Band Business Money Tips

You could sell a small PDF document that shares insights on how you created one of your popular songs.

The questions many like to ask are:
How did you think of the idea? Did you start with the music or the lyrics first? Or did you write them at the same time? What’s it about, ‘to you’? When did you write it? Where were you when you wrote it?

You can also add copies of any of your early notes, original sketches or doodles from when you created the song.

THE BASIC RULE AND RESPECT GUIDLINE:

Make it a simple downloadable e-Product like a downloadable PDF or an exclusive audio recording in MP3 format. You send an email out to your Fans and let them know that you have this available for them to purchase for only $3 and they get ‘Instant Delivery’ because it is a downloadable product once the pay. The payment system could easily be PayPal or if you have another payment system.

You can also offer a product like this in printed out formats at your shows. Print it yourself or make copies.

Offering a product like this can be fun and builds a stronger connection with you as an artist to your Fans. They are your Fans. They want to know more about you. And, they want to know more about how you do what you do.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: People can easily get the music, however are fascinated by the creation process. If they like you as a musician, then they are curious to know more about you and your process. Offer it to them.

I hope this gives you more ideas. Keep in touch with your Fans, they want to hear fun and interesting things about you. Send an email out to your Fan Email List and offer something to them they might want that they can’t buy anywhere else.

I’m down in Vail, Colorado right now, and they just had their Mardi Gras parade. Within the parade I saw the usual floats, however at the end of the parade (the last float), there was a float that stood out better than the rest.

The float was simply a truck pulling a flat trailer. The trailer was like the ones you can use to put a single car or a tractor on. On the trailer was a Rock Band with all of its gear and playing live as the truck moved along. They were running their amplifiers and PA system off a fairly quiet generator (or at least one that we couldn’t hear because the music was rockin’ over the sound of it).

Not only did the Band do a full live set of music on the float trailer, yet they also were advertising themselves with large banners on the side of the float. They wanted to wish you a Wild Mardi Gras.

Well done.

They got themselves out in front of a large amount of people that would probably not have heard of them otherwise, and they did a good job exciting the celebrating crowds. Whoever wanted to enjoy the Band more knew where to go also… The name of the Club they were playing at that evening was on the banners also.

This made me think of the creative ways that Bands can get out in front of new large audiences. Bands can get a lot of good exposure and other benefits by playing at events that are not the usual locations.

Can you think of any events, benefits, public celebrations, or charity drives that you can ask to play at. The benefit to them is entertainment for their audience, and you can benefit by getting in front of a new audience that might love your music. Not everyone goes out to music clubs to listen to Bands. You, however, can go out to new and unique places to play where audiences can discover and enjoy you.

You can sell a quick mix of your in-work studio recordings to your fans.

These recordings offer an exclusive secret peek into your working process and personality.

The recording mix might show funny mistakes that you made while recording. Bizarre – but – cool results sometimes come from a mistake or random jam you did while recording, or even some random conversations caught while you were working.

Some people would love to just be a “fly on the wall” while you are doing your creation work. It even seems magical to some people because they don’t possess music talent skills – You do.

Having an MP3 mix down they can pay $3 for and download instantly could be really exciting to them.

THE BASIC RULE AND RESPECT GUIDLINE:

Make it a simple downloadable e-Product like a downloadable PDF or an exclusive audio recording in MP3 format. You send an email out to your Fans and let them know that you have this available for them to purchase for only $3 and they get ‘Instant Delivery’ because it is a downloadable product once the pay. The payment system could easily be PayPal or if you have another payment system.

You can also offer a product like this in printed out formats at your shows. Print it yourself or make copies.

Offering a product like this can be fun and builds a stronger connection with you as an artist to your Fans. They are your Fans. They want to know more about you. And, they want to know more about how you do what you do.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: People can easily get the music, however are fascinated by the creation process. If they like you as a musician, then they are curious to know more about you and your process. Offer it to them.

