It’s happening.
After weeks of knocking on doors, second-guessing my sanity, wrestling with printers, dodging invoice gremlins, and swallowing more rejections than a karaoke busker auditioning for The Voice…I can finally say this:
The first edition of The Oslo Offer Card is officially at the printers.
No backing out now. It's real.
You'd think hitting this milestone would be all champagne and slow-motion montages. But honestly, it's more like a weary high-five to myself and a deep sigh of relief. Because what it’s really felt like is pushing a homemade raft across the Rubicon, one soggy pitch at a time.
The Truth About Rejection (and Why It's the Best Training There Is)
Here’s the thing they don’t tell you when you start something from scratch:
Rejection isn’t personal but it sure feels like it.
Most folks didn’t say “this is a bad idea.”
They actually liked it.
They just didn’t get it… yet. They needed to see proof. Results. Something already done.
Which, of course, is the paradox - because nothing exists until someone backs the first one.
That’s where vision lives: not in the proven, but in the making.
And honestly? That’s where the magic is.
What kept me going was the handful of yeses I did get. The early believers. The ones who didn’t need a finished card to say, “I’m in.” You know who you are. I’ll never forget you.
You’re the foundation. The founding members. You backed a who before the what, and that means everything.
Big Clients, Bigger Lessons
One of the most challenging customers so far? A large music venue.
And not because they were rude or dismissive - far from it. They were on board. But their process? Slow. Bureaucratic. Art departments, finance departments, approvals, invoice formats… it was like trying to book a gig through Parliament.
Compare that to the indie café owner who just whipped out VIPPS and sent me their logo with a “hope this works” smiley face. No middlemen. No meetings. No drama.
I’ve learned: big doesn’t mean bad - it just means slower. And slower means… patience. (Not my strong suit, but I’m learning.)
Tech Glitches, Printer Pivots & Tiny Victories
The printer told me I needed to resize the whole card layout. For a second, I thought I’d have to redo every single ad.
But miraculously, their system resized it automatically. A quiet little win. I’ll take it.
What’s Next: Delivery, Round Two, and... Maybe Events?
Next stop: Boston (not that Boston). That’s where the card gets processed and handed to the Norwegian postal system, who’ll drop 5,000+ copies through letterboxes around Grünerløkka.
Once it’s out, I can start promoting the June card. This time, I’ll be armed with a physical artefact. Proof. Something to wave under noses and say, “See? Told you I’d do it.”
Even bigger? A vision is starting to take shape.
I’m thinking events. Real-world, face-to-face, handshake-and-hugs type events. Celebrating the card’s community. Inviting all the featured businesses to meet each other. Maybe live music. Maybe free samples. Maybe something wonderfully grassroots and slightly chaotic.
There’s a little plaza nearby that’d be perfect. Or the local hotel. The wheels are turning.
A Final Tease…
I won’t say too much yet, but I’m currently in talks with a very well-known name in music marketing.
If it goes the way I think it might, it could change everything - not just for me, but for a whole lot of independent musicians I care about…that means YOU!
Watch this space.
Until then, I’ll keep building this the only way I know how:
One ad. One call. One yes at a time.
Thanks for being part of the journey.
In print and in faith,
Spence
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Final thoughts
What’s your challenge as a musician trying to grow your audience?
Hit reply and let me know—I’d love to help you tackle it!
Remember:
Rejection is correction. Ridicule is fuel. Keep thriving.
Until next time,
Spence C