paulson, for this photo.
Now, here’s my comment about sharing the tips I’ve learned:
Occasionally people ask me why I share many of my favorite tips for planning wedding or party music. Mainly on social media — on my blog and on Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and Twitter.
These tips include how to:
My friends and colleagues like these tips. They send me comments, and I always learn a little more from them. I’m glad about that, of course, but that’s not the main reason I share these tips.
Here’s the main reason: The more I can share what I’ve learned about planning music, the better EVERYONE’S celebrations will be. I’m helping my industry “raise the bar”. People are taking bits of my advice, customizing and personalizing them, and making their wedding or party even better.
Now don’t get me wrong. Most of my colleagues are already top experts in their fields, and they teach me lots more that I can teach them.
My point is that each of us can always learn a little more about planning party music, and I’m glad to lend my expertise to create a climate where we help each other improve.
Bottom line: Every day, I’m posting tips for planning wedding and party music. How are YOU working to help your colleagues and your industry improve?
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CLICK here to tweet this post and join our Magnolia Jazz Band fans on Facebook. You’ll receive daily tips for planning wedding and party music, and you’ll get reminders for our public events.
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Thanks for reading this article. I appreciate your interest and hope you get a few good ideas here. Got one or two? I'd love to hear what you liked. Please write me a little COMMENT below. Start a conversation -- I'll reply. Promise.
By the way, does a friend need help selecting wedding or party music? Do them a favor: EMAIL this article, or SHARE it on Facebook, LinkedIn, or Google+.
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Meanwhile, the Magnolia Jazz Band entertains at weddings and parties throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. If you are ever nearby, you’ll love catching us in action, seeing and hearing us create a great mood.
How can I help you? Call 408-245-9120 or use [email protected]. Planning a celebration? Ask about our availability.
“It don’t mean a thing if it ain’t got that swing!” Great to see how you connect with others as a way to constantly bring more quality to your filed. I love that you are helping make the aspect of event planning seem so much more do-able.
Thanks Vicky,
Glad you like this post. I think EVERYTHING is do-able, if you use the right tools and take the right attitude. And aren’t we all responsible for constantly improving our craft and our field? It’s succession planning. BTW, there’s a wonderful old 1920’s jazz tune called “Shake That Thing”, and I remember it whenever I think of your recent blog. Thanks!
Robbie
In our industry, auto repair, I have seen that the more we can educate and “raise the bar” on service to the consumer, the better it is for everyone! and I believe that is true for every industry/service. So I enjoy seeing how generous you are with sharing what you know works and also being open to learning more from others. That is the best recipe for providing customers with an enjoyable and memorable experience.
Thanks Donna,
Glad you like this post. I agree completely — we all benefit from “raising the bar”. Tell us how it’s working out with your auto repair service. Have you found a way to make it “enjoyable” for your customers?
Robbie
You obviously love what you do, Robbie and are very good at it. I love how you continue to learn and share what you’ve learned with others. Too many people run their businesses without a thought of giving to others. I run a tutoring agency and one of my ways of giving is to not rush people off the phone. When parents are talking about their children, especially if they’re struggling, the conversations tend to get lengthy. I’m a mom, so I completely get that and welcome it. Thanks for sharing this, Robbie.
Thanks Cory,
Glad you like this post. It’s clear you’re in the education biz. Me too. We’re ALL educators, one way or another. Especially when we pay attention to helping our friends and clients understand what our service provides them. BTW, I enjoy YOUR blog, too.
Robbie
You are very good about posting tips about hiring a band or getting music for an event and the tips are very valuable. They help one consider things they hadn’t thought about or that is what I noticed for myself.
Julieanne CaseAlways from the heart!Reconnecting you to your Original Blueprint, Your Essence, Your Joy| Healing you from the Inside Out |Reconnective Healing | The Reconnection| AgeLoc Skin Care | Pharmanex Supplementshttp://thereconnectivehighway.com
Thanks Julieanne,
Glad you like this post. Maybe you’re touching the most important point of all: that we can help our friends and clients expand their horizons and “consider things they hadn’t thought about”, as you say. I’m getting that from YOUR blog, too.
Robbie
The tips you post are very valuable. I do the same thing you do – I post tips about how to organize photos (maybe even from some of the events you play at!) and document them so their stories don’t get lost and they don’t end up in the trash or the flea market.