I hope this gives you more ideas. Keep in touch with your Fans, they want to hear fun and interesting things about you. Send an email out to your Fan Email List and offer something to them they might want that they can’t buy anywhere else.

Do you play piano, or some other instrument in a Band that is key to a song? Do you have the skills to (or do you know someone who could) just jot down your music score onto some musical staff paper?

Create a small PDF document showing the Music Score of one of your popular songs. You could offer this for any of your songs, however one of your popular songs would be more appealing because your Fans already like it and want to know more about it. Take the time to create the music score of your song, add the words to the song along with the score, and make it into a PDF document. It’s ready for sale.

THE BASIC RULE AND RESPECT GUIDLINE:

Make it a simple downloadable e-Product like a downloadable PDF or an exclusive audio recording in MP3 format. You send an email out to your Fans and let them know that you have this available for them to purchase for only $3 and they get ‘Instant Delivery’ because it is a downloadable product once the pay. The payment system could easily be PayPal or if you have another payment system.

You can also offer a product like this in printed out formats at your shows. Print it yourself or make copies.

Offering a product like this can be fun and builds a stronger connection with you as an artist to your Fans. They are your Fans. They want to know more about you. And, they want to know more about how you do what you do.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: People can easily get the music, however are fascinated by the creation process. If they like you as a musician, then they are curious to know more about you and your process. Offer it to them.

I hope this gives you more ideas. Keep in touch with your Fans, they want to hear fun and interesting things about you. Send an email out to your Fan Email List and offer something to them they might want that they can’t buy anywhere else.

It is great to learn from others and see what they are doing. Today, I am going to share a Snapshot of one of HowToBand.com’s Readers. It is of Indie Musician, Cary Judd.

During a recent consultation with him, he shared some good insights into the current position of his career. Read and see what he is working on and has accomplished. Within the stories of other musicians and Bands are ‘example model paths’ for you to follow.

Indie Musician, Cary Judd:

Indie Musician - Cary Judd

Cary Judd has been touring as a solo artist for the last few years. Recently, he has started bringing a keyboard player with him and is hoping to bring a bass player along soon, as well.

He hails from Moose, Wyoming, and works hard and smart toward building his growing Indie Music career.

In 2003 he started touring. He left town with $100 in his pocket and a lineup of about 30 shows. It took about the same amount of days to do the shows and carried him from L.A. to Washington D.C.

About a year and a half ago Cary convinced an agency that specializes in booking events on college campuses to book him. Now he is doing 50-60 dates a year that they book. On the college circuit he has pulled in between $500-1500 per show. He is on tour a lot driving back and forth across the country, and keeps it usually routed reasonably well so that it's profitable. He is pulling in $50K before expenses, probably $25-30k after that, not getting rich yet, but it's enough to make a living by.

Cary Judd sold almost 2000 copies, more including iTunes’ downloads and such, of his last year’s CD and just shy of 3000 copies of the one released 3 years ago when he began touring.

Now, he has in place an intern from a local college that works with him. The intern works at setting up radio & press at the colleges that he is playing at. Also, they’ve been writing emails to bands that are touring big clubs and small theaters in attempt to network and explore new opportunities. Their goal is to hopefully get on tour with them as an opening act.

Two of Cary’s songs were licensed. Once in a show called "men in trees" (it's on right after Grey's Anatomy) and the same freelance placement company contacted him about another possible placement in a movie.

Cary Judd feels he is able to put on a show that he’s very proud of just as a soloist, but recently brought in a keyboardist that fills out the show even more. He would like to add a bassist. Right now, Cary is only able to have the keyboard player on the road with him though. He feels lucky that it works out. It works because the keyboardist, at this time, requires just basic living expenses on the road with a few minor bills covered.

Cary’s current goal: To be able to increase the pay to his keyboardist and give the same pay to a bass player as soon as he can add him/her.

Cary Judd feels ready to share his writing and performing with any major label artist.

