After covering the Revolver Golden Gods Awards and the Big 4, we realized that Heavy Music is evolving very quickly and if any artists out there don't jump on board the crazy train of Heavy Music in full force, they will probably be left behind. We have news for every artist out there: if you are laying back waiting for your "big break" because you believe your music is the sound of the future, you might as well just go to sleep now because maybe in your dreams your "big break" might become a reality.
While the music industry is suffering because of very low record sales, the artists that are embracing the D.Y.I. (Do It Yourself) approach, are the ones that are rising above the hard tides. This method applies to any successful business and its evident that if used wisely it can help to improve anybody's career.
Here are some very useful tips for any artists that want to get their music heard and most importantly to stand out from the flood of artists that are trying to catch their "big break":
When PERFORMING:
- Be careful about booking gigs too often within the same area, last thing you want is to seem like you are desperate for gigs. Your goal should be to always draw the biggest number of fans possible at every gig, this is the only way you will keep getting booked and eventually will be asked to perform at high profile gigs. Also, make sure you are cordial both on and off stage, and make sure you stay at the event so you can greet your fans. Chances are that you need new fans, so why go hide from them?
- Regardless of how miserable you might be feeling, be very positive while on stage. The people that are there to see you, are there for you to uplift their spirits and not to hear you whine about your misery. Oh, and make sure your gear is in tune, that all your cables work well, and that you are ready to rock!
- Setup your merchandise in a visible spot within the venue, and make sure its well lit. Also, while you are not on stage it's a great idea to be at the merch table since there wont be a better person then yourself to sell your own brand.
When MARKETING:
- If you produce a music video that you hope helps to get some attention, do not cut any corners. It is really easy to identify a low budget badly produced video, so don't diminish you chances of being seen or heard by having a shitty video. Also make sure to post the video on YouTube, Vimeo, and Muzu TV.
- Social tools like Facebook, MySpace and Twitter can help any artist not only to have a close interaction with their fans, but to also keep them updated about new releases and upcoming gigs. However, the only way to stand out from the millions of artists that use these tools is to keep updating these pages constantly, otherwise you will have little to no impact.
- A solid website! Just because there are free social networking tools out there, does not meant that you don't need a well designed website. The internet is ever changing, but a solid website can be timeless and it will psychologically make your fans think that you already caught that "big break".
- Distribute your music in a Digital format via I-Tunes, CD Baby, etc. One great way to encourage people to buy your music is to give out a song for FREE on an MP3 card (that contains your logo and URL) at your gigs. This will give your fans a sense of importance since you are interacting with them face to face. While giving out a CD can also be efficient, today's digital generation might not even bother listening to the CD, but will most likely use the MP3 card to download your music to their computer. If they like your music they might buy some more songs or buy your CD at the next show.
When FREE:
- Support other artists, assist networking events, and always carry a business card with you. Every opportunity you have to present your brand to someone else is golden!
We hope you are inspired by this article to get out there and rock out with the right mindset and attitude. And remember that if you want your music to be taken seriously, you need to be able to transmit the message in a professional and original way. Times are changing, so be creative and rise up! \m/
Here is a recent interview we did with one of the hardest working dudes in the music industry: Jamey Jasta from Hatebreed and Kingdom Of Sorrow. On this interview he discusses how he manages to reinvent himself constantly as an enterpreneur and how kids can market their music in order to get solid exposure.
Related links:
Facebook
Twitter
My Space
I-Tunes
CD Baby
YouTube
Vimeo
Muzu TV
Read more...
The Heavy Music world is at its feet awaiting the release of Jamey Jasta's first solo album, simply titled "Jasta" (July 26th, 2011 via eOne Music). We had the chance to interview Jamey about this new venture (you can watch the interview below) and this is what he had to say about it:
