I know we’ve talked about DIY before, but I have an issue I need to bring up.

It seems to me that most indie bands have no idea what they’re doing. Here are my current pet peeves for the DIY musician:

1. “Check out my music” means nothing to me

Unless you tell me why.

2. Don’t spam on Twitter

As mentioned above, is there a good reason why you’re sending me your links on twitter? Can you get me interested in clicking it with only 140 characters? There is no reason to send me a tweet directly. I will follow your account if I’m interested.

Same thing with Direct Messaging. Don’t send me DM asking me to buy your album. 

3. Don’t spam on Facebook

You can send me a invitation to an event, but after you’ve invited me, please don’t paste the event on my wall as well.

Make sure I’m in town. I’m living in Los Angeles and constantly getting invitations to events in São Paulo. Wait…what?

If i dig your music, I’ll like your page on my own. You can invite me to like it, but it doesn’t mean I will. You can’t make me enjoy your music. Maybe we weren’t made for each other.

4. Don’t send me e-mails about your show or event if I haven’t signed up for a newsletter

If you’re my friend, chances are I already know and I’m coming anyways because you’re making me. If I don’t know you, I would really like to know who sold you my e-mail address.

Most importantly, if you’re mass e-mailing, please make sure you’re using Cco, and not Cc. You’re basically giving away your mailing list. If I didn’t ask to be on it, that just makes it worse.

5. Stop taking it personally

Just stop the hype and useless self-promotion. I don’t need you to tell me how great you are, tell me WHY you’re great.