Escape the Long Tail With 1,000 True Fans
…you don’t need a hit to survive. You don’t need to aim for the short head of best-sellerdom to escape the long tail. There is a place in the middle, that is not very far away from the tail, where you can at least make a living. That mid-way haven is called 1,000 True Fans. It is an alternate destination for an artist to aim for.
Young artists starting out in this digitally mediated world have another path other than stardom, a path made possible by the very technology that creates the long tail. Instead of trying to reach the narrow and unlikely peaks of platinum hits, bestseller blockbusters, and celebrity status, they can aim for direct connection with 1,000 True Fans. It’s a much saner destination to hope for. You make a living instead of a fortune. You are surrounded not by fad and fashionable infatuation, but by True Fans. And you are much more likely to actually arrive there. (The Technium)
Kevin Kelly dishes up a rambling, slightly repetitive, but insightful and inspiring reflection on the 1,000 True Fans concept. Are you an artist? A creator? Wondering how to survive without selling out or chasing superstardom? Great post followed by many thoughtful comments. Kudos to Kevin Kelly and a hat tip to Seth Godin for the link.
