Jerry Garcia led the way!

August 1st 2008

This blog entry is deadicated (pun intended) to Jerry Garcia.

I believe I may have stumbled upon the secret ingredient to why

Jerry's band Grateful Dead were so successful long term and I will

try to lead you as to how you can use this information to 

formulate your own secret ingredient online for your own long

term success.

That opening paragraph was kind of long and with run-on sentences.

The Grateful Dead were known for their long run-on jams when

they were performing on stage.  Jerry Garcia was most comfortable

playing extended jams with his trusty ol guitar as if it were

a part of him.

That is not what this blog entry is about. I could go on for days

but this is not a history lesson of Jerry's band or any of that.

You can find plenty of Grateful Dead material if you look hard

enough.

No my point here now is to focus on what Jerry and his band

allowed their fans to do at their concerts.  Back in the late

sixties, early seventies the taping of live concerts began to 

emerge.  I suppose it was a way for fans to experience their

favorite bands live and have a momento of that concert experience.

Well pay attention here.  This is the main point I'm trying to

explain.  Jerry Garcia and the Grateful Dead embraced the idea

wholeheartily and encouraged the practice at their concerts.  They

even staked off a section inside the arena for their fans

to tape their shows.  

It totally goes against the grain of common business sense as

far as record companies are concerned. But when was the last time

someone named an ice cream flavor after a record exec??  

Now why do I think this one gesture by the band is so significant.

Well, for starters, it created a sense of community.  It made fans

feel a part of the band which is huge.  It gave them a little power.

Trading tapes (not selling them) created instant friendships with

total strangers moments before ( do you have that online in your

business??)  

Ok do you see what I am getting at.  Jerry allowed fans access to 

his work and didn't charge extra for it.  Sure they had to buy a ticket

but back then tickets were like ten to fifteen bucks.  Music was his 

business and he took his business seriously. By allowing people

access to his " business " , he created a huge following, with

word of mouth advertising (fiercely loyal fans), viral marketing

(tapes of concerts), community gatherings (seminars in the sense

of live concerts).  Ok so I'll just wrap this blog entry up with

a question for you.  What one technique or action can you add

to your online business that will guarantee long term success and

fierely loyal fans (customers) for years to come?? Think about it!