We know which companies you hate -- which do you like?

[David Hooper]

Ok, so you hate me, ***, and Taxi.

Which companies do you guys actually LIKE?

[stonepiano]

Powderfinger Promotions In Framingham, MA.

[leavings]

I'm particularly fond of my own marketing agency...

me

[earthboundrec]

I have nothing against your company or Taxi... I personally wouldn't use the services but I think its a good business plan. *** is a scam but TAXI and IndieBiz seem pretty legit to me. I might have to get in on one of those phone call things you do sometime.. are they really free though or is there hidden costs?

I also like the company DiscMakers, they offer really good prices and free bar codes and I think they affliate with CDbaby to help you out some.

[Another PK]

earthboundPsychicPsychopathicVerbalVomiter,

Deliver the victims of the *** scam! You certainly have enough information to research that out if there were!

You can't because there aren't any!

You are too stupid and idiotic to know that if anyone had a case of the ass about *** using someone's name, identity, etc, there would be information regarding lawsuits ALL OVER THE INTERNET for infringement! You can't even find a Cease and Desist notification.

[David Hooper]

Originally posted by earthboundrec
I might have to get in on one of those phone call things you do sometime.. are they really free though or is there hidden costs?

There is no charge other than long distance, unless you're in Austin, which is where our conference line is.

[pashop]

In my travels

Tonos...... A place to hang & network with songwriters. The rest is pretty much pipe dream stuff

Indiebiz...... A place were a person who is new to the business can get allot of answers fairly quick. Anyone with years of experience might not get that much out of it. Seems to have expanded with the most growth of all the companies.......send me a CD Dave

Taxi.......Builds on your pipe dream of getting your songs to the right people. This is only for songwriters ,bands who write would be forced to sign up each member. Did give me a refund though

***.......I have no experience other than the dealings on this site. The method in which they conduct themselves pretty much says it all. As far as I can tell there is some HISTORY from the company but they seem to be stuck in the 70's as far as attitude , artists and marketing and have built the company up to appear much larger than it is.

Hit Quarters........very inexpensive but you get nothing. Artists and their managers and agents contact information. They claim reviews but it never happens.

CD Baby.........you pay an upfront fee and a portion of every CD that is sold. Lots of good free information. Very easy to work with.
Not consulting company but I thought I would include as there is a fee to pay

Radio 97........from what I can tell seems like a scam...stay clear



Here are a few hard costly facts that I have learned over the years.......my short list

Everyone is selling the pipe dream
Its 100% all about the song
Recording is the easy part....after that its a full time job
You need to create a buzz .....showcase in the large markets every three months...email, call, fax everyone until you do.
Create a plan and do not fall off no matter what anyone tells you they can do to further your career.
Check out everyone.....references!!!!
Never stop learning to play your instrument.
Remember peoples names
Advance everything.....never assume anything.
Get an air miles credit card.......pay everything with it......sticks, strings, studio time, CD manufacturing, gas, van rental but make sure you have the money set aside to pay it off when the statement comes in. This will build credit, be required in emergency, build miles for that day when you need to get to a conference or major gig.

Cheers

Out with Rik Emmett tonight........you know at 50 he is playing and singing better that when he was 25.

[earthboundrec]

Originally posted by Another PK
earthboundPsychicPsychopathicVerbalVomiter,

Deliver the victims of the *** scam! You certainly have enough information to research that out if there were!

You can't because there aren't any!

You are too stupid and idiotic to know that if anyone had a case of the ass about *** using someone's name, identity, etc, there would be information regarding lawsuits ALL OVER THE INTERNET for infringement! You can't even find a Cease and Desist notification.

Obviously if there are only 15 groups working with Vandor who pretty much suck, and you lure them into your Atlantic Chart fantasy, they're not going to be mad... they think they're doing well even though they've never even put a single cd on a shelf.

And your last paragraph had absolutely nothing to do with what was being discussed here! When did I say anything about *** using someones name!?

I just really hope that the *** "artists" aren't racist like the *** folks are!

[johneeeveee]

i think these companies (including yours) are fine, and serve a purpose for some. i think the only problem anyone has with any of them is their conduct on THIS forum.

for the d.i.y. artists out there, i agree with pashop, in that cd baby is an excellent company. derek sivers (owner) has filled the site with TONS of free articles and is also very on the ball with timely payments. it does cost $35 to put your album up on the site (one time fee, good forever), but they will also deliver your songs to itunes, napster, rhapsody, musicmatch, and more for digital download sales. they rock.
see, dave... treat folks right, and they will do your advertising for you. no spam necessary. by the way, derek speaks highly of you, so i'm guessing you must be doing your job. i am personally hoping this all settles down so you and i might talk shop a bit.
whaddayasay? can we be civil?
peace - jv

[David Hooper]

I'm happy to talk shop with anybody.

You guys should come to my bootcamp on May 8th. Normally $197, but we're doing it free for musicians who apply to 2NMC ($25).

But...for you guys on this board, I'll get you hooked up WITHOUT applying to 2NMC.

Let me know if you want to come here. I need real name, band name, location, and email address.

[ChristopherM]

Originally posted by David Hooper
I'm happy to talk shop with anybody.

You guys should come to my bootcamp on May 8th. Normally $197, but we're doing it free for musicians who apply to 2NMC ($25).

But...for you guys on this board, I'll get you hooked up WITHOUT applying to 2NMC.

Let me know if you want to come here. I need real name, band name, location, and email address.

David. First let me say I have nothing against you...

What I think you're not realizing is that these people are being put off by your salesman-type banter. People are naturally put-off by rhetoric like "normally $197." It's just a visceral reaction. It's the same reaction people have to car salesmen.

