A Wandering Minstrel for 2010

The new world of music has many paths to success, and Cliff deMarks, an Atlanta multi-instrumentalist (though primarily a keyboard player) has found his niche. He travels to craft shows and events around the country, sets up a well-designed booth, and plays his music.

It's smooth jazz of a high order, all by Cliff and his wife, Sei.

And they sell CDs. It's inspiring to watch Cliff and Sei work. They interact with people, answer questions, make photos with fans--and sell a lot of music. It's a near-perfect interface between the artist and the audience. It's as immediate as it gets for a working musician.

The craft-show market isn't easy, and selling music is different (and harder) than selling a physical work like a painting or photograph. But the deMarks have solved the problems, and very skillfully combine excellent musicmanship and direct selling skills. They also follow up with web and email marketing.

As record companies fade in importance to musicians, this is a successful model for the (rare) musician who is willing to do the considerable work, who understands marketing . . . and who likes people.

People may not get to be up close with many jazz musicians, but Cliff is accessible and friendly. People love it.

Cliff de Marks reminds me of the medieval wandering minstrel...taking his music directly to his audience. But with a very high-tech twist. Ipod, mixer, keyboards, tracks . . . and a very active credit-card machine.

And no record-company execs, no product managers, no artist managers, no middle-men of any sort. Just Cliff, his wife Sei,  their smooth jazzc, and the ever-changing audience.

More at Clff deMark's website.