reBlog from amarketingexpert.com: Author Marketing Experts, Inc. » Brown M&M’s: or What Van Halen Can Teach You About Book Marketing

I found this very thoughtful quote today:

There’s a story that circulated heavily back when Van Halen was still actively touring. The story was part of the whole “aren’t they diva’s” that fan mags used to love to kvetch about. It started when Van Halen insisted that the concert venue have a bowl of M&M’s in their dressing room but remove all the brown ones. Turns out it wasn’t a diva-act at all. Eddie Van Halen was a perfectionist and the band had extensive lighting and sound requirements for each performance. Eddie knew that if he checked the bowl and there were brown M&M’s that likely the venue hadn’t read the contract and things that would directly affect the show were likely overlooked as well. Really a brilliant move. With one simple clause inserted he could be alerted to a potential problem before it affected their show.amarketingexpert.com, Author Marketing Experts, Inc. » Brown M&M’s: or What Van Halen Can Teach You About Book Marketing, May 2010

You should read the whole article.