HowToBand.com Blog

Would you agree that the Grateful Dead and the Dave Matthews Band have very large Fan groups? Would you like to use a method they both used to accomplish powerfully successful Fan group building?

Corgan Capshaw, manager of the Dave Matthews Band, saw this method used very successfully, in the early days, with the Grateful Dead when he was at their touring shows. Then he re-applied the technique for the Dave Matthews Band and saw the same incredible results. This technique is one you can use right now and get results.

Here it is:

Many people have notices at their shows that you can’t record their shows. They say, “No recording devices of any kind are allowed.” This is to try to stop Bootlegging. Well, here is the twist these two bands successfully used… Encourage them to record your shows all they want.

By encouraging your fans to record your shows, they do sell their recordings and circulate them.

This builds your Fan Base faster and with better focus, because Fans know how to find other potential fans quicker than you. They become a virtual tactical army like sales force. Both the Grateful Dead and the Dave Matthews Band used this to build their Fan base quickly and powerfully benefiting from ever larger SOLD-OUT Shows and a higher volume of merchandise sold. (Keep in mind that your merchandise is your Fan’s way to unite and connect to each other under your Band’s Brand, like a Flag.)

You can use this proven technique right now: Encourage your fans to record your shows. Let them have fun at it. They might even record your work in a way you want a copy of it.

There are great resources available to you as a band. If you really want to succeed with you band, use the proven methods of the professionals that use them.

Bob Baker has succeeded in the music business quite well. Bob is a writer, indie musician and former music magazine editor who is dedicated to showing musicians of all kinds how to get exposure, connect with fans, sell more CDs, and increase their incomes through their artistic passions…

For over 201 ways to promote your music, he has written a good book. It is simply called the Guerilla Music Marketing Handbook. It was even included in one of the scenes of the movie ”The School of Rock”, with Jack Black.

You make money as a musician, no matter who you are, when you sell something. And you sell things when you market them. You need to market yourself if you want to make money as a musician. If you don’t get people to your shows with an increasing number of fans, then you are not marketing. And, it is no fun playing to an empty house.

If you don’t fill the house at your gigs, then you won’t get booked at new gigs much.

Train yourself how to market your band and your products.
Get the Guerilla Music Marketing Handbook.

Buy it at:

www.bob-baker.com/af/gmmh.html

On BandChemistry.com, a Partner of HowToBand.com, Scot Alexander writes:

Ok, where to start... I played bass in the platinum selling rock band Dishwalla for the last 12 years. Achieved ASCAP "Rock Track Of The Year" for two consecquetive years and a Billboard award for "Rock Song Of The Year" in 96'. I co-wrote all songs and contributed a few of my own over my time with the band including the top 10 rock track "Once In A While".

Toured for 12 years throughout the world, and have opened up for artists such as, Cheryl Crow, Goo Goo Dolls, Better Than Ezra, Cheap Trick, Blind Melon, and many others.

I have also done sessions for Amy Grant as well as many indie level artists over the years. Was featured in the British magazine "Future Music" in 2001 for my trance side project Invisible Monster.

Have built pro studios from the ground up, and recorded many bands along the way. Extensive knowledge of pro audio and software (Logic endorcee). Have worked in development of tube condencer mics, limiters, and preamps.
Basically OVER QUALIFIED!
Haha!
I'm a very professional, easy going, humble individual (typical bassist) and ready to work my ass off at whatever comes my way.

I'm 34, look the part, have top end gear and several vintage instruments.
Basically READY TO ROCK!

Looking for session work mostly. Bass or production/engineering/programming.
I'm open to anything though if the right band came along.
Drop me a message.

So, if you are interested in contacting Scot, or looking for other new musicians to work with, go to http://www.bandchemistry.com

You can go directly to Scot’s profile by visiting:

http://www.bandchemistry.com/?q=user/scotalexander

The Beatles were arguably the most influential band of the twentieth century. Their iconic status and music reverberated throughout the chambers of society and culture globally. They influenced arts, business, technology, politics and religion. They were the first band to be globally transmitted on Television. They reached over 400 million people “worldwide”. Do you think this had anything to do with their fame and success?

Harry Houdini became world-renowned for his stunts and feats of escapology even more so than his magical illusions. When people think of Houdini, they think of him escaping from a box, handcuffs, or a water chamber, not card tricks or rabbits in hats. He became famous and successful because he was the first to choose to make his whole show “One Trick”. When he first approached this idea, many thought he was crazy and that he would fail as an entertainer, especially since he wasn’t really a good magician.

