Getting famous is all about who you know...

How do you create a persona - a branded identity - on the Web? That’s what I’m in the midst of doing with a parody New Age guru I’ve invented named Serenity Hawkfire (see my Joy Letter #119 .) Why create a parody of the very thing I’ve spent the last five years doing — well, OK, I’m pretty mainstream, actually. Because it’s time to find a new way to convey the message … and I’m tired of being serious and earnest all the time. So Voila. Serenity Hawkfire.
(That’s her at the left with her erstwhile partner, Wild Heart.)

I intend to document the phases of getting Serenity known both on and off the Web so you folks can see just how this platform building thing works, from the ground up. Here’s what’s up:

1. Website: about to launch. Waitin’ on a webmaster to finish the job

2. Blog: Ready to go… I just have to set my mind to it and figure out what Serenity has to say … later this week?

3. Freebies. Poised and ready for action. Marilyn Scott-Waters of thetoymaker.com is planning to foist lots of fun, funny folded paper designs our way … Serenity’s yurt, Wild Heart’s tender healing tree, a crystal, paper dolls, etc. How amazing is this?? We’re good to go!

4. Ezine? Still mulling it over. Yes, from a standpoint of building a list. No from a standpoint of ‘Will it compete with her blog?’. The age old question. I know I have to set it up … but that spark isn’t ready to ignite.

5. Postcard mailing. Waiting to confirm our first gigs in our immediate area (did I mention Serenity is actually star of a musical theater piece which is a parody of a New Age workshop? It’s called ‘Serenity Hawkfire Needs to Share.’

6. Booking kit. We’ve got it in place: ‘organic’ folder with fun sticker on front; funny picture and quip page; technical description; theatrical bios; demo CD of three songs … and we’re getting good feed back on it. Funny is money, as my old agent used to say.

7. Publicity. Just did my first cable access show, from which I’ve got a VCR tape. Could be converted into an edited DVD just to show how Serenity moves and acts … until we get actual gigs we can have professionally shot on tape. That will be our calling card to get bigger bookings.

More to come … I’m feeling way pregnant with this project!