I am learning the bs of the industry....but

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pM of impk21.co

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Well, from reading a lot of these posts Ive learned you can talk a lot of bs, but I dont need this board to do that, LOL. Seriously, my guy and I were talking about getting the final product out there.

I look at it like this. My region of the U.S., I doubt there are any talent scouts around here trying to find the hottest new style of rap/hiphop. I mean why when they can jus go down a few blocks and get a local of their area. Even if we offered something new, which I believe to an extent we will, how would we get the publicity of a national level to get the eyes on us. Even though we have a long road as far as getting the tracks/songs recorded, we still have to plan for the near future as far as financing and plans to do some traveling outta state. So once we have our product, how do we promote it from a poor mans position?

I dont really think we will get respones by sending demos to big labels, really, do they review all of them. They have to recieve thousands of them in a short amount of time. Yeah, we will send demos out, but to wait for somebody to call and say..."hey I was jus going threw the 2000 copies of demos I recieved in the past week and jus by a stroke of "LUCK", I picked yours out" Come on man, that happening is less odds of winnig the lottery. Do we pack a car and do a little cross-country venture? There has to be a decent way to do this, right? Oh, I forgot, "Just pay us $100 a month and have your music reviewed by Fred Durst, and such and such, and blah, blah, blah. Your chances will be greater by paying us money you dont have and us using a name that will more and likely never review your music cuz they dont have the time, even if they did, are they really listening for potential tenlent? Probably not, so do it anyway......."

Ideas/feedback/personal experiences with good results would be nice...........pM
 
I don't care what anybody says, the ONLY way to get big is to play shows. Lots of them. Fuck demos. Those things won't get you anywhere. No one cares. No record lables sit around and listen to all those things. They do listen to demos but they are demos that people they know and trust have obtained via concerts and word of mouth.
 
Hmmmmm, I see your point. How do you get those "Big" venues? I mean we do a lot of shows around here, in just less than a year we've done around 15 shows and counting. But they are not a big enough of an event to invite people seeking entertainment/new performers. Know what Im sayin.

So do we jus keep doing our thing and try to expand, by word of mouth, etc., and try to land bigger venues as we go? Here is the deal, Im from Iowa man. Every once in a while we have big time performers come threw like Nelly, AeroSmith, Mr cheeks, tech9, and I think tonight Bizzy Bone is performing in Des Moines, IA which is about 45 mins from where Im at, but trying to get to open for people like that is not really that easy. Or is it?

pM
 
My suggestion would be to become well-known in Des Moines. You might do some shows in Iowa City and Cedar Falls if you're east of Des Moines. Give people a reason to want to come to your shows. Become "Mr. Promotion." Make it the wildest party in town. Build a following of people who anticipate seeing your act. Then worry about inviting the recording people to see you. They'll be much more impressed if you have three hundred people in standing-room-only club rapping along with your stuff. Also, the clubs will want to book you and the ball will be in your court to setup the performance contract specifications.

What part of Iowa are you from? I went to college at University of Iowa.
 
One of the biggest misconceptions of "making it" in the music industry in any genre is that you have to be where the movers and shakers are. After a few years of talking to successful bands in interviews, I think this a perfect example of an untruthification.

What you need is a place outside the influence the trends to germinate your sound. I think places like LA and NYC would be the worst if you're not ready or you are ready and an unknown.

Organically build your crowd by playing shows as Outlaws said. College towns are great places to build loyal weekly crowds. Kids like to go to bars and drink. Be the act at that bar EVERY Thursday night! Get those people to know all your songs.

btw, what does your user name mean? that's one of the strangest I've seen..:confused:

stone
 
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@ Christopher, I am from the Ottumwa, Oskaloosa area. I just moved to Oskaloosa, IA. Des Moines is not really that easy of a city to take control of. Even some of the local groups there dont pull in very big crowds. The other thing is sometimes the clubs have their preferred entertainers so to speak, trying to get a gig in those places are almost impossible cuz they have a regular fan base, the current performers bring in the crowds the club wants and everone is happy. But I guess if we had more of an appealing sound, we may have a chance at it.