You can use this technique to build fame and increase your financial success as a band.

• KISS was the first band to give you a rock show as cartoon-like superhero monster comic-style characters.
• Rolling Stones were the first band to get rid of their stage clothes. People called the Stones, "long-haired louts". In one magazine, a headline read: "Would you let your daughter marry a Rolling Stone?"
• Neil Armstrong was the first person to walk on the moon.
• George Washington was the first person to be predisent of the United States.
• Charles Lindbergh was the first person to fly over the Atlantic Ocean solo.
• Emilia Earhart was the first “woman” to fly over the Atlantic Ocean solo.
• Walt Disney was the first person to make an animated "talkie," or a film with sound.
• Walt Disney was the first person to create an animated film with Technicolor.

Do you know who came second? My point exactly.

Does it even matter that the “Second” might have been better? Apparently not because we don’t know who they were off the top of our minds. However, yes… The second, third, fourth and further were usually better at it, yet not more popular, famous, nor successful.

Think hard. What can your band do first to create waves of influence to increase your fame and financial success?

Challenge yourself to come up with a list of ten. Then find the best idea on the list and make it happen. Your effort could bring you everything you want.

If you could only be one, which would you rather be?

A. A Rich Band
B. A Famous Band

Do you have a video of your Band performing that you can share with HowToBand.com readers? HowToBand.com currently seeks Band Videos for its first “Spotlight Band Contest”.

Please upload your video onto YouTube.com and then submit your video link to Music@HowToBand.com

Your Band Video can be basic and raw. It will be rated on:

• Band Strength of Identity
• Band Clarity of Communication (within its genre of music style)
• Band Showmanship Skill

Any style band welcome - Rock, Rap, Alternative, Punk, Jazz, Christian, Classical, or Country. All submissions due by Monday, February 26th, 2007.

If Your Band WINS the HowToBand.com Spotlight, you will get the following benefits - For One Month:

• Coverage on the HomePage of the HowToBand.com Website
• Direct links to Your Band Website or anywhere else Your Band wants to direct New Fans
• Special Exclusive Positive Articles highlighting Your Band shared throughout the Internet

REMEMBER:
Please upload your video onto YouTube.com and then submit your video link to Music@HowToBand.com. Any style band welcome. All submissions due by Monday, February 26th, 2007.

You can also submit your video links directly through the HowToBand.com Contact Form at:

http://www.howtoband.com/contact.html

Below is a link to a short film made by Julian Thieme featuring Eric Christian Smith as Quinn Stantano.

Enjoy:
http://www.ifilm.com/video/2799135

This contest is being held as part of the ROCKRGRL Women of Valor
Award Evening honoring the band FANNY - the first all-female band
ever to release a full-length album on a major label. All bands
must be exclusively female and include at least one Berklee
alumna or current student. Must be available to play in Boston on
March 9 and 10, April 7, and April 20. Deadline for submissions:
February 16.

Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader:
http://www.berklee.net/ea/media/documents/battle_application.pdf

The John Lennon Songwriting Contest is an international songwriting contest that began in 1997 and is open to amateur and professional songwriters who submit entries in any one of 12 categories. The JLSC is open year-round and features two Sessions. Entries will be judged on originality, melody, composition, and lyrics. Submission categories: Rock, Country, Jazz, Pop, World, Rhythm & Blues, Hip Hop, Gospel/Inspirational, Latin, Electronic, Folk, and Children's. Instrumental compositions are encouraged. Submission deadline: June 15.

http://www.jlsc.com/

The Planetary Group & China West have presented shows and tours in China for the past seven years, and they are now offering the next opportunity for artists to perform in the region at the Midi Festival, in Beijing, China. One artist will be selected to perform at the festival on one of the days - and the act will be selected by Midi Festival staff. The 2007 Midi Festival will take place on May 1-4, 2007. This event is exclusive to Sonicbids
members. Planetary takes care of all logistics: visas, airfare, ground transportation, equipment rentals, permits, food and housing. Submission deadline: March 9.

http://www.sonicbids.com/planetarygroup

Headed into its sixth year, the 2007 North American Rock Guitar Competition is accepting a wide variety of Rock-based genres. In May, five finalists will be selected from CD, tape, and online entries through blind judging by a panel of musicians, music educators, and industry representatives. On June 18, the finalists will perform live in Buffalo, NY, before a national musician/industry panel and a live audience. Guitarists from around the world are encouraged to enter. Your travel expenses (of up to $500 US funds) and housing expenses for 3 nights will be paid for. Submission deadline: April 20.

http://www.guitarcompetition.org/

___ Create website
___ Setup retail for CD (or songs sold separately)
___ Submit music to radio (on or offline)
___ Get reviews
___ Gig, gig, gig

Now What??? How About Getting Some Fans!!!

