If you build it... you've just built a thing.

What a post to leave off on, eh?  Since you've last seen me, I've closed one show, finished a run of burlesque performances that other people are saying were my best EVER (which... if that's the case, DAMN, I could be fantastic if I stopped concentrating on being mediocre.), and signed my soul away to one last ride with Provision Theater (we just can't stop abusing each other, let's be honest).  AND I went home to Michigan, to make an appearance at my ONLY high school friend's baby shower.  All in the last two weeks.

I've been a busy bee.  Busy enough that I haven't really been thinking about the big 'ole brick wall that's been plaguing me for months.  The fact is: there are some things that I do that I'm pretty damn good at, but I can't sell them to save my life. 

Case in point:  Photography.  There are PLENTY of mediocre (or worse) photographers out there that rake in a modest income.  There are.  I am lucky enough to be part of a community of REALLY EXCELLENT photographers at the CPC, people who push me and challenge me to be better at what I do, more resourceful, more clever, work harder.  But outside our little circle, there are tons of people who think that having a camera and Photoshop Elements qualifies them to charge a buttload of money to take other people's pictures.  AND PEOPLE PAY IT. 

Where the hell are those people coming from, and how do I reach them?

You're told over and over again that 'if you build it, they will come' (at least, if you're Kevin Costner.  Clearly, I am not.).  But the truth is... if you build it... you've just built this really neat thing.  No guarantee anyone will ever see the really neat thing.  I'm at the point in my journey that I realize that the truth involves a whole heck of a lot more work than that, but I'm completely lost as to where to go from here. 

Shot in the dark:  Anyone out there know what they're doing with marketing/promoting themselves?  My Facebook page should be less neglected, it's true.  But beyond that, I've passed out business cards to everyone I know, I advertise in Vaudezilla's show program (the burly-q community/audience is pretty close to the people I target), I tack up cards in every coffeeshop I visit. 

How do I get more IN YO' FACE about what I do?  How do I convince people that my product is totally worth paying for?