But I see what you are sayin overall. In Iowa City there are a couple of places who bring in rap entertainment but they require a demo first, which we will have completed by the end of this month, hopefully.

We are working on a couple of college venues, they are usually free but thats why everyone comes, yes, thats a good idea.

There are lot of people who listen to rap around here and not very many rap groups perform live. I mean we are making some progress. We got a monthly venue at a local sportsbar/club. Its a good rap crowd. We just gotta get some more tracks done to have some good diversity within our sets. Thanx for the advice man.pM

@stonepiano if you are referring to just "pM" those are my symbolic initials, meaning, "Im all about being a night person", lol, kinda. If you are referring to "pM of impk21.co" that was suppose to be "pM of impk21.com" Basically Im representing my website. check it out, I promise it wont try to sell you anything, lake, pM

www.impk21.com
 
pM of impk21.co

"How do you get those "Big" venues?"

You get big venues by having a good playing record. The Stars have them and the drones don’t. That part is pretty simple really. You release a record and if it doesn’t fly on its own, you BUY the airtime to play it. There’s a whole lot more to that shopping list than most people even want to know or get themselves involved in.

Getting to open for these acts can also be a real hassle. You, or your Manager, will have to talk to THEIR (the Star’s) management, who has to talk to THEIR manipulators, record company, financiers, etcetera. Sometimes the CONCERT PROMOTER can get you a slot, but it depends on HOW MUCH MONEY they have in this gig and WHO they’re doing business with. And, the promoter has to have LEAD TIME. They can’t do anything AFTER the deal is signed except in a case of emergency, if then.

Iowa. Played a few gigs there when my program was being carried by XELO in Waterloo. Cedar Rapids, Sioux City, Davenport, Council Bluffs, Storm Lake, Harper’s Ferry, and I don’t remember how many other places. Had a ball, and the food was always good.

TDA
 
You need to create a buzz about your act.
You need killer beats.
You need killer lyrics.
You need to work on getting your material out to as many people as possible. Hip Hop is not the same as rock as far as marketing and many artists who are grass roots still get signed.
Don't cup your mics like on your pics. Its ok when your big cause knowone gives a shit but the sound quality suffers huge. All the top and bottom end of the mic is gone....you sound like crap. Not to mention depending on the mic and the console your probably distorting the input. Wait till you get a deal before you cup the mic like an idiot.
Did I say you need killer beats.
Send your stuff to the college and univercity market they tend to support hip hop and indie artists.
 
The General said:
pM of impk21.co

"How do you get those "Big" venues?"

You get big venues by having a good playing record. The Stars have them and the drones don’t. That part is pretty simple really.
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The problem with that is you get in some kind of circle. You don't get to play big venues because you don't have a released album and you don't get a deal with few show.

In my example: I recorded a demo with my band and got great reviews by several ppl. But it is so hard to get someone to take the intitative! I got a few booking agents who told me they would sing us we had a released record . 'We really think this is great but it is over here almost impossible to get you concerts without a release'. The labels tell us the opposite: 'we are intersted, but we would like to wait 'till you did more shows and more ppl know you'.. Damned!
 
Canadian hiphop

Having lived in Ontario for the past 4-5 years, I've seen some of the Swollen Members' success take place. I first saw them a couple years back in support of their first release, when they were on a nationwide tour. Their live energy was un-f00king believable, and they were supporting a good album. Both of these were undoubtedly important parts of their success.

This reinforces some of what other people have said, in that you need a good cd for your fans and a good live show to draw the fans. I think that if Swollen Members had simply stayed in British Columbia though they would've lost lots of publicity and support in the rest of the country so don't feel compelled to stay in Iowa if you can manage touring other parts of the country. Finish a good demo cd and tour up towards Minneapolis (lol!), Chicago, or elsewhere (St. Louis?) and inbetween tours perform regularly in Iowa.
 
I've been doing this music thing for over a decade, from just about every perspective imaginable. The best advice I can give you is to spend a LOT of time and energy making sure you're writing and performing THE BEST MUSIC you possibly can. All the rest is useless if you're not writing incredible music, and be honest with yourself. 99% of what's out there just isn't special enough to "make it".