The MusicDish Network helps you take that next step by creating the online exposure that will help get you the holy grail of the music industry... FANS.

See:

http://www.musicdish.net

If you have some Fans already, increase them quickly and easily with iFanz, “The Ultimate Fan Development and E-mail Marketing System.

See:

http://howtoband.ifanz.com/

Approximately 150 bands and solo artists will participate in shows in venues on 6th Street in Austin, Texas. RedGorilla showcases will take place from Wednesday, March 14, to Saturday, March 17, in clubs on 6th Street, right in the heart of all the action. The event continues to be a "No Badge Required" event. It is free to attend and is open to the general public. RedGorilla Music Fest is not affiliated in any way with SXSW or South By Southwest, Inc. For more information, go to the website or call the RedGorilla office at 615-251-4920.

http://www.redgorillamusic.com

Every time you go to a McDonald’s, wherever you are in the world, you can expect and get the same atmosphere, experience, and delivery.

A good Band offer’s the same to its audience. When your fans see your posters or a listing of your band gig schedule, they plan to go because they remember what they enjoyed the last time they saw you perform. They want to go and get the same:

• experience
• delivery
• show
• songs
• thrill

If you are consistent and deliver the same show and experience to your audience each time, your fan base will grow because they will be able to:

• Explain you to their friends easier
• Enjoy themselves each time they come to see and hear you
• Feel comfortable and confident knowing what to expect and that their time and money are not wasted on a random experience

Does your band offer the same show each time? Are you delivering to your audience something that they can come again and again and get? Are you delivering to your audience something that they can confidently tell their friend’s about without the fear that they might recommend a band that doesn’t give the same show they saw?

What if one of your friend’s went to a movie, told you about it, and then when you went to see it, the movie was completely different (and now, not to your liking)? Would you be able to confidently go to them again? Would you recommend them to another person?

Is your band following McDonald’s or are you as reliable as the weatherman?

Do you have a great demo? Do you write fantastic songs? Or does your stage act excite the audience when you play? Do you want to know who can sign you?

The Band it A&R Newsletter is designed to help you answer those questions and give you monthly updates on International Labels, Managers, and Publishers ready to sign new music. Find out who is ready to sign you.

You can download a free copy of the current issue now.

Click here!

Have you ever been faced with the task of having to find a new way to promote your band’s music and then realized that you didn't know what to do or where to go?

Indie-Music.com’s service promises to solve that problem for you by giving you an actual process of creating killer promotion.

*************************************************
If you're in a hurry, just go ahead visit this URL to get instant free access to these services:

www.Indie-Music.com
*************************************************

Indie-Music.com offers Members streaming audio, CD Reviews, access to indie charts, Internet radio and articles to further you along.

As a musician, you get to add your music – one song for free! (This jumpstarts you.) Bigger promotion packages start at $10 per year.

So, if you are looking for a new way to promote your band’s music, Promote Your Music @ Indie-Music.com

Based on feedback received from HowToBand.com Readers, the website got a New Improved Helpful Makeover. This streamlined makeover focuses the information on HowToBand.com the way musicians best use it.

For your easy access, right on the front page of the website, you can now instantly see the headings of the latest articles entered into the Music Business Article BLOG. So, if you see a topic that you want to read today, then you can simply click on the Article Heading to enter into the Article BLOG to read it.

Also, to simplify your quick access to Hot New Band Opportunities, Gigs, Events and Communications, the old HowToBand.com Newsletter has been focused into the New HowToBand.com Email List. The newsletter became improved as it developed. Now, as opportunities emerge for your Band, you will be immediately contacted so you can be the first to act.

It is Free to sign up for the HowToBand.com Email List, like the Newsletter before, however now only three tiny pieces of information are needed: your email address and first and last name. Then you are ready entered into the Exclusive HowToBand.com Contact List.

Take a peek:
www.HowToBand.com

Enjoy your trip to the top.

By Steven Denyes

Peter Sprague is a jazz guitarist, recording engineer and producer. His discography consists of over 100 albums that he has played on or produced. He has worked with many jazz greats including Al Jareau and Chick Corea. Here are this month's tips-from a Pro, excerpted from the book Gigging For A Living: Candid Conversations with Independent Working Musicians.