Learn more about Cary Judd by visiting:

www.CaryJudd.com

Create a small PDF document showing the Guitar TABS of one of your popular songs. You could offer this for any of your songs, however one of your popular songs would be more appealing because your Fans already like it and want to know more about it. You just take the time to create the TABS. You might even find the TAB-style notebooks at music stores near you or free online. Then you simply fill in your TABS for the song, add the words along with them, and make it into a PDF document.

THE BASIC RULE AND RESPECT GUIDLINE:

Make it a simple downloadable e-Product like a downloadable PDF or an exclusive audio recording in MP3 format. You send an email out to your Fans and let them know that you have this available for them to purchase for only $3 and they get ‘Instant Delivery’ because it is a downloadable product once the pay. The payment system could easily be PayPal or if you have another payment system.

You can also offer a product like this in printed out formats at your shows. Print it yourself or make copies.

Offering a product like this can be fun and builds a stronger connection with you as an artist to your Fans. They are your Fans. They want to know more about you. And, they want to know more about how you do what you do.

KEEP THIS IN MIND: People can easily get the music, however are fascinated by the creation process. If they like you as a musician, then they are curious to know more about you and your process. Offer it to them.

I hope this gives you more ideas. Keep in touch with your Fans, they want to hear fun and interesting things about you. Send an email out to your Fan Email List and offer something to them they might want that they can’t buy anywhere else.

You and your Fans help each other. You give them an experience or present them with something they find exciting through your music and/or show, and they provide you with the financial means to increase your ability to give them more of what they like and want. Each one of your Fans is a mini-investor in your business. You and your Fans share an exchange of positive benefits.

Be thankful for them and be respectful of your Fans. Without them, you can’t do what you love to do.

If you or your Band gig in the College Circuit, here are three easy things you can do to increase your Fan base leading to increased success in your profession of choice:

1.
Make sure you visit two popular near-campus CD stores. Give a free CD to them so they can play it in the store (stores are looking for music they can play for free). When people go in they hear your music. If they like it, they will ask who it is and where they can get it.

Make sure the CD shop knows where they can get it (usually they will just grab the CD Case to find out more – consider having a small sticker put on the CD cases you give to the shops that says where they can buy the CD Music from).

2.
At the colleges you do shows at… Line up guest spots on the local college radio stations. Radio Stations need good content just like any newspaper or magazine, except Airtime is more powerful for you because you are a musician. You work in a sound related industry. Written articles will reach some music fans, however articles reach more readers rather than music listeners. People that are bigger Fans of listening to music will listen to shows on the Air.

On-Air Interviews make for good content and gives you some good airplay. When you set up your On-Air Interviews, send ahead some prepared questions for the Host to ask you on the air. This helps the radio station have an idea of what their listeners can enjoy when you are on. The questions can be about you, your music, your career so far, why you are in town, your CDs and where they can learn more about you, hear your music, and get your CDs.

A BIG KEY TO HELP YOU LEVERAGE THIS RADIO SPOT THE BEST is to also have about three copies of your CD for the Host to give away as prizes. They can give the CDs away to listeners that call in to ask you questions on-air (or however they want to arrange for callers to call in to win them). This helps the radio station build more happy and excited listeners and increases your chance to build your name, sales, and AIRPLAY.

3.
Do you take someone along on your tours to help you with business functions such as collecting Fan emails for your list and selling merchandise during your shows?

I helped someone about a week ago with two performances (a Friday and Saturday show). I pulled together some merchandise and arranged for a merchandising table. The merchandising for the two shows alone brought in an extra $1,300.

This is a great way to increase your profits. And, keep in mind… the people excited enough to buy the items you are selling are new passionate Fans – people that want to have a memento of the experience you bring them and want to have a connection with your world. Why turn these people away by not having items for them to buy?

You and your Fans help each other. You give them an experience or present them with something they find exciting through your music and/or show, and they provide you with the financial means to increase your ability to give them more of what they like and want. Each one of your Fans is a mini-investor in your business. You and your Fans share an exchange of positive benefits.

