By Mark Grove
Some players asked for this article again as well as more audios and even a video of me talking about how to make a Press Kit for their band. Or doing the same for other bands and creating Joint Ventures with them that work. But for now this article will do. But later in the new year I'm actually going to do audios and some videos so you can learn and implement these strategies more efficiently for your band.
I know you guys need this type of "How To" info for your band and other ones who I know have it in them to succeed wildly! Start off with this article and get creating a solid press pack and helping local bands. Then make some cash you deserve. 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 indie label is more risky than it appears.
You’re probably thinking, that’s BS 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? If you make yourself visible enough,they'll come running to you!
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. Now, 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 focus should be helping other bands. In two other articles that can really help your band help others is starting an A and R consultancy service for bands, and your own online label. If you don’t know what A and R is, it's called Artist and Repetoire and it's bands sending 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.
One thing I always tell bands to do as well is record a 4 song demo on Analog Cassette. An old Tascam 4-track tape recorder off Ebay if you can find one. The reason I say to do this is it will force your band to be creative recording a demo without using digital technology. Then when you do record with digital technology you can infuse warm, natural sounding Analog feel to your recordings. A lot more fans love analog, not just us oldtimers.
Ask your fans what they want in that regard. Now going back to working with other bands. You can write articles for them, record them and making extra cash selling their material. This can lead to producing and selling that band’s CD’s at their gigs. Once other bands see what you're doing they'll want your help as well. Even making 10 percent off bookings as well as CD sales.
Always create value for bands, don't just be all business. it's a relationship guys.
Focus on playing gigs, joint ventures with other bands and selling CDs at gigs as well. Besides making extra cash with your own band you can help out local and regional bands and make a lot of extra cash in off the beaten path ways.
Forget selling rock band merch as well. Keep your money in your pocket. But if you want to work with independent labels, 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 in a way that has your band lose 50% of their income. They might have a modern studio with Pro tools or top of the line recording equipment that could help your band and others you work with.
By offering them free services writing and promoting of bands can get you more than you think, and eventually a cut of another band’s profits. 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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