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Information on Music Business Marketing and Promotion tips and tricks for musicians and bands.

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Vocal Tips
2008-03-03 23:00:00
Here are some quick tips for vocalists. This article will help guide you to the things you should be doing if you are singing with a band or as a solo project with a guitar, keyboard etc...The first thing you should do before you start signing is to warm up your voice. Your vocal chords or as some call them, vocal folds are a muscle and just like a profession athlete that warms up their muscles before a game you must warm up your voice before you start singing songs. Many novice vocalist forget this important step especially when they are at a gig. They get on stage and start singing loud and hard and they blow out their voice. This is why it is very important to warm up your voice before you start singing.There are two exercises that I like to use when I am limbering up my voice. The first exercises is the "Mississippi " (phonetically mis-a-sip-eeee). The idea here is to start low in your range and stay in your chest voice while signing this arpeggio. You then move up chr...
More About: Tips , Touring , Vocal

Choosing a Studio
2008-03-03 00:00:00
Which studio do you pick to record at? This is a question that no doubt every musician or band will face at some point in time. This article will give you a few pointers to help pick the studio that is right for you.Cost/AvailabilityYou first consideration should be cost and the availability of the studios that you can afford. You should have some sort of budget worked out prior to shopping for a studio. A good rule of thumb is the 10 studio hours per song to record and mix. On the average it will take approximately 10 hours to record and mix each song that you want to record. Choose a studio that you can record your entire project in (Ex 10 Songs x 10Hrs per=100 studio hours, studio a rates are $40 per studio hour, total cost is $4,000). Once you have a few studios identified as possibilities, you need to see which will fit into your time schedule. Say you want to start recording in two weeks however studio a has a six month waiting list, obviously you wont be able to record there ...
More About: Recording , Studio

Studio Sits
2008-03-02 00:00:00
Doing studio work is a great way to make some money for your talents. You as a professional musician can perform a much needed service for many sources. I will show you the beginning steps to take to get studio gigs. There are many people making a great living doing studio work, maybe you are the next!There are many businesses and people that need studio musicians to help record music that will be used in a multitude of of applications. Recording studios need players to help out their clients, advertisement agencies need music for radio and TV commercials. Songwriters use studio musicians to play the instruments they cannot play, video companies need music for their footage, radio stations also produce commercials which needs music. Video game companies need original music so their games are interesting and fresh. I will talk a little about each of these markets and show you how to begin breaking into them. Lets first talk about the gear you are going to need.EquipmentYou must have ...
More About: Studio

Working With A Soundman
2008-03-01 00:00:00
A soundman can make or break your act at any live gigs that your band is playing. With a good engineer your band will sound polished with a great even mix of instruments and vocals. A bad engineer on the other hand, can make even a great band sound horrible. A harsh mix with blazing guitars and low vocal levels can leave your audience thinking that your band stinks. All of those countless hours of writing your songs and rehearsing get rudely flushed in the toilet!Finding a Good EngineerCheck with other bands in your area and ask who they use to run their sound. Go out and listen to those engineers and ask yourself some questions about what you are hearing. Are all of the instruments an even level in the mix? Can you hear the lead vocals? How about the backup vocals? Are mics feeding back while the band is performing? How does the engineer use reverb and effects? Are they being overused? Is the engineer paying attention to the band pushing up lead guitar levels when appropriate? If t...
More About: Working

Songwriting Tips
2008-02-28 23:00:00
Nothing can advance your career faster than having great songs. I believe that songwriting is a learned skill that can be sharpened thus advancing our musical career. Here are a few tips that you can use to shape up your songwriting skills. Some are obvious and basic and others are techniques that you may not have tried.Write with a drum machineStart off writing a new song with a drum beat (this can even be a factory programed beat) and write a riff or rhythm around the drum beat. I often find musicians that are not drummers write many songs with the same feel, this may help fix this problem. You can also have your drummer start with a beat that you write around but beware, make sure that the drum patterns are not too similar to something you already have written. Another common issue I hear with songs are that they are all very close in tempo. Try setting the drum machines bpm different to give you a fresh start when writting a new tune.Use a rhyming dictionaryIf you write lyrics t...
More About: Tips

