You Have To Get Noticed To Be Famous, Part 3: Play Shows

And in my final installment, we talk about that most dreaded of subjects. That feared, evil, awful practice of playing your music in front of people. (You may now gasp with horror.)

Today, Part 3: Play Shows

I'm serious. There are lots of artists out there that don't understand that they need to be playing shows like crazy before they even think about looking for a record label. If you've never played live, or don't, why would a label want to sign you? You wouldn't be making them money, or yourself for that matter. The most important part to get you started playing shows is to make a press kit. It doesn't have to be fancy, but a decent venue will want to see and hear you before they consider putting you on a show. Trust me, they won't just take your word for it. Also, designate one person in your band to be the only one who deals with booking shows. That way there is no confusion, no promises made that can't be kept, and no double bookings that you'll have to cancel (this relates to my previous blog where I talk about never burning bridges). In addition, keep in mind you're not going to start off playing Madison Square Garden or opening up for U2. You're not even going to start in the best venues. In fact, you'll be in small venues, opening for a more popular local band, on an off night. That's just the way it works. A venue doesn't want to take a chance on a band that's never played there before and doesn't have a huge fanbase. Slowly, over time, as you gain the venues' and scene's respect, you'll move on to better nights, bigger shows, and the bigger and better venues (no, that still doesn't mean Madison Square Garden). Something else to keep in mind is other local bands you play with. I remember when my band was first getting started, there were 2 other local bands that were well established that we became friends with. For a while, I'd say a good 75% of our shows were with at least one, if not both of those bands. Any time we got a show, we requested them on it, and vice-versa. So make some buddies in the local scene and your bookings will double.

All in all, it takes a long time and a lot of hard work just to make a dent in the local scene, let alone, get a label's attention. In the end though, all that work will make you a better band/artist, and the better a band or artist you are, the better that's going to make you for a label, particularly an independent record label, specifically Tate Music Group (shameless self-promotion). So what are you waiting for? Hop in the band van and get going!

You Have To Get Noticed To Be Famous, Part 2: Getting Out There

Welcome back, it's time for another edition of "You Have To Get Noticed To Be Famous." It's everyone's favorite blog-in-3-segments-about-how-to-get-your-band-noticed-written-by-a-Tate-Music-Group-A&R-Rep!

Today, Part 2: Getting Out There

Once your band has an identity, you'll want to get your band out there into the public eye. More important than anything, is to know who your audience is. I know that you think your band can appeal to everyone, and I'm not saying that you're wrong, but to start out you need a target audience. A niche if you will. Target the people you KNOW will listen to your music; the people that dress like you, like the bands you like, and go to the shows you go to. This is the most readily accessible fan base for your band starting out. Also, think about your music itself. Why did you write it? What inspired it? There are more than 200,000 independent artists on CD Baby. The bestsellers all have specific stories that tell how they got to where they are. One artist stuck out to me in particular. This artist was not only inspired by, but actually wrote an entire album about sailing. Sure, the album content itself isn't going to skyrocket her to stardom, but she got her album reviewed in a popular sailing magazine, and sales went through the roof. Notice what she did. She marketed the album to the specific niche that she knew she would have a market in by contacting a magazine that appealed only to that niche. A music review in a music magazine, even if it's good, isn't going to do much, if anything for you. If you can put it somewhere that your audience will notice it and it will stand out, then you've got something, particularly if it's a non-music publication, website, etc. Another example is using specific inspiration and marketing it back. I know of a band that was playing a card game at a party one night. The card game led to an eventful night which inspired a song. The band then sent the song and story to the company that created the card game. The company ended up asking if they could post the song on their website. Within a few months, that track alone (keep in mind it was brand new when they gave it to the website) had been downloaded over 5,000 times. Lastly, start piggybacking! Piggyback an artist by covering their song in a very original and new way (with all the appropriate licenses of course, which I will get into in a later post) or even by writing a song ABOUT another artist (I’m not saying you should bring slander or libel into the equation). This will help you appeal to another artist's already established fanbase. There's also the strategy of piggybacking tradition. Look at The Dropkick Murphys. There's not a single Irish or St. Patrick's Day event (or Boston sporting event) that you can go to without hearing something of theirs played. Lastly, piggyback a trend. Need more info? See: Fall Out Boy.


Next on the docket? Playing shows.... Ooh, aah...

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!

Your Band Is A Business, And Businesses Do Work!

It's a hard concept for some artists to understand, mainly because they're doing what they love. When it comes down to it though, it's a business, it's work. What do I mean by this? You should approach every aspect of being an artist/band as if it's your own business, and you should be treating any money made, contacts made, or relationships forged as such.

If you were running a pastry shop, you wouldn't just pocket ALL the money you made and spend it on personal expenses. No, you have a business, you've gotta keep the lights on, the water running, and most importantly, you have to keep making pastries, because no product means no customers coming back. All these things, you need money for. In an artist's case: you need gas to get to shows, money for new equipment to keep up with the industry standard, money for repairs on equipment, money for equipment upkeep (i.e. strings, amp tubes) and all the little unexpected wonders  that will happen to a band (like when you're booking it 75 mph down the highway and the axle on your trailer breaks, or you get a flat). Keep money available for use in being an artist, because you'll need it, and lots of it.

Next, you know all those people that come to your shows? Treat them like they're paying customers (BECAUSE THEY ARE!). Respect your fans, love your fans (but not too much), because they're the only reason you're getting to do what you love. Never blow off a show last minute, or get all "rock star" and decide that whatever venue you're playing isn't up to snuff and walk out in the middle of a show. Lastly, never EVER put yourself in a position where you are not at your 100% best up on stage. A bad show alienates fans faster than anything.

Also, remember that any time you are playing a venue, appearing on a radio station, doing an interview, or even recording, you are making an impression that is the basis of what will hopefully be a fruitful relationship. As an artist, never burn any bridges, it'll always come back to hurt you. The music scene is always more tight knit than you know. Everyone knows someone who knows someone. If you insult one club owner, it could cost you interviews with a certain magazine. If you blow off an interview, it might lose you airtime on a radio station. So not only are you burning one bridge, but possibly several others. Remember that it works just the same way if you're an honest, hard working artist. You impress one person and several doors may open for you. Need proof? Google Justin Bieber, then google Kanye West.

Lastly, as in any business, you have to do work. No rock band is telling the truth when they say "I don't care what people think." Sure, it makes you look nonchalant and cool, but if they were telling the truth when they said that, you wouldn't be listening to or reading the interview they said it in. Why? Because that would make them lazy, and where do lazy bands go? Nowhere. Hey lazy band, where you goin'? NOWHERE! In a band, you're writing, practicing, playing shows, constantly designing and buying merchandise, recording, playing shows, doing publicity, keeping your gear fixed, playing shows, fixing the van, working on websites, oh, and playing shows. Working hard gets you places. To all the artists who want to be famous having never played a show, listen carefully, not gonna happen!

So strap in boys and girls. The music business is, believe it or not, a business. And in it being a business, you are going to have to do what you do in businesses, and that is work.