Then, work your way out in circles, starting locally. Even if major labels don't pick you up, you can establish a pretty decent career on this simple plan alone.
 
pM of impk21.co ,
What's up, man? I'm from Iowa as well. Burlington to be exact. Not much of a music scene in these parts either. Except for a couple of cover bands who play the bars every couple weeks. Pretty lame. Good Luck, I'd like to hear some of your stuff. I like to get to know as many local musicians as I can.
 
mbuster said:
pM of impk21.co ,
What's up, man? I'm from Iowa as well. Burlington to be exact. Not much of a music scene in these parts either. Except for a couple of cover bands who play the bars every couple weeks. Pretty lame. Good Luck, I'd like to hear some of your stuff. I like to get to know as many local musicians as I can.
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Ive got some fam from Burlington. Anyway, We have songs posted, but disabled from listening cuz most of em are over internet beats n shit. We are currently doing all of our own, legit, production. But I got a few tracks Ive been thinkin about throwin up on soundclick. Outlaws was wanting to hear some of our stuff as well. Again, they are not our beats, but I gotta couple I can put up. I will get back at cha, pM
 
ChristopherM said:
My suggestion would be to become well-known in Des Moines... Give people a reason to want to come to your shows. Become "Mr. Promotion." Make it the wildest party in town. Build a following of people who anticipate seeing your act. Then worry about inviting the recording people to see you. They'll be much more impressed if you have three hundred people in standing-room-only club rapping along with your stuff. Also, the clubs will want to book you and the ball will be in your court to setup the performance contract specifications.
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This is all good and well, and moving to L.A/Nashville/New York isn't going to put your name on the map.

However, if you don't live in a place where there is much of a 'live' scene, you might be in trouble.

I live in San Francisco, a place that, despite oddles of talented musicians in every style imaginable, has a truely miserable live music scene. And it's getting worse. No one comes to the shows, while the nightclub down the street is packed with people banging up and down to top40 'remixes'. The problem? While there is a lot of people looking to be entertained, the ridiculous costs of business and living in the bay area make it on the one hand, extremely difficult for musicians to live, while on the other, makes high profit, low maintenance, low common denominator, entertainment a much more attractive proposition to club owners and promoters.

Furthermore, everyone in town thinks the are a 'dj', so someone who can actually play an instrument, rather than nodding their head and changing a record hits a multpile entry barriers - prejudice and favouritism on top of very heavy competition - everyone with a stack of vinyl is competing for your 'spot'.
 
Here is my intent. Thanx to all of you who have posted. Ive got some good ideas. Cool thing about the Ioway is that its easier to get a lot of people to your venue cuz its a smaller area. We are not competing with hundreads of other local rappers/groups. But, nobody on a high level is really scopin the venues either. A win/lose situation? My group jus did a show this weekend and it "WASNT" our home town and gotta a lot of love and props for our music and performance. We have some talented people in our group, but the 99.999999% factor is always there. I think we should jus aim high, do our thing, see what potential we have compared to the major leagues and go from there. We want people to know who we are locally. We appreciate the support. We want bigger and better things, so I think we are jus gonna focus on doin our thing. If we cant blow up shit on a local level, there are issues, but I know we will........................................ peace, keep postin your thoughts and ideas. I am an open minded dude. Get at me, pM
 
pM of impk21.co said:
Here is my intent. Thanx to all of you who have posted. Ive got some good ideas. Cool thing about the Ioway is that its easier to get a lot of people to your venue cuz its a smaller area. We are not competing with hundreads of other local rappers/groups. But, nobody on a high level is really scopin the venues either. A win/lose situation? My group jus did a show this weekend and it "WASNT" our home town and gotta a lot of love and props for our music and performance. We have some talented people in our group, but the 99.999999% factor is always there. I think we should jus aim high, do our thing, see what potential we have compared to the major leagues and go from there. We want people to know who we are locally. We appreciate the support. We want bigger and better things, so I think we are jus gonna focus on doin our thing. If we cant blow up shit on a local level, there are issues, but I know we will........................................ peace, keep postin your thoughts and ideas. I am an open minded dude. Get at me, pM
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Sounds like you have the right idea.
 
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