Ripoffs in the Music Business
2008-02-27 23:00:00
The music business can be a dangerous place for the unprepared artist. There are some shady characters promising great things and making allot of money from misinformed musicians. This article will give you some pointers on what to watch out for and the operation of these bogus deals.The Golden RuleIf you remember anything from this article remember this: Never sign any contracts without first having a lawyer look it over. Just using this technique can save you years of frustration avoiding the bogus deals. Get an lawyer (perferable an entertainment lawyer) to look at the contract. Ask him or her if it is a good or bad deal. Ask the lawyer to add a stipulation clause, for example, the said booking agent must get your band $1,000 worth of gigs per month or the contract is null and void. This will protect you if whom ever you are dealing with doesn’t keep up their end of the bargain.Compilation AlbumsThese can be a great deal however, I would be careful on how much the company is aski...
More About: Business , Music , The Music , Touring

Record Pools
2008-02-26 23:00:00
A record pool is a company that acts as a go between forlabels and disc jockeys. The pool compiles detailedinformation on all of their DJs including types of music,listener size and audience types (age, sex ect.). By using arecord pool labels can use this information and hand pickthe DJs and audiences that will like a particular musicalgroup. The DJs like to be included in the pool because theyget access to all types of music coming from many differentlabels.Since these record pools are in place you can use them topromote your release to radio on your own independent labelwith much better accuracy than to try it yourself. Since thepools have the specific demographic information on listenersof particular DJs it can help you promote your CD across thenation very fast and accurately. Also, you will enjoy radioplay on many stations simultaneously which means you maychart if your release is played enough. Major labels willtake note of any unknown band charting and they will checkyour act...
More About: Recording , Record , Pools

Band Mailing Lists
2008-02-25 23:00:00
Using a band mailing list can be an effective way of lettingyour fans know what is happening with your band at minimalcost to you. While you may already be using a mailing listto promote your act, this article should give you someadditional ideas of things you can do with your list whichwill means more exposure for your act.The BasicsIf you are not collecting names and addresses of people thatare at your gigs you should start immediately. All you needis a simple sign up sheet with name, address, phone, andemail address on it. I recommend making copies and puttingthem on the tables at the club that you are performing atbefore you go on stage. Get some type of box and label itwith your band name. Have your singer announce from thestage a few times throughout your set that you have amailing list and to sign up fill out the form on their tableand put it in the box. Make sure you have the box locatedsomewhere that people can easily get to and see (the frontdoor of the club?). Your singer...
More About: Band , Email Marketing , Lists , Mailing lists

Preventing Demo Suicide
2008-02-24 23:00:00
Your demo is your calling card to the music industry. A good demo could result in getting those special gigs on weekend nights or possibly sparking some interest from an A&R rep. A bad demo on the other hand may lead your band into gigging on weekdays in bad time slots were there usually is no audience in the club or worst yet rejection from many people in the music business. Whatever you are using your demo for there are some guide lines that can help you position your band in a favorable light. Likewise there are some things you should avoid at all costs which will label you as non-professional.Best Song FirstPut the best song first on your CD. May people in the music business are very busy and if the first song on your demodoesnt catch them it is highly unlikely that they will listen to the rest of your CD.3-6 SongsPut no more than six songs on your demo no less than three. Again, industry people are busy and they will probably not listen to more than six songs.Label Jacket a...
More About: Suicide , Demo , Booking

Finding Musicians
2008-02-23 23:00:00
Finding or replacing musicians can be a very difficult task as there are many musicians with individual talent levels, experience, goals and playing style. Of course the key is to match your particular criteria to the applicant. A very effective technique to locate musicians is to use a cattle call. This is when you attract a large amount of possibilities for your position interview them and whittle down to the select few and make a decision from there of who is the best applicant. Hollywood uses these technique very effectively to select people for movies. You can implement a cattle call by using as many of the items that I have listed below at the same time. This will cause a large response to your efforts and helps keep search time to a minimum. I recommend that you screen out as many people that you can over the phone. Do not feel obligated to meet each and every one face to face. After you have identified a select few get together with each of them and listen to tapes and play ...
More About: Musicians