The other day, I saw a little girl about 9 years old cry because she lost her paper cup and plastic straw. She wanted to keep them because she got them from a birthday party she just attended and she thought they would be good memory items to collect. She was really upset. Nothing else would substitute for the paper cup and plastic straw ‘that she had’.

This event made me think of the critical value we, as people, give objects sometimes. Things that, if we lost them or couldn’t have them, would help make us feel better by having them. Do you have something that you would feel bad to loose? Something that seems like it might have little value to a stranger, however because of the value of memories, stories, beliefs, emotions, and perspectives we have with the object, it has great value to you?

This is what your music or products do for your Fans. The images or artwork on them are Flags to your Fans.

Are you offering memory items to your Fans?

American Songwriter Magazine sponsors a bi-monthly amateur lyric contest. No music - only lyrics needed, and all genres of musicare accepted. The winning lyrics, along with the four runners-up, will be published in an issue of the magazine. The contest is open to any amateur songwriter - AS defines an amateur as a songwriter who has not earned more than $5,000 from songwriting related royalties, advances, or works for hire. Submission deadline: March 21.

For over 20 years, the American Songwriter Amateur Lyric Contest has helped thousands of songwriters become involved in our community. Established in 1984, America Songwriter magazine sponsors six contests per year that run in conjunction with each issue published. Entrants should send lyric sheet only, no cassettes or musical direction. The winning lyric, along with four runners-up and ten honorable mentions from each contest, will be published in the issue of American Songwriter that follows the deadline of each contest. The writer(s) of the winning lyric for each contest receives a DX1 Martin GuitarTM (valued at $669). One guitar per contest will be awarded. The bi-monthly winner will also receive a package of D'Addario and Planet Wave products, including a year's supply of acoustic guitar strings and accessories.
Don't miss the opportunity to see your work in print! The annual winner, chosen from the six contest winners, will receive round trip airfare for two to Nashville on American Airlines and a master production demo from Music City Music Productions, Inc., valued at over $1500.

To Learn More or Enter, Goto:

http://www.americansongwriter.com/?content=lyriccontest

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.

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.

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 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/

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?

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

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

Portait of Howlin' Wolf

Chester Arthur Burnett, better known as Howlin’ Wolf, (Jun 10, 1910 – January 10, 1976), was an incredible and influential Blues Musician who succeeded against multiple odds, leaving behind profitable tips for musicians to use now. His music and skills influenced and inspired the Rolling Stones so much that they refused to play on the television show “Shindig” in 1965 unless the producers let Howlin’ Wolf play with them.

What kind of challenges do you think you have? Here is are three big challenges Howlin’ Wolf melted away:
1. Racial prejudice in the South during early 1900’s USA
2. No education outside of being a southern plantation farmer
3. Couldn’t read or write until 50 years of age and then very little

THE STUDENT & TEACHER

Howlin’ Wolf wouldn’t settle for anything less than success. In the documentary “The Howlin’ Wolf Story” Hubert Sumlin, Howlin’ Wolf’s guitar player, described him as being focused on continually living and learning as an expert. When he would do shows, even when he was in his 50’s, he would go backstage between sets and learn more about reading, writing, his business skills, his showmanship, and his guitar playing. Since he had the right to choose how he lived, he made sure he did everything he could to improve his living skills.

When Howlin’ Wolf found musicians or worked with them, he would take the time to help them learn better playing techniques. He wanted to make sure that everyone understood what their role was in making the audience enjoy a song.

Wolf believed that if everyone onstage tried to play solos constantly, than the simplicity of sharing a song was lost. The basic communication of the song melody, words, and emotion would be a failure. Untrained entertainers sacrifice a show. Howlin’ Wolf wouldn’t allow his band to perform that way and wanted his band mates to understand the critical importance of playing with trained skill so the audience would enjoy each song the band played. He worked with each musician and they rehearsed their skills together so that the songs weren’t compromised when they performed onstage.