Susan Berland
A Picture’s Worth
http://susan-berland.com
Thanks Susan,
Glad you like this post. You got me wondering, though. With all your clients, do you give tips for maybe 4 or 5 kinds of ways to organize photos, or are you like me, helping people plan dozens of kinds of parties, with unique themes, settings, timelines, etc?
Robbie
I enjoyed you blog, Robbie. I feel like I’m doing a similar thing for my own profession. I teach the Alexander Technique, and I feel quite passionate about getting the word out about it. I’ve started blogging (in fact my first blog post was today) and am using social media to give tips and information about the Technique so people will get to know a bit more about it.
Thanks Imogen,
Glad you like this post, and congratulations for becoming a blogger. Sounds like you’re on the right track, and I’ll keep visiting your blog.. How’s it going so far?
Robbie
Response to first blog was great Thanks for asking. 🙂
Well I obviously post tips about using Social Media to market your business through Social media – chuckle. But yes, educating helps to raise awareness and educate readers about best practices.
Louise Edington
Breaking Through Frontiers
http://louiseedington.com
Thanks Louise,
Glad you like this post, and I’m grateful for your help in coaching me to get where I am. BTW, sounds like you’re continuing to make GREAT strides. Congratulations!
Robbie
Whenever I come across a blog written by someone else in my company, the entire thing is about our products or our opportunity. It’s very sales-based and even when it is educational, it’s ONLY about our company. I want everyone to feel welcome on my site and don’t want them to bounce right out. I talk about my company and our products when it’s relevant, but I also share stories, talk to moms, etc. Maybe I’m too broad in my writing, but I write from my heart.
Thanks Brenda,
Glad you like this post. Too broad? Hardly. In my opinion, your blog will likely stand out from all the rest, because your focus is on what matters most to your readers. A message can’t be educational unless it addresses a “need to know”. Just spewing “me-me-me” information is usually wasting time, so it sounds like you’re on the right track.
Robbie
What you just said! It is that building relationship thingy… lol. The more you can teach and rais the bar for your own field, the more you will learn. I love being an educator and a lifelong student. It’s what makes life fun!
With Our Little Books, I provide people with information about how to become better writers, or information on how to become published authors because the more people know, the closer they come to their dreams (in my business becoming a published author). For you, the more people know, the better their event will be. It’s all about life sharing!
Candace Davenport
http://www.ourlittlebooks ~ Little Books with a Big Message
Thanks Candace,
Glad you like this post. We are definitely on all the same pages here! (A little “book” humor, there). As I see it, we’re all life-long students — everyone learns something from every experience. And as long as we interact with people, providing their experiences, we’re educators, too. Yep, ultimately it’s all about our relationships.
Robbie
This is such a perfect example of “givers grow!” Not only does it help raise the bar for your industry, it helps build relationships across the board. With your style, I am sure that this just comes naturally to you. There are plenty of others, though, who could definitely learn from this approach and start focusing on providing others with solid tips instead of lots of marketing hype.
Thanks Jennifer,
Glad you like this post. Comes naturally? Heck no! I was born screaming, not smiling, and I learned this “givers grow” attitude from watching people I admired. Same as the rest of us, I hope. You too? My plan it to set an example others might like to imitate. Simple.
Robbie
Robbie, you got to the heart of my social media dilemma! I’m fine with my personal presence and how that is working out. But my business presence??? Is it to attract new customers or to network with my business partners, acquaintances and overall contact sphere. Good Question!!! Not sure if I have resolved the answer for myself yet!
I really resonate with your desire to share your knowledge and create an interchange of ideas so that others can thoughtfully prepare for those special events in their lives. Music can add or detract from an experience, thus the need to be thoughtful about the process.
38 years just blows my mind – that is absolutely fabulous Robbie. Sounds like the tips should be combined for an info product – maybe a freebie that leads to a more detailed plan? Just thinking out loud…would love to hear some of your music in one of the videos 🙂
Brandy
Robbie – talk about speaking to the “givers gain” model. I’m sure it’s taken a good number of those 38 years of experience to build the network and relationships that foster sharing of ideas and tips to make everyone in the industry stronger. Truly a leader in your field and a great role model for anyone starting out. Also, I just read Brandy’s comment and agree.. sharing a few of your favorite songs that you enjoy playing would be great.
I am helping my industry and colleagues improve by improving myself. I am learning to be more generous and giving. I am being way less tit for tat in the way I see things.