Lawyers For The Arts
2008-02-22 23:00:00
So you just completed your demo and it sounds great! Whats next? Of course if your like most bands you will play a few gigs and try shopping your demo to the record labels in hopes of capturing that elusive record deal. There is a much better way to shop your music and it doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg to do it. What I am talking about is getting an entertainment lawyer to shop your music for you. Isn't that expensive? You might ask. And yes, it can be however, there are organizations that are set up to help artists that dont have allot of money. You may even get some legal services absolutely free!These organizations are called Volunteer Lawyers For The Arts . There is one in New York and it is a nonprofit organization which provides arts-related legal assistance to artists and organizations unable to afford a lawyer. They also provide counseling, workshops, a speakers bureau and publications, including an extensive list of publications for artists. Many of these servic...
More About: The Arts

Capturing Your Creativity
2008-02-21 23:00:00
Creativity is a very interesting subject to think about if you are a songwriter trying to write the next big song that can launch a musical career.Where does it come from?There are a couple schools of thought of where these creative ideas come from. Some say that there is a "pool" of creative ideas somewhere that each and every one of us can somehow tap into. Other claim that God is responsible for sending the ideas to us. Still others claim that the ideas are internal to us and get developed in our own sub conscience mind. No matter how these ideas originate the one thing that is certain is that they do exist and there are certain things that we can do to capture these ideas when they do come to us.Creative TimeI believe that we all have a specific time and or activities that these creative ideas seem to be associated with. I find for myself that I get more ideas in the morning than in the evening hours. I also noted that I get a lot of ideas when I am in my car driving s...
More About: Creativity

Booking Tips
2008-02-19 23:00:00
This article is about the subject of booking your band. It contains a few helpful tips that you can start using immediately when you are booking your band. Get OrganizedYou need to come up with some sort of system to keep track of who you called, what was said, who you sent packages to and who you need to follow up with. I recommend getting a Day runner, they are compact and can help you stay organized by keeping all important information in one place. Inside you can keep detailed notes and reminder notices to follow up on phone calls or anything else that has to be done. At the very least get a calender and a note book and keep good records.Press KitMake sure you kit is the very best it can be before you send it out. If it is sloppy or unorganized that is the way you band will be perceived. Make sure your best song is the first song on your demo.Don't LieDo not lie about your draw. Clubs care about one thing, how many people you can get through the door. If you tell them you ...
More About: Tips , Booking

Choosing Or Replacing Bandmembers
2008-02-19 16:50:00
I can tell you from experience that finding the proper band mates is never easy. This article will give you a guide to follow that should help you make the correct choices and hopefully a long lasting relationship with them.TalentYou must try to find musicians that are on the same talent level as yourself. If you do find that great player that is willing to work with you beware there may be problems associated with him or her. He or she might get frustrated by the rest of the band holding him or her back and quit. Because of the talent this member has, he or she might have more control over decisions being made because you are trying to keep this member happy. He or she might have some type of problem (drinking too much, drugs, ect...). This may be why he or she is willing to play with musicians not up to their level. Whatever the case may be, these all spell disaster for your act.DedicationWe all know how hard it is to make it in music. Your band members must share all of the respo...
More About: Touring

The Musicians First Aid Kit
2008-02-17 14:24:00
Gigging is probably one of the most enjoyable activities a musician can experience. There is always something special about performing in front of a live audience. The sound of a crowds appreciation when you have just ripped up the stage with a great performance of your best tunes. There is just nothing like it. But what happens when things dont go exactly as planed? And what happens when things fail miserably? If you have ever gigged I am sure you are familiar with Murphy law: If things can go wrong, they probably will. I have had experiences like: amps blowing up, guitar strings breaking, stolen fuses in my amp, bad cords, out of tune guitars, etc... These things happen to all bands and what makes the difference between a professional and an amateur is how you deal with these problems. You need to do some preplanning and put together a Musicians First Aid Kit. When a problem does occur, you will be prepared to quickly fix the problem and get on with your show. Guitar/Bass...

