Have any of you noticed all the talk about “branding” yourself? About making yourself into some type of human product to promote? It’s the latest talk.

I’ll let wikipedia explain:

Personal branding is the process whereby people and their careers are marked as brands. It has been noted that while previous self-help management techniques were about self-improvement, the personal branding concept suggests instead that success comes from self-packaging. Further defined as the creation of an asset that pertains to a particular person or individual; this includes but is not limited to the body, clothing, appearance and knowledge contained within, leading to an indelible impression that is uniquely distinguishable. The term is thought to have been first used and discussed in an 1997 article by Tom Peters.

Personal branding often involves the application of one’s name to various products. For example, celebrity real-estate mogul Donald Trump uses his last name extensively on his buildings and on the products he endorses (e.g., Trump Steaks).

This concept has mass-appeal for independent artists like me. And synonymous strategies are everywhere. I recently read a songwriting book that said “singer/songwriter” types must find their own unique sound, so that whenever their song is played on the radio, people immediately recognize it as “so & so’s” voice.

The same goes for creating the packaging of a website, music, logo, t-shirt, album cover, photos, etc. – all pointing towards the same image or message about the artist.

I’ve been thinking about all this. Thinking about how I can best present myself and my work. About what my “image” is as an artist. About what my signature sound is. About the album artwork for my upcoming project. About whether or not I should hire someone to amp up mandythompson.com.

And, I’ve come to a rather rebellious conclusion:

I don’t want to be a brand. I want to be a person.