How have you balanced the music and business in your career?

Promoting yourself is a really important part of being an artist. How do you do it in an elegant and truthful way? I think it's something you have to address as an artist. Are you a person that can do this? If you are, that's a good thing. It can lead to more opportunities of doing your own projects. If you can't, you are pretty much going to fall back into the role of relying on people calling on you to play and being the supporter of their dreams.

I know certain people can't do it and that's OK. It's something important to know about yourself. There are plenty of people who are amazing players but don't have the ability to get organized and promote themselves. They are wonderful but it may never go beyond that. Self-promoting can really sound ugly but I don't think it has to be that way.

I've always seen the business side of things as an important element. When all my bandmates were there, why did I get the record deal? It was probably because I had this other thing going. I would send stuff out, I would follow through and pursue it. It never felt like unnatural to me. The only thing is that it takes time-time that would be much more fun to spend creating music. I still see it as important. I have a new record out and earlier this week I spent hours on the phone following up with press people. It's not really fun but it's important.

What do you think of the stereotype of the flaky musician? Can you be that way and earn a living?

I don't think so. There are people that have way more natural talent than me but the reality is that what most people want, especially in recording situations, is great performances and reliability. I can think of lots of guys that are great players that I could call for projects but I don't because of their attitude or I just don't know if they'll show up.

People are willing to ride that for a while but there's a certain point where that won't work. I think that everyone that has finally made it is there because they are great players and they have this whole other element together. With the amount of competition out there, you need a lot of talent and this personal ability and trustworthiness too.

What advice would you give to an aspiring young musician?

It's really hard to tell anyone any of this until they are at a certain point. It really takes people bumping up against stuff until they're ready to listen. A lot of times you have to find out by example and by your mistakes.

My guiding lights through all of this is to do what I do so well that there is a sense of accomplishment no matter what. Do stuff really, really well and be OK with how it all lands. The doing of it is what is important, not what will come of it later. I tell that a lot to people that I work with in the studio. They come in with the idea of what their record will do for them once they make it. They get lost in the middle of it. I tell them to just enjoy the doing of it and not worry about the outcome of it. The chances are so huge that nothing is going to happen. If you're leaning into getting a response from that or it's going to shape your happiness, you're in for a bummer. Do it to the best of your degree and enjoy the process.

I was working with Chick Corea when the Thriller album came out. Michael Jackson was hitting hard. I could see Chick having some envy of the way this cat could fill stadiums and he could only fill big jazz halls. I could see that the "If I only get to that level" puzzle could go on forever. It became clear to me that the real key is the ride along the way.

Excerpted from Gigging for a Living: Candid Conversations with Independent Working Musicians by Steve Denyes. For more information visit www.giggingforaliving.com.

Need to get your Music Career going? TAXI: helps Unsigned Bands, Artists and Songwriters get Record Deals, Publishing Deals, and Film & TV Music Placement. See: http://www.taxi.com

We all have incredible experiences that we can share with each other. Within each of these experiences are stories that show methods for us to follow to accomplish similar kinds of good results.

Today, Richard Chilleri, of Austin, Texas wrote:

I was blessed to have opened up for Ray Charles in Belgium, Holland and Germany. I have been playing the drums for many years. I moved to Austin to see if I could get further in my musical career. I started out on 6th street in Austin, Texas and then a few years later I was on stage opening for Ray Charles in front of 15-18K people, so needless to say it was an awesome experience. What made it great was when I asked the road manager for Mr. Charles if I could set up Mr. Charles piano stool for him each night and he said yes, so that was cool to do in front of all those people waiting for Ray...

Richard Chilleri
Apartments NOW Manager
Email: Rich@ausapts.com
Cell: 512.656.FREE
Toll Free: 800.530.5832
http://www.austinapartmenthelp.com

"Serving Austin renters FREE with a Smile for over a Decade"

** Keep In Mind: Moving to a location where you are in the center of the Music Business, like Austin, Texas – “The Live Music Capital of the World”, makes it easier for you to connect with incredible people and opportunities.

Could you enjoy traveling to incredible locations while you get paid better than your average gig and have your food and lodging included? This is happening all of the time with for independent musicians and bands that get booked on cruise ships.

I took the family on a cruise recently and came across a band called Ntwine. They are from the Philippines and got booked on the cruise ship to be one of the many musical performers that worked on the ship.

