You Have To Get Noticed To Be Famous, Part 1: Branding Your Band

Hello again friends. I'd like to address an issue this week that, as an A&R Rep, I run into on a daily basis. This, ladies and gentlemen, is a bombshell. This is probably the biggest and most important information you can have when pursuing a career in music. This is mind-bending, life-changing news:

There is no such thing as overnight success.

Wait, wait, wait. Don't run away. I know what you’re thinking, "That mean man is lying! I've seen the movies and award shows! I've read the magazine articles!" The truth is, though, it just doesn't work like that. An example I always like to refer to is The Grammy Awards and the MTV Video Music Awards. They always have this category called, something to the effect of, "Best New Artist." Well there's not a single time that I've seen anyone in that category that I hadn't heard about 5 years earlier, or already owned 2 of their albums. To achieve that kind of success, you're going to need a record label. To get the attention of a record label, you'll need to do a lot of hard work in 3 major areas, which I will be discussing over the next few days. 


Today, Part 1: Branding Your Band

Establish your band's identity. It's important to give your band a single identifying image and sound. Branding your band means you will need a band name. Never underestimate the importance of this. There are bands I've overlooked simply because they have such a horrible name. You will need a font to use for your band name. Next, a logo; everyone who thinks of the Grateful Dead can see the Dead Head or the bears, Van Halen has their winged logo, The Rolling Stones have The Tongue, Aerosmith has the stylized A, and Dave Matthews Band has the Fire Dancer. Also, pick a color scheme, a single promo photo that you use predominately. In addition, your writing style needs to match your image, and you'll need a website/social networking site that conveys that image. Lastly, establish a set of artists you admire and that influenced you. Yes, I know you're all "beautiful, unique snow flakes," but come on. There are only so many notes in the scale. Aside from the reality that no matter what you do, you're going to sound a little bit like someone, it helps tell people out there looking for new music what your band sounds like instead of just listing, "a fusion of indie rock, prog, country, goth, and glam." (Yes, I've seen it.) If people like Radiohead, and you list Radiohead as an influence, they'll most likely give you a listen. The last and most important part of branding your band, is repetition. Make stickers and put them everywhere. Hand out flyers night after night at the same places, or outside a bands show that you would fit well with, or a venue that generally hosts your kind of shows. Have a relentless internet presence. Get on Facebook and constantly update people as to the goings-on of the band. Make your band a brand, and burn it into peoples' memories.


Join me later this week and I'll tell you how to put that wicked new brand to work!