Really smart bands out there are going the DIY way. With the advent of the Internet it’s been even easier to get your “stuff” online. But most can’t drive the traffic they need to generate any sales or interest. Going the major label route or even using an independent label is more risky than doing it yourself.
You’re probably thinking, that’s bullshit Mark! Why should I take all the risk when someone else can do it for me.Yeah, that may well be. But they usually end up taking half the profits and ask that you give their producers points on projects. Does that make logical sense guys and gals? Any bands with a lot of drive and determination will do it the DIY way. That’s the only way your band should be going. I talk about doing it yourself and you should be. You can set up a Myspace or word press blog and start plugging your band’s Mp3’s for free at first with questions for fans to answer.
Have band interviews done by other band members. Have a lot of how to stuff for other musicians and even get some rabid fans with a lot of drive to interview your band. Even set up a press conference at your gigs. Forget mainstream media. Remember what I said about mainstream media. Basically, Fuck them!
Look at college Radio and college papers and magazines. Part of that can be creating value for other bands by doing interviews with them and putting them on your blog.Okay, Going back to College Media. They can create the real fans of music that really understand your music,and chances are they'll be rabid fans who buy your CDS and go to your gigs.
But the concentration should be helping your band and helping other bands as well. In two other articles that can really help your band help others is starting an A&R consultancy service for bands. If you don’t know what A&R is, it's bands send you their CD’s for a critique and what they need to do to tighten up the work or edit certain areas of their recordings. These bands are hoping to get a deal as well. Interview the bands who are good enough and put their MP3’s on your blog. Most Demos get tossed guys.
This can lead to producing and selling that band’s CD’s at their gigs. Interview these bands thereby creating even more value for other bands. Besides selling CD’s at gigs,offer free MP3’s on your site and theirs. The majority of sales should be at gigs.Forget selling CD's online. You need mountains of traffic.
It's Gigs and selling CDs of your band,creating value for other bands and joint ventures offline that will make your band "Cold Hard Cash".
Forget selling rock band merch as well. Keep your money in your pocket. But if you want to still get in on the independent label deals, Offer to write articles for their musicians and do promotions for their bands. But ask for a cut of the profits of the bands you work with. At least 5 to 10 percent. This way your hand is in their cookie jar without having to do a deal with them that has your band lose 50% of their income.
By offering them free services writing and promo of their bands can get you more than you think, and eventually a cut of their band’s profits, not your band. Like I said do it your way. This is the only way a band should go.
Email me with your questions on this subject, or want your band interviewed in a DIY way.
email me for more info at: mdgrove@rock.com
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