Think of the benefits of working on a cruise ship with your band or as an independent musician:

• You get paid to travel
• You have high class passenger audience members to network with
• You get food as part of the deal
• You get lodging as part of your deal
• You get to take days off in exciting new locations when the ship is at port

Do you think you could enjoy working on a cruise ship? Even if you don’t have a band organized right now, you could gather musicians together just for the purpose of getting booked as a cruise ship entertainment band.

There are musicians needed to play in bars, lobbies, onboard parties and events, and during meal times.

Ships and companies have different ways of booking musical artists. A little research online and some phone calls can get you to the right person. I know that for Ntwine it has been a lot of fun and great for their publicity, networking, and future bookings (not to mention – a bonus to their cash flow). Could this be your next gig?

Learn more about Ntwine at:

http://www.ntwine.com

Bianca Ryan and Eric Christian Smith

This December, I met up with Bianca Ryan and her family. Her father, Shawn Ryan, and I were talking about the new and exciting career world that Bianca’s family and she now share.

Bianca Ryan won the debut season of NBC’s America’s Got Talent and she is only twelve years old now. Wikipedia wrote, her finale appearance—singing "I Am Changing" from the Broadway musical Dreamgirls—prompted show judge (and onetime prodigy) Brandy to shake her head and proclaim Ryan as magnificent. Brandy said that Bianca Ryan “makes me want to go practice…” and told Bianca, “that's how good you are.”

Shawn Ryan, Bianca’s dad, shared:

It is funny to think that in the beginning of the summer it was business as usual for my family and I. I would get up take my kids to school and than continue with my workday as an independent insurance adjuster. I knew I had a very talented daughter in Bianca several years ago. I had record labels already wanting to meet with us for the past few years before her appearance on the show America's Got Talent but my wife and I both agreed to wait until Bianca got older. Well fate came to her quicker than age did and she is currently touring around the world and is a signed recording artist with Columbia/SYCO records. Bianca was the first American artist signed to SYCO records, which is owned by Simon Cowell. Her self-titled CD was released on November 14th and is doing very well. When Simon Cowell was asked by a reporter during a live interview "what he thought of Bianca's voice" he replied "I think Bianca is potentially one of the best singers I have ever heard in my life" needless to say this came with a huge smile and sigh of relief from Bianca who was sitting right next to Simon during the interview.

Bianca Ryan and Father, Shawn Ryan

Business, for Bianca and family, is very different now. Shawn and Bianca have gone to Germany and Switzerland in the last month alone.

Shawn left his career as an insurance adjuster and Bianca’s mother, Janette, left her position in banking. Her parents both work with Bianca to help her build her new career and to help her establish a healthy and secure financial world for her new earnings. I know that it can be odd to think of a twelve-year old as having a career, however as an entertainer, the money can be enough that it is critical to establish your work as an entertainment company.

Shawn expressed that learning the business so quickly makes his head swirl and takes a full-time effort. Both parents are dedicated to helping Bianca and making sure that she is surrounded with good people, good business, and a healthy life. Additionally, Bianca’s two younger siblings, Isabella and Jagger, now find themselves with a new concept of sibling rivalry. Although, little Isabella isn’t afraid to challenge her older sister while standing next to her in front of the crowds.

To add to the wonderful family team support Bianca has, Peter Rudge came out of semi-retirement to help her navigate the music business world even better. Peter Rudge's career in the entertainment industry spans over 35 years. He has managed such acts as The Rolling Stones, The Who, Duran Duran, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Pink Floyd's Roger Waters and Pulp. He was also involved in the marketing and promotion of some of the biggest albums of all time including: Jimi Hendrix's "Electric Lady Land," The Who's "Tommy," and the Rolling Stones' "Exile on Main Street" and "Some Girls."

Bianca’s parents have now setup a three way multi-corporate strategy to protect different areas of the business. Using multiple corporations can help secure the company from different attempts of business piracy from those who might want to take from the money stream. This is a very common technique used with good results. A common method of this is to have merchandising covered by one corporation, licensing covered by another, and bookings cover by a third. This structure used correctly for Bianca will assist in making sure that she will have money in her future from her work successes now.

Bianca is young, and her and her family’s world changed quickly and they are embracing the new excitement with full focus. She is traveling the world performing and has appeared on television shows such as Oprah Winfrey, Martha Stewart, Ellen DeGeneres, The Today Show and much more. Her career is just starting, however it is off to an amazing beginning. In certain areas, she has difficulty leaving her hotel room because of the amount of paparazzi chasing her. Shawn described how in Germany, this last December, they could barely go places without someone calling out trying to get her to look their direction just so they got a good photo for their work. They would even yell out things like, “Bianca… Santa Clause is over here!”

