Assuming that your band has great music and you have a few gigs and a small fan base that follows you loyally! But you want to take your band out from your garage and onto the main stage. Here are a few free tips to get you started.
1. Success come to those who seem successful
Nowadays, creating an impressive on-line presence is next to nothing; with social networking sites growing in popularity, being a part of the wave will push you ahead of the competition. Plus, it is totally free to join and reach millions. If your band does not have it's own homepage (or would like to supplement it), create a Facebook or MySpace profile. An old saying goes: "Success comes to those who seem to be successful." Following that, have a bunch of pictures of your band on stage, put up your songs (preferably with a link for people to purchase your music, but more on that later), and add a lot of friends.
2. Give some free samples
Just like in the supermarket when they sample out hot pockets, you need to sample yourself out. First, on your social networking site, have your music for everyone to hear but also be on YouTube.com. It is really easy to create your own channel on YouTube and to upload your own videos. It's completely free to you and it's free global publicity. Anyone can subscribe to your channel and find out what you're all about! Now, start putting up videos from your performances, your members playing in your garage, and your music to a collage of pictures. The point is to have a bunch variety that will attract a bunch of people and to keep it coming. You might be thinking that this opens you up to people stealing your music and other sorts of pirating, and you're right! But sampling works, just like with those hot pockets in the supermarket.
3. Sell your music
Obviously, you want to sell your music; that's what it is all about! But nobody buys CDs anymore, and it's unlikely that you want to go from place to place with a suitcase full of CDs. Get yourself an iTunes, SNOCAP, Napster, or something to that effect account and put up your music for sale. Admitted, this is not completely free to you, they do demand a percentage fee for putting up your music (30% or so). Look at it like this though, you are making 70% and without them you'd be making 0.
All these tips will help you get recognized and get some money flowing. Obviously, they aren't a perfect substitute for an agent or a real marketer. An agent or marketer will help you make the actual connections; they know the right people. But if you feel confident, try talking to people you know who own clubs and bars to maybe get you to play. At least, when the decision maker Googles you they will see you as an established band to take seriously. It will most defiantly separate you from all those who didn't take the time to prepare themselves and it didn't cost you anything and took only a short amount to time
1. Success come to those who seem successful
Nowadays, creating an impressive on-line presence is next to nothing; with social networking sites growing in popularity, being a part of the wave will push you ahead of the competition. Plus, it is totally free to join and reach millions. If your band does not have it's own homepage (or would like to supplement it), create a Facebook or MySpace profile. An old saying goes: "Success comes to those who seem to be successful." Following that, have a bunch of pictures of your band on stage, put up your songs (preferably with a link for people to purchase your music, but more on that later), and add a lot of friends.
2. Give some free samples
Just like in the supermarket when they sample out hot pockets, you need to sample yourself out. First, on your social networking site, have your music for everyone to hear but also be on YouTube.com. It is really easy to create your own channel on YouTube and to upload your own videos. It's completely free to you and it's free global publicity. Anyone can subscribe to your channel and find out what you're all about! Now, start putting up videos from your performances, your members playing in your garage, and your music to a collage of pictures. The point is to have a bunch variety that will attract a bunch of people and to keep it coming. You might be thinking that this opens you up to people stealing your music and other sorts of pirating, and you're right! But sampling works, just like with those hot pockets in the supermarket.
3. Sell your music
Obviously, you want to sell your music; that's what it is all about! But nobody buys CDs anymore, and it's unlikely that you want to go from place to place with a suitcase full of CDs. Get yourself an iTunes, SNOCAP, Napster, or something to that effect account and put up your music for sale. Admitted, this is not completely free to you, they do demand a percentage fee for putting up your music (30% or so). Look at it like this though, you are making 70% and without them you'd be making 0.
All these tips will help you get recognized and get some money flowing. Obviously, they aren't a perfect substitute for an agent or a real marketer. An agent or marketer will help you make the actual connections; they know the right people. But if you feel confident, try talking to people you know who own clubs and bars to maybe get you to play. At least, when the decision maker Googles you they will see you as an established band to take seriously. It will most defiantly separate you from all those who didn't take the time to prepare themselves and it didn't cost you anything and took only a short amount to time
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