Jersey Mike

Sigh.

It’s called “BCC”, guys. Ever see it? When you put someone’s address in the address line of your email client, you have two other options. One is “CC” (which, if you didn’t know, stands for “Carbon Copy”…as in, you’re sending an exact copy of the email to whoever is in that line) and then there is “BCC”, or, “Blind Carbon Copy” – “Blind” meaning that the recipients of your email do not see the other recipients email addresses.

Look, I really thought that this was 101…shit you learned on your first day. But the number of band emails promoting their shows that I get with a hundred email addresses in the “to” line or just plain “CC’d” is absolutely stunning.

Here’s why you don’t want your email addresses viewable to the recipients on your list:

1. You EARNED those email addresses. And there are still shady promoters and venues out there who would LOVE an extra hundred email addresses without even working for them. Those email addresses should be viewed as your personal client list. And if you were in ANY other business, you wouldn’t share your client list with potential competitors, would you?

2. Those people who gave you their email addresses also gave you their TRUST. An email address is viewed by some people in the same light as their telephone number. Some people simply do not want that information just tossed out there. Ever heard of a thing called “spam”? Yeah, well, that’s what they’re afraid of. And when you irresponsibly leave their email address (and sometimes full name) exposed on your big email about your gig this weekend, you’re violating that trust.

Plain and simple.

One way to avoid ALL of this is to use an inexpensive and simple email list manager. Personally, I’m a fan of Campaign Monitor. But there are dozens of inexpensive choices that do most of the work FOR you…thereby rendering your emails idiot-proof and more effective.