Bianca is young, and being young can help her adapt to this new entertainment celebrity world. It is good that a supportive family and team surround her. They can grow stronger together. Having the advice and guidance of professionals is excellent, yet it is better to have them part of a caring genuine team. This team is Bianca’s extended Band.

Bianca took one step toward success when she auditioned for America’s Got Talent. Then she persisted forward with each competitive show event. One more step led her to the final competition on the show and launched her into a whole new world. One Million Dollars later she and her family had new choices to make and new skills to learn. If you are serious about your goal of becoming a successful musician, develop the skills you need. You have to eventually. What can you learn now?

How would you navigate the changes of becoming a celebrity? Who would be part of your team? Are you surrounding yourself with teammates right now in preparation for success?

Bianca and her family are working hard together and whatever their future brings; they will be able to share it together.

For more information:

http://www.biancaryan.com/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bianca_Ryan#_note-prodigy

The following article by Bob Baker, author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," was written by him in the early 90’s, however contains powerful information to help you sell your music CD’s, and I think this article needs to be re-circulated for you today. All of his professional insights will help jumpstart your music career rapidly. I encourage all my readers to learn from the experts that are offering you genuine help. Bob Baker has a series of books available and a FREE e-zine, which you can learn more about by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com

Now on to the article...

Reselling Indie Releases
"10 sure-fire ideas to help you sell more of your independent records, tapes, & CDs"

By Bob Baker

So you've put a lot of time and effort into writing good original songs, committing them to tape in the studio, crafting the artwork and packaging and arranging for your record, tape and/or CD to finally be manufactured.

Many musicians describe the feeling of seeing their slickly packaged final creation for the first time: It's a wonderful sensation of basking in the glow of accomplishment. And they feel like shouting at the top of their lungs to let the world know about this great thing they've got to offer.

That's why it's difficult to figure out why so many music creators drop the ball at this point. Sure, they want to get recognition and acceptance from hordes of people who have been touched by their music. And, let's face it, they wouldn't mind making some good money at selling their product, too. So why do bands and record labels continue to print up 1,000 CDs, only to have 850 of them sit in a closet and gather dust?

The answer is simple: These bands and record labels haven't learned effective methods for marketing their releases. Are you one of these people? If so, don't worry. There's still plenty of hope for you.

What follows is a brief excerpt from a book I hope to have out sometime in 1994 covering over 125 ideas on how to make more money from your recorded products. Until then, use these 10 random ideas to expand your thinking and help you sell more of your independent releases.

• Commit to becoming an independent music marketer, instead of just a record producer. Unless you're simply making music for your immediate friends and family (which is worthy in itself), you're going to have to expand your skills to include more than songwriting and recording techniques.

  Far too many musically creative people feel that if they just come up with great music, the world will beat a path to their door. While this approach actually seems to work for a select few, most bands and songwriters have to work a little harder to get their music not only noticed... but bought in bulk by enthusiastic music fans.

  Therefore, the first step in your efforts to sell more of your records, tapes and CDs is to decide right now that you will spend as much time and energy in marketing your musical pride and joy as you do creating it. This means you'll be eager to indulge in the art of researching your market, networking with people who can help you accomplish your sales goals and, ultimately, becoming as inspired by exposing your music as you are by playing it.

• Know who your fans are and why they buy from you. How would you describe the ideal consumer of your music? And what inspires them to buy your records? If you can't answer these questions, you may have a tough battle (not to mention a closet full of CDs) ahead of you.

  Acts that develop huge and loyal followings usually have a specific musical focus and image their fans identify with so strongly that they pack the group's shows and buy tons of their releases. The magnet that draws these fans is the attitude of the band, combined with a sound, look and image that supports it.

  Get a handle on what attitude, sound and image you portray. Knowing this will help you position your act for maximum exposure... and sales! Important note: But make sure it's a sincere attitude that is really a part of you. Copping an image because you think it will sell will cause your career to fall apart quicker than you can say, "Milli Vanilli."

• At live shows, perform songs off your release and say so from the stage. Live shows are one of your best ways to promote the availability of your release, so don't be shy about announcing it. Many musicians who front bands think it's uncool to repeatedly plug their "product" at gigs. Hogwash!