The Ultimate Music Business Conspiracy Theory
2007-08-01 12:08:00
Whether it's the second gunman on the grassy knoll, the alien mystery at Roswell or what really is hidden within the high-security confines of Area 51... conspiracy theories abound. Many of us are amused by the speculation, while hardcore buffs examine every nuance looking for clues to support their version of the story.If you'll notice, all of these conspiracy theories involve some type of dastardly deed or cover-up. Someone is out to brainwash us or hide the facts from the public. After all, "the truth is out there," according to X-Files scripture. I never seem to hear people suspecting, for instance, a conspiracy by furniture salesman to stuff money into the nooks and crannies of the couches they sell. Yet I always find change under the cushions when I clean. Hmm... maybe they're secretly... Oh, never mind.There's another kind of conspiracy conjurer. You know the type. The artist, musician or writer who believes the deck has been stacked against him or that nobody w...
More About: Business , Music , Theory , Conspiracy , Ultimate

The First Question You Must Answer When Promoting Your Music
2007-08-01 11:59:00
I'm going to use up this entire article dealing with one subject, because I think it's vital to the success of your music promotion efforts. Every day I see the same mistakes being made in this area and feel I owe it to you to drive this crucial point home.Suppose you walked into your local record store and one of the employees (a complete stranger to you) came up and handed you a box filled with CDs and said, "Here, these are extra promo copies. You can have any CD you want out of the box."Now let's pretend that you were not familiar with any of these artists. As you picked up each CD to consider whether or not you wanted it, what would be the first question to pop into your head? In other words, what basic question would you need to answer first before you could make an intelligent (and quick) decision on which one you'd take?Would it be "Who produced this CD?"No.Would it be "What record label put this out?"No.How about "What are the names of...
More About: Music , Question , Promoting , Answer , Romo

Four Ways to Attract More Music Fans Faster
2007-08-01 11:59:00
Attracting more fans. Admit it, that's what music marketing is all about -- getting more people to come to your shows and buy your CDs. And hopefully, getting a lot more people to do those things.Why else do you work so hard to travel and play as many places as you can? For what other reason do you meticulously write and record songs? I don't believe the reason is so you can practice and keep up your chops in obscurity. It's not because you want to impress influential managers or A&R people. You work hard because you know you have something of value to offer ... and you want to reach as many people as possible with your music.Marketing is the thing that helps you reach that goal. But marketing is also a subject that confuses a lot of musicians. Songwriters and band members the world over know they need to promote themselves. But many don't know where to start, much less know how to continue effectively.Does this describe you? Do you ever feel like you're spinning your wheel...
More About: Music , Fans , Trac , Aster

How Do You 'Unleash' Your Talents?
2007-08-01 11:54:00
Let's talk about artist empowerment -- one of my favorite topics lately ...Not long ago I presented one of my first Unleash the Artist Withinworkshops. While promoting the event, I discovered that different people have different interpretations of what it means to "unleash" themselves as an artist.Many people assumed at first that the workshop was about developing your creativity, along the lines of Julia Cameron's book, "The Artist's Way." Some of what I talk about does relate to giving yourself permission to create and feeling worthy to do so, but my definition of "unleash" is more far-reaching than that.What do I mean by "Unleash the Artist Within"? Well, I believe that to be a successful musician, you must be willing to ...Unleash your creative leanings, artistic inclinations and natural talents. Yes, exercising your creativity has many benefits. For one, it's personally rewarding. Denying yourself the opportunity to write, perfor...
More About: Talents , Lent

Expand Your Definition of a Live Performance
2007-08-01 11:51:00
Let me ask you ... What has to happen for a person to be converted into being a fan of your music? There are a number of possible answers, but at the most basic level, one thing has to happen: The person must hear your music.And there are only so many ways someone can hear your music: on the radio or on television, on the Internet, in a dance club or a retail store, from a friend on a home or car stereo or ... during a live performance.Let's focus on that last one, because even with all of the advancements in technology, live performance continues to be one of the best ways to connect with fans, sell CDs and prosper as an artist.Hopefully, your marketing plans include a heaping helping of live shows. But what type of live shows do you plan? The problem is, many musicians get stuck in live performance ruts and fail to think outside the box. For instance, most rock bands flock like lemmings to nightclubs. Most acoustic singer-songwriters obsess over coffee shops and folk venues. That...
More About: Performance , Live , Definition , Perform

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