I have an idea... I need your help

[grn]

I have an idea... but I need your help. There's absolutely no reason to do this other than to see if it can be done...

What I would like to see is a nation wide promotion of my band's new album (we are completely independent)... I've heard of other bands going #1 even though they are independent... why can't it happen? What you could do to help is to give out free sampler CDs and put out flyers at your local record stores and around town... or any other crazy ideas you may have. Contact local newspapers or other media and let them know. Contact CD reviewers... all locally. This will do two things, it will allow you to learn more about the business itself and it will also give you contacts. Then just tell everyone you know. Word of mouth marketing is the best, or so I hear.

Then... you know... I'll remember who did what if it is successful and make everyone happy by doing people favors. Just reading this sounds ridiculous... I don't even know why I'm writing this...

Anyway, it's like indie/alternative rock/pop music... should be catchy enough to capture the younger market.

[grn]

I do write the best songs in the world though... so that makes it easier.

[gullyjewelz]

Thats Really A Good Idea . . . Just . . . How To Convince People To "join In" On The Fun . . . Thats A Tuff One

[grn]

well hopefully people will see the inherent value in the music and that it is being undervalued... therefore if they invest in it, they will get a larger return. simple business really.

[David Hooper]

This country is BIG and you'll have a hard time hitting all of it if you don't have a ton of cash. And even if you do have a ton of cash, you'll have a hard time hitting it all.

My advice is to do something regional. You'll have better results hitting some guy 10 times rather than hitting 10 guys once.

Just posted this in my last response, so forgive me if you've already seen it, but call Oasis CD at 1-888-296-2747 and ask for their free "CD Release Strategies CD." That will get you started on some things.

[bcains]

Things that can be done;
1)Use mailing lists.
2)Put a press pack together.
3)Approach the media -
4)Local/National:Ring the editor or journalist who deals with your local paper's music listings or gig guide. The good thing about local press is that due to their small size they'll be as keen as you are to review any tracks/demos you may send them. If your press release is professional they may well print it almost un-edited. Although small in size, local press is still an important starting point in your promotional campaign and can influence promoters and A&R that you might be worth a look.
5)Radio:As with the regional press, local radio will have a small budget and fewer listeners than a national station but it's still worth approaching them with your material. Check out the internet to see which of your local stations have shows that showcase new talent.
National radio, A lot of national radio stations will not play tracks by unsigned artists so there's very little point in contacting them.
6)Internet:Places like Myspace.com and Purevolume.com cover worldwide. If it wasnt for those websites i would't have heard of alot of the bands i do now. Which then you can think about some sort of E-Street team.

[chessrock]

It's a cute idea.

I guess you kinda' have to keep in mind, though, that to the average Joe, music isn't as big of a deal as it is to some of us.

I can see, perhaps, organizing this sort of effort for an important political cause or issue. But I can't see it for music. I mean, like, what's my incentive for going out and busting my ass in my town for your music? Even if I like it, it's not like I'm helping solve world hunger or global warming.

Now, what I CAN see, possibly, would be to form some sort of network whereby you can organize other musicians to help promote your work in their part of the country in exchange for you helping them out in yours. Example: Let's suppose I'm coming out with a CD, and I'd like you to get word out about it in your city. You have a CD coming out, so I help you promote it in mine. If properly organized, it would be conceivable to form a much larger network built around this idea.

The major obstacle I see in this is that ... well ... musicians tend to be lazy fucks. You could conceivably wind up owing a lot of people a lot of favors. You could be busy around the clock, trying to promote different people's stuff every day of the week and have little time for anything else. And I just can't see very many musicians having that kind of drive or ambition. Many do, obviously, but they represent the minority.

[grn]

interesting points, except for bcains... already got all that stuff done and moving... locally we're already big. starting to be regionally. oh well, it is a cute idea.

[chessrock]

It kinda' reminds me of the chapter in the book "Tom Sawyer" where Tom convinces all of his friends to paint the fence for him by telling them all how fun it is.

Boy, oh boy, this is really fun. You guys don't realize just how fun it is to paint this fence.

[gullyjewelz]

actually the cross promotions thing is interesting . . . for instance if Gully Jewelz and Escape Velocity agree to create a flyer (for instance) where Guly Jewelz and his webiste info is on 1 side of the flyer and the other side is Escape Velocity . . then everytime the flyer is passed out, placed on mailboxes and car windows etc. both Gully JEwelz and Escape Velocity get promoted . . .

[Fieva]

I could see the benefit of it, but you would split the payments for the flyers right?

[chessrock]

Originally Posted by gullyjewelz

actually the cross promotions thing is interesting . . . for instance if Gully Jewelz and Escape Velocity agree to create a flyer (for instance) where Guly Jewelz and his webiste info is on 1 side of the flyer and the other side is Escape Velocity . . then everytime the flyer is passed out, placed on mailboxes and car windows etc. both Gully JEwelz and Escape Velocity get promoted . . .

Exactly .

[Fieva]

Kind of like when one label tries to push another label (along with itself) that an artist had done feature work with to help them both get exposure.

[gullyjewelz]

split the costs? but of course --

hell if u work it right, u could do the same thing with a "cd" and split the costs there too (although it may be a little harder to do IF the two artists are of dif. musical genres . . . ) but even then it could work, esp. when both artists are targeting that portion of a "fan base" that truly likes diversity in musical tastes -- though that part of the fan base may be distinctly much smaller than the rest of the fan base . . . it is still a worthy possiblity . . . it takes the RIGHT combination to trruly find/make this type of venture successful . . . but it would be truly -- "the best of both worlds"