  You want people to come to your shows because they like your band, right? If they've taken the time to set aside an evening to experience your band, wouldn't many of them also want to take your recorded music home? Of course. Don't deny them that experience. And don't deny yourself the monetary rewards of selling more of your music.

• Print up and distribute a band newsletter. Most bands will pass out fliers or calendars at their live shows, but fliers get tossed in the trash pretty quickly and usually don't help a band's efforts in selling more records. So why don't you come up with a newsletter that's filled with tidbits of information on your band?

  The most effective band newsletters I've seen use plenty of humor. By having fun items of interest in your newsletter, people will hang onto it longer, plus you can fill it with a convenient order form to get your recorded goodies by mail and to announce where they are available in stores.

• When doing print, radio and TV interviews, offer to give something away free if readers/listeners/viewers contact you. As you know, a great way to build up a following is to build up and use a mailing list. (You do have one, don't you?) But live gigs aren't the only places to collect names and addresses.

  When you do media interviews, you're reaching perhaps thousands of potential fans. Make the best use of that opportunity by giving something away to readers, listeners or viewers—your newsletter, catalog, sticker, band comic book, novelty condom... anything to inspire music fans to connect with you. Preferably, have people call a band hotline number and leave their mailing information.

• In paid ads, always offer a free catalog or newsletter. Likewise, when you are paying for advertising, either in print or on radio, don't waste the chance to connect with more fans. Offer that same free item in all of your ads!

• Offer appropriate radio stations free copies of your release to use as giveaways during on-air promotions. Media folks love to give stuff away to entice their audiences. So don't be too shy about asking the local college or non-commercial stations if they'd give away your new CD on the air. Of course, your band would also love to come in and do an interview to tie in with the giveaway.

• Arrange for a live record store appearance, autograph session or unplugged performance. I know what you're thinking: "Record store appearance? That would be awfully pompous of me!" Not so fast. The national touring acts aren't the only musicians worthy of such gimmicks.

  Setting up an in-store appearance gives you weeks of exposure in the store in the form of fliers promoting the date, it gets people talking and, in the case of an unplugged performance, gets your music to the ears of record-buying consumers who might never have heard you otherwise.

• Give away free copies to record store managers for in-store play. This may seem obvious, but a lot of "record producers" overlook this important marketing technique. The record store is the perfect place to capture the attention of music fans. They come in only to buy music!

  Ask any record store clerk how many times a customer has come up and asked, "Who is this playing over the speakers right now?" Get smart and start meeting the store managers and giving away those free promotional copies.

• Seek out overlooked retail sales opportunities. Can you find a way to take your band name, album title or image and market it in an unusual way? Many new age artists have marketed their CDs through nature stores and crystal "rock" shops. Some labels have thematic releases that are packaged with books on the same subject, which opens up bookstore sales—a whole new method of distribution. Can you think of one that would work for you?

To sum up: Open your mind to the music sales possibilities around you and you may soon find yourself with a lot of extra closet space.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Bob Baker is the author of "Guerrilla Music Marketing Handbook," "Unleash the Artist Within" and "Branding Yourself Online." He also publishes TheBuzzFactor.com, a web site and e-zine that deliver marketing tips, self-promotion ideas and other empowering messages to music people of all kinds. Get your FREE subscription to Bob's e-zine by visiting http://TheBuzzFactor.com today.

Need to get your Music Career going? TAXI: helps Unsigned Bands, Artists and Songwriters get Record Deals, Publishing Deals, and Film & TV Music Placement. See: http://www.taxi.com

By Michael Laskow

I love to read business books — especially marketing books. One theme that is repeated throughout many of my favorite marketing books is that you (or your product) need to represent just one thing. If you can't describe what or who you are as an artist in a single, succinct sentence, how can you expect anybody else to?

Why does that matter?

Imagine that you've just discovered a new artist that you're absolutely head over heels about. You tell a friend. The friend responds with, "What do they sound like?" If your answer is, "I can't really describe her," there's little chance your friend will run out to buy the CD.

On the other hand, if your answer had been, "She sounds like Lucinda Williams meets Sheryl Crow," then your friend would immediately have a mental picture and be able to decide if that type of artist would be appealing enough that he would go buy a copy.

I'm not saying that you need to change your music. I'm suggesting that you find a way to label it or describe it in such a way that it makes it easier for word of mouth to work in your favor.

And while we're on the subject of word of mouth, I'd like to publicly thank TAXI member Mary Beth Maziarz for sending me the book, "The Tipping Point." It's a very popular business book that explains what makes something "tip" and become the type of thing everybody is talking about. One of my favorite examples is the huge spike in sales that Hush Puppies experienced in the mid-nineties.