THE SHOWMAN & BUSINESS MANAGER

Howlin’ Wolf was an incredible showman onstage and a business and family man off-stage. When he was onstage he had his practiced wild routines: licking his guitar, crawling around on the stage, laying or slithering on the ground, jumping around, reaching out to the audience constantly, and looking and talking with them (although never sacrificing the simple power of a clear and clean professionally played song). Off-stage he wore his shirt and tie and acted nothing like his onstage persona.

Rules he had for himself and his band mates were: No drinking or doing any drugs before and onstage. After a show he couldn’t keep them from doing destructive things, however he asked them to follow good judgment because he looked at himself as their employer and wanted them healthy and ready to work when ‘music money’ called for them.

As his band’s employer, Howlin’ Wolf took care of his band mates. He actually paid unemployment insurance for them. He took care of all of the band expenses, just as any business owner or manager does.

Who manages business costs and expenses for your band? Is it you? Are you tracking the expenses and counting your earnings? Are you making more money than you are spending?

MAKING MUSIC MONEY

Money. Money. Money. Howlin Wolf did well in his day. He made money playing shows, selling records, and creating his own radio show.

Howlin’ Wolf worked constantly performing. Band’s that play a lot get better onstage, increase their notoriety, increase their bookings, and increase their money making power. Howlin’ Wolf played constantly. Almost every night of the week and he would play for long sets with multiple breaks. How many gigs do you have right now?

To increase his fame, Howlin’ Wolf setup a show on a radio station in West Memphis, Arkansas in the late 1940’s. How did he do it? He found out how much the radio-airtime cost and then went out and gathered his own sponsors for the show. He sold advertising space during his show time to pay for the shows. He made enough money to pay for the show space and to pocket some cash on top of that. For a while, he had a show for a half-hour every hour.

His radio show got him a lot of ‘airtime’ for excellent publicity. It also expanded his network of musician friends and business connections. To improve his listener base, he would invite some of his friend’s bands to play on his show also. This gave his listeners a mix of good airtime content. Eventually his fame landed him a record deal that developed his reach even more.

This model still works today. You can find out how much airtime costs on a radio station or television station, and then gather sponsors to pay for the timeslot for your show. How much could this help your band increase it’s fame and money making power?

Are you living and learning like an expert? Are you developing your music moneymaking power and learning how to improve your shows continually? Are you working with your band mates as a focused team, helping each other improve so you can succeed? Do you look at your band as a business and offer benefits to band members? Are you tracking your band’s expenses and earnings?

If you focus in on the work of your music and band like Howlin’ Wolf, how can it help you now?

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Eric Christian Smith is a recognized authority on business and the entertainment industry. His web site, http://www.HowToBand.com, provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you'll ever need to know about making money as an unsigned band or musician. His book, “How To Make BIG MONEY with Your BAND” is a great resource for increasing your cash flow. You can easily buy a copy of the book, available in Paperback or eBook form, online through http://www.howtoband.com (The book is also available through Amazon.com, Borders.com and other bookstores)

More resources on Howlin’ Wolf:

Internet:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Howlin'_Wolf
http://www.howlinwolf.com/
http://www.novia.net/~cedmunds/hwbio.htm

Biographical Book:
Moanin’ at Midnight – The Life and Times of Howlin’ Wolf, by James Segrest and Mark Hoffman. © 2004, 2005

Biographical Documentary:
The Howlin’ Wolf Story, by Blue Sea Productions © 2003

Since the beginning of the world of entertainment, there has been a need for financing, just as there is for any business venture. In the entertainment industry, there is a wonderful technique known as Sponsorship. This brings in powerful moneymaking and marketing results.

Today, I caught a short section of the classic movie, “Miracle On 34th Street” and I paid particular attention to the powerful marketing success this movie still is for Macy’s department stores. This is a branded movie giving incredible attention to a company, Macy’s. Not only that, it is also still making money as a product. It was made back in 1947 and still makes money when it is shown on TV or sold as a Video.

You can use this skill. Make an entertainment piece specifically to help develop your identity (your brand), and to help you make money. It is a proven way to develop your moneymaking business.

