Hello all. As many of you should know by now, networking is the key to winning in this music industry. From the first showcase, to the first seminar, to the first networking event I have ever been to, I have met so many people, with whom I now have great relationships, who have helped me on my journey to where I am today. I have also learned a lot, so I decided to share some of my networking do’s and don’ts with you all as we enter the 3rd annual Coast 2 Coast Convention—which will be a breeding ground for effective networking.

When going out to an event and anticipating a night of power networking:

Do…Dress for the occasion; have a fully charged smart phone; have enough business cards for everyone; have fresh breath and gum or mints on deck; carry yourself with confidence; have a 15–30 second pitch about who you are and what you do; always make eye contact when speaking.

Don’t…Wear a suit and tie to a hip hop show; tell everyone how hot you are and that you are next up; give anyone a CD with nothing written on it; drink excessively; flirt with female business contacts; or name drop as if anyone cares.

After networking and when attempting to make first contact:

Do…Send a quick and personalized thank you email reintroducing yourself and reminding when you met; let that contact know if they need any support in your area of expertise, to reach out to you; respond promptly to any reply—always thanking them for getting back to you; store the contact and business name and type into your smart phone, so when they call again, you know who they are.

Don’t…Text or call the contact at weird hours of the night; ask them how they can help you; add them to your mass email list and bombard them with unwanted music, event invites, and additional spam.

After you have mastered the act of networking, it’s time to build relationships:

Do…Touch base at least once a month to stay in the know; personally invite the contact out to an event you are throwing or performing at, and add them to the guest list with as many pluses as they want to bring; (if you can afford it) get the contact a few drink tickets and shout them out on the microphone, acknowledging that they are in the building; thank them for coming out; have a conversation that doesn’t involve business.

Don’t…Call this contact daily and blow their email up with regard to a CD you gave them; assume that because you have their email or Twitter that you actually have a REAL relationship; get mad when the contact doesn’t get right back to you, as if you are the only person trying to get at them for something.

Here are some other pointers on how to network effectively:

• Shake hands firmly with someone so they know you are serious about business
• Be humble—don’t come off cocky or standoffish—you never know who you may be talking to, or where they will be in three years
• Find out what that contact likes to drink when out—an occasional drink gesture without asking goes a long way
• Do your research on the contact—be informed. Know what their business background is, what projects they are currently working on
• Make it a habit to go out and network at least one night out of the week
• Do not have an “I know everything” attitude; keep an open mind

I hope you can understand where I am coming from here. Having been a leading showcase promoter for artists and producers for ten years and seeing some of the biggest names in music blossom from their inception into the industry, as well as seeing common mistakes made daily, please understand that I have seen just about everything.

Pay attention: networking is the key, and relationships are the foundation, to this empire called your career that you are trying to build. It needs to be strong. Many expect opportunities to just arise out of thin air. Stop watching music videos/tweeting/tagging people in annoying Facebook posts every day and get out and shake hands again. The Internet has helped us immensely, but it has also hurt us in more ways than one. Good old face-to-face meetings, business synergy, and an overall vibe are still very relevant in today’s music society—as much as they ever were before. So get out there, network, and don’t miss an opportunity to grow your brand. You are a walking advertisement; if you look a mess, have bad breath, and speak in broken sentences, then you get what you put out. That is an impression not easy to change once made.

Be prepared, then execute.

J Hatch is the co-founder of iStandardProducers.com, founder of the Get Your Buzz Up Showcase, and VP of Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes.

Coast2CoastVP@gmail.com