It was essentially a dead brand, but because a handful of influential, young New York "hipsters" rediscovered Hush Puppies, other people who wanted to be hip talked about the shoes, and most importantly, they bought the shoes. The scales tipped and sales soared.

Central to this theme is identifying the "sneezers" as best-selling business author Seth Godin calls them in his book, "Unleashing the Idea Virus." Sneezers are simply people who are influential — people who other people look to for advice and recommendations.

If you were going to buy a new guitar, who would you talk to other than the sales person at Guitar Center? Your friend Bobby from the band The Viral Evangelists? Yes!

Why?

Because everyone knows that Bobby is really cool. He's been around the music scene forever, and he always seems to know what the next big thing is. Bobby is a sneezer. He's a marketer's dream. He's a guy with influence and a large audience of fellow musicians that he can infect with his enthusiasm — be it for a guitar, the next hot band, a new Pro Tools plug-in, or his favorite recording studio.

Your job is to identify the sneezers who can help you infect lots of other people with the idea that your music is great. Who are the best people to proclaim "You've got to check out her CD, it's incredible!" Your aunt Nancy? Who is she going to tell — the ladies in her gardening club?

If you're doing Country music, then a great sneezer would be a DJ at a small Country station — more approachable than a DJ at a huge station, but still has thousands of listeners under his influence. Why not 50 DJs at tiny little Country stations all over the South?

If you're doing atmospheric New Age music, then your sneezers might be people who work at health food stores. You might also give it away to massage therapists who will then play it for countless clients while they work on them. If the massage therapists comment about how much they like your CD, then why not give them some copies on consignment that they could sell to their clients? That's marketing!

The big hurdle that you will need to overcome is motivating your sneezers. You want these people spreading your "germs" like a virus in an overcrowded elevator. But it's always been my experience that you can't really motivate anybody. They've got to be motivated from within.

Think about it for a minute or two. Remember when your parents tried so desperately to get you to study hard when you were in high school? Did their prodding or exhortations motivate you? A big, fat "NO!" on that one, huh?

But what about when you first discovered music. Did anybody have to motivate you to listen to music every chance you had? Of course not. You were self-motivated because you derived pleasure from listening. You received a benefit.

The same will be true for your sneezers. For them to be successful at spreading your virus, they'll need to be self-motivated. And what will motivate them to tell everybody they know that your music gets "Two Thumbs Up"? Great music! That's their benefit. They get to enjoy it, and they get to look like geniuses for recommending it. It always comes back to the music doesn't it? You can try every trick in the book to get people to buy your CD and go to your shows, but if the music is just good, not great, you probably won't succeed. However, if your music is exceptional, it will practically sell itself.

From where I sit, that's true for almost any aspect of life. The more passionate you are, the more motivated you will become. If your motivation level is high then you are likely to become exceptional. Once you become exceptional, the more likely it will be that people will be attracted to what you do. If you attract enough of the right people, they will spread the word to others and your "virus" will spread like measles in Mrs. Taylor's fourth grade class.

You really are the master of your own future. I just used a little marketing lesson to help you realize it ;-)

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Michael Laskow is the President and CEO of TAXI, “The world’s Leading Independent A&R Company and can be found at http://www.taxi.com

Need to get your Music Career going? TAXI: helps Unsigned Bands, Artists and Songwriters get Record Deals, Publishing Deals, and Film & TV Music Placement. See: http://www.taxi.com

I met up with American Idol Star, Paris Bennett, and she is powerfully commanding the stage and excited to share he new album coming soon! I'll keep you posted.

See fun photos on the HowToBand.com Flickr site at:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/howtoband_com/

Learn more about Paris Bennett at:

http://www.americanidol.com/contestants/season5/paris_bennett/

http://www.parisbennett.cc/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Paris_Bennett

Let's give three cheers to 12-year old Superstar Bianca Ryan for her success this year on America's Got Talent and for all of the new adventures that she gets to enjoy now.

I got the opportunity to meet and talk with Bianca and her father last week (see the HowToBand Flickr page at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/howtoband_com/ ), and they have a wonderfully full plate of new and exciting challenges and opportunities now. I will write more about that for you in an article that I'm organizing right now, however I encourage you to read up about Bianca and how she has made her luck build by taking action at her powerful age of 12.

Visit:
http://www.biancaryan.com/