The Top 9 Mistakes That Most *UnSigned* Artist Make… Are You?
July 16th, 2009
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While one person hesitates because he feels inferior, the other is busy making mistakes and becoming superior. ~Henry C. Link
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Brought to you by: Ty Cohen
9. FAILING TO CREATE MERCHANDISING OPPORTUNITIES
CD sales are just a fraction of the earning potential for artist like yourself these days… So at this point if you are not doing so already, I highly suggest that you start designing t-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers, coasters, calendars and other products other than, or in addition to your CDs to sell at shows and on your website.
Keep in mind that your fans literally want a piece of you, and in this day and age they expect it. Choose appropriate merchandising opportunities that reinforce and promote your brand when you make your offering. Remember ABM…. Always Be Marketing!
8. NOT ESTABLISHING THEIR BRAND
If you don’t know your brand you can’t reinforce or promote it and you can’t expect others to know who the heck you are, right? Right! It’s not enough to be “very talented” or “good” these days…. In fact that stuff matter very little.. Sorry, but it is the truth. Differentiation is the key to your success and will enable you to stand out in a marketplace that’s over saturated with music artists. What makes you different? What do you have to offer that others don’t? What do you stand for in terms of values, philosophies, and ideas? What causes do you stand behind? Can you answer these questions? More importantly your fans should be able to answer these questions if you’ve branded yourself correctly. Investigate your core values and build your brand around them. People need to know what you can deliver and what they can expect from you.
10 Questions to Ask a Potential Band Member
May 8th, 2009
It’s like a job interview, but so much more. A band member isn’t just doing a job, they are joining your creative family. You want to be sure of their technical ability, and you also want to be sure they will blend with the rest of the band. Success for your group depends on a synergistic blend of personalities. Here are ten questions you can ask a potential band member to ensure they will be exactly what you need to take your band to the next level.
1. Why do you want to join?
Watch the response to this question. Do they have to really think about it? If so, you need to clarify whether or not they have a good reason to commit to your band. You’re not trying to make it difficult for them to join, but this first question is the single most important one for them to answer well because it is a true reflection of how they feel about your band and your music. Don’t prompt them for the answer you want. Simply ask, and let them answer, no matter how long it takes or how much they struggle for the right words.
10 Ways to Improve Your Band’s Image
May 8th, 2009
January 10, 2009 – Music Marketing
In theory a band should be judged entirely on their musical ability. The reality, though, is that musicians are often judged on their overall image. A young band is put in the unfortunate position of trying to perfect their sound, and at the same time, appeal to their community. Here are some ways that you can improve your image—both onstage and of—and increase your recognition.
1. Be a copycat…in your own unique way.
Go find local bands that have already become successful and watch what they are doing. Poke around on their website, see their show, and talk to people about them to find out what makes them so popular. Depending on how approachable they are, you may even want to contact them and build a mentoring relationship, or at the very least ask if you can take them out for a beer and pick their brains. You’re not looking to reproduce another band’s success step by step, but you are trying to come up with a plan for establishing yourself based on tried and true methods. Look at what has already worked and see if there are variations you can adopt in your own band.
10 People to Surround Your Band With
March 3rd, 2009
By David Hooper | June 2008
No man-or band-is an island. The success of any musician is the cumulative effort of many people. As you set out to become a legend, there are ten people you want to surround yourself and your band with. Whether you hire these folks, or simply find them and build a mentoring relationship with them-they have the expertise you need to get where you want to be: on top.
1. Stylist
Stylists aren’t just for corporate bands. Someone who is an expert in style and public opinion can give you an objective view about how other people see you. Talk to a stylist about your overall sound and the vision of your band and get some feedback about ways you can express that with your on-stage appearance.
2. Graphic Designer
A graphic designer is going to be able to help you design your “brand”. That can include everything from your website design, to your t-shirt graphics and your album cover. These are items that make a huge impression on people long before they have a chance to hear your music. Most graphic designers appreciate it when you bring them solid ideas and examples of things that inspire you. The more direction you can give them, the easier it will be for them to provide you with a finished product you’ll love.
Top 10 Mistakes Artists Make
February 27th, 2009
By David Hooper | August 2008
If you want to get a record deal, get people to your shows, or sell music like crazy, the answer isn’t some kind of “magic pill” website that you post your music on, blindly sending out a bunch of demos, or anything to do with having good music… although good music certainly helps. The answer is to develop a mindset that naturally attracts people to what you’re doing as well as an understanding of how the music business game is played.
As you develop as a person, your music career will develop with you. Sounds crazy, but it’s true, and I’ve seen it time and time again, with thousands of acts that I’ve worked with, from garage bands, to the guys selling out arenas.
Of course, part of developing includes making mistakes along the way. Check out these ten common music business mistakes, and ways to avoid them…
10. Being too difficult (or too nice)
First of all, let’s get this clear… Just because you wrote a few good songs and recorded them, it doesn’t mean the world revolves around you. Lots of people write and record good songs, so get in line.
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