Perhaps if you had worded it like this:

I'm happy to talk shop with anybody and I'd love to have you come to my bootcamp on May 8th. I won't charge you anything or try to sell you anything, I swear. You've got nothing to lose but your time. Who knows, you just might find it helpful! Contact me if you are intersted.
Thanks,
David

Another suggestion:
Read "How To Win Friends and Influence People." I'm not suggesting you don't have any friends It's just a good book that really EVERYONE involved with public-relations type endevours should read (this includes all us musicians, all you studio owners, club bookers, business men, etc.!). If you read it, you might just find where your communication breakdown lies!

[David Hooper]

Whatever, Chris. It is normally $197 and anybody who is not a musician is paying that.

If you guys want to come, you're more than welcome. If not, don't. I've got 410 seats available and have already had 100+ people register in the last 24 hours, so it's not like we'll be playing to an empty hall.

[ChristopherM]

Originally posted by David Hooper
Whatever, Chris. It is normally $197 and anybody who is not a musician is paying that.

If you guys want to come, you're more than welcome. If not, don't. I've got 410 seats available and have already had 100+ people register in the last 24 hours, so it's not like we'll be playing to an empty hall.

OR... you can ignore the advice people are giving you on this BBS, continue doing things as you are, and continue to be accused of spamming.
I was just trying to help out.

Whatever...

[Mountainmirrors]

CD Baby. Period.
Everything you need to know is right here:
http://www.marketingyourmusic.com/
(from CD Baby)

And I like free newsletters, like the ones from BuzzFactor.com, musicbizacademy and Jeffrey Fisher.

http://www.mountainmirrors.com

[Flo' Dolo]

Originally posted by David Hooper

I'm happy to talk shop with anybody.

You guys should come to my bootcamp on May 8th. Normally $197, but we're doing it free for musicians who apply to 2NMC ($25).

But...for you guys on this board, I'll get you hooked up WITHOUT applying to 2NMC.

Let me know if you want to come here. I need real name, band name, location, and email address.

Then why don't you "talk shop," & stop trying to sell your ass to us?

Geez, man, a "free" admissions pass to your conference, provided we PAY $25.00 to apply to 2nmc - whatever that is, IS NOT FREE. That's not a free ANYTHING if we gotta pay to play. That's just a discount price. Sell your cheeseburgers for a quarter in the hopes that more peeps will come in a still pay regular price for the fries, drinks, etc - even Ronald McDonald is hip to that...

Originally posted by David Hooper
Whatever, Chris. It is normally $197 and anybody who is not a musician is paying that.

If you guys want to come, you're more than welcome. If not, don't. I've got 410 seats available and have already had 100+ people register in the last 24 hours, so it's not like we'll be playing to an empty hall.

Nobody is interested in how many seats you've already SOLD at $25.00 a whop. Nobody cares if the conference room is full or empty if there is an admission price, WHICH THERE IS.

The only thing you've consistently seen here is people posting about offering up FREE shit, unlike you.

"Conditionally free," "marginally free," or "free-as-long-as-you pay-this-little-bit-to-get-in-free" don't count.

And you wonder why people "talk about" you...

You'd talk about me too if I came to your conference & tried to bumrush the whole affair and change your shit up, wouldn't you?

--> and for the record, I don't "hate" your company (or you), I don't even really know much about it, but I certainly do hate your bull-in-the-china-shop tactics. Makes me wonder if you listen to anyone, anytime, including your clients & colleagues. That's the only impression I have of you as of now, that you don't listen very well, & don't give a shit about limits, boundaries, or parameters.
In short, no finesse. But that's just one man's pov... plenty more 25 dollars out there to solicit...


djfd

[David Hooper]

Read it again, Flo. Free to people on this board.

I'm putting you on my ignore list, by the way. Same for you, Chris.

If you don't like what I have to say, I suggest you guys do the same with me.

[ChristopherM]

Hmm...
I rest my case.

Ignore me if you want. Kinda childish, if you ask me. All I did was try to give you advice.
Since you don't listen to anyone anyway, being on your "ignore" list doesn't change much.

[Mountainmirrors]

No offense...but if your service was any good, you'd have way too many satisfied clients to play Guerrilla Marketing on a home recording board.

[Flo' Dolo]

Originally posted by David Hooper
Read it again, Flo. Free to people on this board.

But...for you guys on this board, I'll get you hooked up WITHOUT applying to 2NMC.

Your shit still ain't free. Well, unconditionally free, that is. It costs something to cover those conditions, in this case being a member of a particular club/group/organization of sorts.
Therefore, you're still hustling.

Or, does anyone who reads this or hears about it simply get in for FREE?

djfd

[tanlith]

Originally posted by pashop
In my travels

......


Here are a few hard costly facts that I have learned over the years.......my short list

Everyone is selling the pipe dream
Its 100% all about the song
Recording is the easy part....after that its a full time job
You need to create a buzz .....showcase in the large markets every three months...email, call, fax everyone until you do.
Create a plan and do not fall off no matter what anyone tells you they can do to further your career.
Check out everyone.....references!!!!
Never stop learning to play your instrument.
Remember peoples names
Advance everything.....never assume anything.
Get an air miles credit card.......pay everything with it......sticks, strings, studio time, CD manufacturing, gas, van rental but make sure you have the money set aside to pay it off when the statement comes in. This will build credit, be required in emergency, build miles for that day when you need to get to a conference or major gig.

Cheers

Out with Rik Emmett tonight........you know at 50 he is playing and singing better that when he was 25.

All very excellent advice! Hey man! I remember meeting Rik briefly while he was playing in the Windsor area... think he was playing at a bar in Lasselle at the time... he was a major influence in my deciding to do live gigging in the 80's! Groovy!

- Tanlith -

[grn]

the only person on this board I suggest everyone ignore is "The General"