Bands you know use this when they write some songs. Listen to some of the songs you hear often and see if you can hear them mention their band’s name in the song, their name, or the name of well-known organizations in a positive way. Using well-known organizations in your songs or other famous names in a positive way can also bring a lot of attention to the song. It might sound goofy, however, how many people know the song YMCA, or sing “In the Navy”. Also consider how many Rap artists say their name in their lyrics.

If you are singing a catchy lyric to yourself and it has the name of the artist in it, don’t you think you are going to be able to find out who sang the song? Does this technique remind you of any catchy ‘hooks’ used in the lyrics of product commercials? Jingles have been written for a long time, and will be written for a long time into the future. Why? It works.

Now, what if you wrote a song or designed a show that was focused on helping develop a positive image of another organization, group, or person? They could pay you to do this work for them (sponsor you). You could approach them with the idea. They could pay for you to do it and market the song to their existing market base? This could really help build your notoriety and cash flow.

Sometimes, people have created these types of songs or entertainment pieces just because they thought it was fun, and then the organization found out about it and promoted the heck out of it. Then again, some people knew that certain organizations would find it exciting, or maybe their loyal following would find it exciting, so they created something in order to capture this passionate energy so they could profit and grow. Of course you would want to make sure that the identity you were building was something that you felt good about, because it would become attached to your identity also.

Think of movies like, “The Passion of Christ”, or musical theatre shows like, “The Lion King”. Both of these entertainment pieces were made to capture the passions of existing markets or excited and loyal followers.

Now, another form of ‘sponsorship’ is to have commercial breaks or advertising built around your show. Television and radio do this. It pays for their existence to bring you all of the entertainment you enjoy. How much does a commercial spot go for during the Super Bowl now? How much does a commercial spot cost for just one day on your favorite local radio station?

I know that commercials and advertising get a bad reputation, however, without it we wouldn’t have TV, Radio, Magazines, the Internet, Books, Movies, or any other form of entertainment. Even Public Radio and Television require fundraising drives at least once-a-year where they are the commercials throughout the day until they raise all of the money they need to keep providing you with their entertainment and communications services.

Keep this moneymaking and fame building method in your idea bag. It will help you avoid the perils of being just another broke musician hoping to someday make it big. Make money doing what you love. You deserve it.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR: Eric Christian Smith is a recognized authority on business and the entertainment industry. His web site, http://www.HowToBand.com, provides a wealth of informative articles and resources on everything you'll ever need to know about making money as an unsigned band or musician. His book, “How To Make BIG MONEY with Your BAND” is a great resource for increasing your cash flow.

By Bob Baker

We've all heard the expression "It takes money to make money." And sometimes it does. We've also heard horror stories about the complications of bank loans, business plans, lawyers and meddling investors. And it's those negative mental associations that keep many musicians from ever taking a stab at a big project—whether it be committing to a record release, buying a new PA and lighting system, producing a music video or starting a small record label. I can hear you now: "Man, I'm never going to be able to get a bank loan. And I wouldn't trust a power-hungry investor with my career. Why bother?" Well, I say, "Don't let those perceived obstacles stop you from getting what you want out of music!"

For now let's forget about bank loans and high finance and start thinking about more creative, street-level methods of raising money. Let's call it Guerrilla Music Financing. And the first rule to note is that—unlike the tried-and-true road to investment capital, where a large lump sum of money comes from one almighty source—we guerrillas have to think in terms of combining a number of smaller money-raising streams into one sizable river of capital. What follows is a list of 18 specific actions you can take right now to get the cash flow moving toward your musical project:

