Last week, I had the incredible experience of attending the 30 Seconds to Mars concert in Vienna with my 7-year-old daughter. Beyond the fantastic music and electrifying performance, I observed something remarkable about Jared Leto: he’s not just a rock star; he’s a marketing genius. Having spent years in the music photography business, I’ve seen hundreds of bands perform. Most of them follow a routine: enter from backstage, play their set, and say thank you. Some even claim they don’t care about the audience and that it’s all about their art. But 30 Seconds to Mars, especially Jared Leto, are different. Here are four invaluable marketing lessons I learned from Jared Leto: Make a Grand Entrance: Instead of the usual entrance from backstage, the band appeared in the middle of the venue and made their way through the audience to the stage. This instantly created a connection with the fans. The only other time I’ve seen this was with David “The Hoff” Hasselhoff! Engage Constantly: Jared interacted with the audience during almost every song. He directed the crowd to sing, turn on their cell phone lights, jump, sit, and even dance with him on stage. The result? A euphoric audience that felt like an integral part of the show. Know Your Audience: Jared asked the crowd why they were there. “Are you with us because of our first album? Second album? Third album?” The majority were fans of their earlier rock albums. By understanding this, Jared tailored the show to resonate with the audience’s preferences. Seek Feedback: In a brilliant move, Jared asked, “How should the new album sound? Rock? Disco? Electro?” and “Should it sound like ‘A Beautiful Lie’ or ‘This Is War’?” The overwhelming response leaned towards “This Is War,” giving him direct insights into what his fans want next. For me, this concert wasn’t just a great show; it was a masterclass in leadership and marketing. Jared Leto showed me how to lead a crowd of 10,000 people, making each person feel heard and seen. He might even have gathered enough feedback to shape their next album into something fans will absolutely love. Marketing isn’t just about selling; it’s about creating connections and understanding your audience. Jared Leto exemplified this perfectly, and it’s a lesson I’ll carry with me in my own endeavors. 1 Question to Think About How can you use Jared Leto’s strategies in your own life (we are all marketers all the time)? |
What I Learned from Jared Leto About Marketing
October 8