So, you have a couple of friends that you have been jamming within the confines of your parent’s garage for the past year. You have written a few solid songs down that you think people would love and you have already played at a few college parties and your friends think you are the next big hit, but you are stuck and no one in your group seems to know what to do next. Here are a few tips on how get you off the ground and get your band in the spotlight and perhaps make you a, “rock star”.
1. Be original
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| Spencer Livingston recording in the studio, photo by Jesse Ramirez |
If your goal is to be heard on the radio, make sure your music is unique, but not too unique. You want to be original, but do not be so different that record labels and radio stations cannot figure out which category your music belongs to. Music confusion will lead to your hard work being tossed in the garbage bin.
2. Make a demonstration (demo) CD
The most important thing for any band is to record your work on a CD or at least create a digital CD package, so people can download and listen. It does not necessarily have to be sold, but this is one of the most important marketing tools for any band or artist. There are several ways to create your CD, but this requires programs like Pro-logic, Garageband, Pro-tools, or Acoustica. Some programs cost more than others, but you want software that will allow you to plug in your instruments and decode into “samples” in order to retune and edit your work.
3. Get a personal manager
Managers will play an important role in your music career. You need one to help book your gigs and help you make important decisions like deciding which songs to place on your CD’s and to handle the marketing. Personal managers get from 10 percent to 15 percent of the bands profits.
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| Spenser Livingston performing with the mandolin at The Roxy Theatre, photo by Gerard J. Walsh |
4. Book gigs
For the next year or so, you want to perform at as many places as you can. This will include coffee houses, bars, small festivals, and minor acoustic showcases and this is why you need a personal manager, so you can focus on music. Performing at gigs will pre-determine if you have the “it factor”. If you can attract a huge fan following, then you know you are an affirmed band.
5. Social Networking
Some bands resist social networking and only rely on MySpace to market themselves. This is the wrong attitude when you are a new in this business. During the age of new media technology, it is not enough to just have a MySpace page. You must belong to every social network including Twitter, Facebook, Reverbnation, and any other social network that has the ability to draw in new listeners. You are a brand and your product is your music, so treat yourself as a product. More importantly, speak to your fans. It is okay to reply back and forth. This brings in the “human factor” and allows your fans to bond with you.
6. Setting money aside
Here is the business side of being a rock star. Treat your band as a business. Without money, you cannot progress. Set aside money for CD mastering and production costs and label distribution, and other marketing materials. These days, a record label will not take on your band unless you have a mastered CD, nor will a radio station or movie production company use your music for television or film unless a music engineer as mastered your music. This can cost anywhere from $1,300 to $22,000. It really depends if you need to record from scratch or you only need minor editing.
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| The Alternates, photo by Kevin Landes |
7. Shoot a music video
Having a well-produced music video is a sure way from making or breaking your band into pop culture. If you know people in the business or people in film school, recruit them to shoot your music video and post it everywhere on the Internet. Post on YouTube and watch your stardom go from zero to hero.
8. Sign with a major or independent record label
This is the final step and the beginning of your stardom career. It may have taken two or even three years for you to reach this point, but you are now confident enough to take the next step. At this juncture, you should have 2 million hits on your MySpace page and you have over 10,000 friends on Facebook, you’ve already opened at the major venues and all the major gigs in town, but you still have not quite made it yet.
This is where your manager will meet with the major or independent record label executives to negotiate a deal to get your CD mass distributed and in the retail market and your songs on the radio. Depending on the record label and how successful they think you will be will determine how much risk they are willing to invest in your brand. If you and the label have an agreement, then the CD’s will be distributed and then you start the marketing process of selling yourselves. Here is when your income will shift. Depending on record sales, your incoming revenues will decrease at first, but if your revenues are managed properly, it will increase dramatically over time.
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| The Alternates performing at House of Blues, photo courtesy of Gerard J. Walsh |
9. Major marketing tours
While you are with a major record label, your manager will be able to represent you as a major recording artist. Your manager will be able to book the major gigs either with another major recording artist or band and book headlines with your band as the major event. You will also be booked to make special appearances on radio, television, interviews with music publications, and even perform at charity events. Finally, here comes the “rock star” status.
Written by
Michael Jaramillo, staff writer
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