• Make a commitment to yourself right now that you will find a way to raise the money. A wise man once said, "Whether you think you can or can't do something, you're right." Confidence and optimism will take you a long way toward your monetary goals. Know that you can find a way to raise the money and let your passion drive you toward making it happen.
• Set up a Musical Project Fund bank account. Doing so will add more commitment to your intentions—plus it will earn interest while you work your money plan.
• Set aside a percentage of your "day gig" salary. If you have a regular income from another source, take $20 a week (or more) off the top. Self-financing takes a bit of discipline and sacrifice on your part, but it's well worth it, knowing that you'll be in debt to no one when you reach your goal.
• Earn extra cash from other music-related activities. Don't limit yourself to your current financial situation. Is there a product or service you can make or perform to bring in more money? What about music lessons, studio session work, repairing equipment, publicity, computer-related services, booking bands, etc? Open your mind to potential money-making streams you're not pursuing as much as you could be right now.
• Rent equipment you already own to others. Why let that PA system gather dust when it could be generating revenue? Pin up fliers and run classified ads announcing what you have to offer. And then put that extra cash into your Musical Project Fund.
• Sell off old equipment you don't use. Everyone has an amp, mixer, 4-track or some musical gadget they would be better off selling for cash than keeping. Look hard enough and you'll probably find something you can part with.
• Credit cards. The interest will kill you if you take years to pay off the charges, but many bands and small record labels have used this method to finance their early efforts. If you have good credit, it certainly is another option.
• Set aside money from paid band jobs. This is perhaps one of the best ways a musical act can go about raising money. If you gig regularly and don't need all these funds to survive, you can build up quite a stash—possibly up to a few thousand dollars or more—in a couple months.
• Promote one or two live shows as fund-raising gigs for your next album. Not-for-profit organizations use this method all the time. Why not you? Plus, you may be surprised to find that your fans will support your project (with their dollars) if you simply ask them to.
• Sell your own CDs, cassettes and/or records. Even if it's only a primitive, two-song demo, get some kind of recorded product out and sell it to raise money for your project. If you play out or get any radio airplay at all, you're wasting a valuable revenue-producing opportunity by not having a recording available for sale.
• Sell T-shirts, caps, posters, stickers and other merchandise. Having music fans watching your band at a club is the perfect environment in which to market your paraphernalia. If they can't take the band members themsvelves home, the next best thing is a cool memento your admirers can purchase and take with them.
• Family members and friends. Many businesses have been started from these personal loans, but so have many feuds. Be careful in this area, but don't overlook it, either. Make sure everything is in writing: how much money, when repayment is expected, who has artistic control, etc.
• Grants. If your project is of historical significance or has a cultural impact, you may be eligible for the many grants offered each year by government, schools and corporations. Check the library for grant sources.
• Personal credit. If you have a good relationship with a particular music store or production facility, they may extend a delayed payment plan to you based solely on your word and reputation.
• Sponsorship. Instead of Coke, Pepsi or Budweiser sponsoring you, why not the local recording studio? You promote their business to your fans, they give you free stuff in exchange. It can't hurt to investigate this often-overlooked idea.
• Bartering. The ancient art of trading goods and services works perfectly for Guerrilla Music Financing. This may be one of your most powerful approaches to getting what you want on a limited budget. Make a list of all you have to offer a studio or store owner and then, most importantly, see what his or her needs are and how you can find a way to satisfy them—without spending your hard-earned cash.
• Build your own equipment. If that new PA or high-tech studio rental is out of the question, why not just make it yourself—for a lot less money? Check around for local craftsmen, or look through music magazines for mail order, do-it-yourself kits.
• Set weekly and monthly money-raising goals. The only way you're ever going to raise that capital for your musical project is to make the commitment and stay on track. Therefore, break down your overall money goal into bite-size chunks that you can achieve each and every week—or at least every month. By raising, saving and/or trading a couple hundred dollars here, a few hundred there, a single individual can quite possibly accumulate $2,000 to $5,000 dollars in about six months. Multiply those figures by the four members in an average band (or partners in a company) are you're starting to look at some serious investment capital—all without going through the hassles of traditional bank/investment financing.

You heard it here first: Guerrilla Music Financing can work for you—if you let it.

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 TheBuzzFactor.com today. Goto: http://TheBuzzFactor.com

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