In Search Of: The Perfect Catch Phrase

[Matt DeBlass]

On my "to-do" list today is getting a start on a real press kit for myself. I'm finding it difficult to come up with a snappy line to describe myself. Being a 6'3" former newspaper journalist who performs an eclectic mix of acoustic music on mandolin, guitar, voice, harp and other instruments is tricky. So far, I've rejected the following:

"Big, loud and usually on key."

"You don't have to be drinking to listen, but it helps!"

"No, it's not a %$#% ukulele!"

"With this many strings, you'd think one of them would be in tune."

"The songs may be ancient, but he sounds as if he just learned them yesterday."

"Big man, tiny instrument."

"The Rick Astley of Folk Music."

"When he starts playing songs of the Old Country, you'll wish you were on a different continent."

"One man, five instruments, three chords"

"The folk music equivalent of 'Sex, Drugs and Rock and Roll"'

"It's like hearing the same old song for the first time all over again, except with a different singer and probably played on a different instruments and maybe even in a different key but probably not because a lot of folk singers use the same chords unless the other guy had a capo or a really low voice in which case it's just like that."


So what slogans have YOU rejected?

[Brent Hutto]

Once you've heard Matt, you're heard it all.

[allenhopkins]

May not work for you, Matt, but I've always liked the phrase the fiddle band Roustabout used: "Old-Timey Music -- Better Than It Sounds."

[Ed Goist]

Matt, actually I think all of those slogans are pretty awesome.
I think your idea to use humor is a VERY good one.
As someone who screens and selects local and regional performers for special events, I'd say it's very important to have something about your materials that stands out, and something that's catchy and memorable.
The use of humor in your media kit is highly recommended.
(Also, don't forget to keep things short - The "one sheet" is a beautiful thing)

[Matt DeBlass]

Ed, I do expect the finished product to have a bit of humor to it, otherwise it wouldn't really be an accurate reflection of me as a performer. I may not be a virtuoso player (no "may not" about it, actually) but I have fun and try to make sure the audience does too.
Back in my days of steady paychecks health insurance, I used to be the business editor of a small newspaper, and I certainly learned to appreciate the value of short, to-the-point press materials. Of course, as in the case of most journalists, it seems the hardest topic I have to write about is myself!

[catmandu2]

Using the sports metaphor, how bout this for you, Matt?

Six-foot, three...(but he plays like he's 6'4")

[Willie]

"I met a 12 year old boy yesterday that said he had been playing mandolin for 6 months, I asked him if he played like me and he said 'No, but I used to'"

[Steve Ostrander]

How about this:

Matt BeBlass

performs an eclectic mix of acoustic music on mandolin, guitar, voice, harp and other instruments

I know it's brilliant. It just popped into my head!

[Laird]

"The songs may be ancient, but he sounds as if he just learned them yesterday."

Why mess with perfection?

[farmerjones]

Make up goofy sponsors -

Acme Whoopy Cushion presents,
An Evening with Matt DeBlass

Spoof some Newspapers -

Weekly Shopper says -
". . . more strings in tune than last year!"

[Nelson Peddycoart]

"Entertainment the whole family can endure. (That means no cussin')."

[journeybear]

I hate having to do this too. It's in the same discomfort zone as coming up with a band name. These sound like they're taken from your stage patter, which though funny (some of them are kneeslappers) may also be a bit too self-deprecating. Places may not want to hire someone who can't tune his instruments, for instance, even if that's said as a joke. As Steve said, the answer may be staring you in the face. That said, my favorites are:

"One man, five instruments, three chords"

"The songs may be ancient, but he sounds as if he just learned them yesterday."

"You don't have to be drinking to listen, but it helps!"

Lord knows I've said that last one myself, plenty! (Actually, since at least around here we are drink salesmen as well as musicians, this usually goes something like, one guy says, "The more you drink the better we sound" and I say "It's true. We've taken surveys.")

[Nelson Peddycoart]

"Once in a lifetime, an entertainer that you cannot forget comes along. Matt just might be that guy"

OR

"They say every generation produces just one or two great talents that will be remembered through the ages. Until this generation's performer comes along, why not come see Matt?"

OR

"Matt DeBlass, Easy to Enjoy, Not So Easy to Forget"

[Don Raven]

It sounds better near closing time.

[mandofarmdog]

"There have been a multitude of performers who have come along in the last few years, and Matt is one of them."

I think your humor is going to pique the interests of your audience, but then they'll see your depth as an entertainer.

[John Flynn]

You can hire better, but you can't pay more.

He takes audience requests, but he keeps playing anyway.

For your listening pleasure, just ask him to play "Somewhere Else."

[TonyP]

We were doing our usual "if you'd like us to play request, just write on a $20 and send it up here" at a gig several years ago. Several of the requests we didn't know. It was explained we play bluegrass. This only got more questions like what IS bluegrass. While we were standing there trying to come up with something succinct, the banjo play who was silent throughout piped " Bluegrass is 3 chords and a cloud of dust, played in the key of next week". We all stared, then agreed. I've used that ever since.

[journeybear]

I must be reading this wrong. Were the requests you were getting actually written on $20 bills? I use this old chestnut a lot, hoping someday someone will take me up on it. But almost always I feel like Bullwinkle, with Rocky chastising me by saying, "That old trick never works!"

[Ed Goist]

"Entertainment the whole family can endure. (That means no cussin')."

Consider this one stolen for a Facebook status...

Ed Goist's mandolin playing is entertainment the whole family can endure.

[TonyP]

JB, the ONE guy who did it wanted Blue Moon, so of course we did it. But generally, yeah, it's a chestnut and gets snickers more than deposits.

[SHORTY]

As the Beatle's once said; Hear me, See me. Close enough!

[joshtree]

My Vote is for 1, man 5 instruments, 3 chords

My first album will be called "I came, I saw, I came again" Should be out around 2045, you can use that untill then.

[allenhopkins]

...But almost always I feel like Bullwinkle, with Rocky chastising me by saying, "That old trick never works!"...(

Like this? (Pushing no political ideology, I just think it's a cute animation)

[journeybear]

As the Beatle's once said; Hear me, See me. Close enough!

The Who, is that who you mean?

Yes, Allen, more or less. BTW, for some reason my Dylan imitation sounds a lot like Bullwinkle. Go figure.

[Randi Gormley]

This stuff is great, but Matt did ask what slogans we've all rejected in the past (which at this point would be another thread, I'm thinking). So far, my favorite has been 'easy to play, not so easy to forget," on oh, so so many levels ... "Matt DeBlass, skillful fingers, songs and tunes as familiar as a dusty road."