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Okay, I would really appreciate it if a few people could discuss this with me, as everyone I talk to about it just stares back at me with a blank look on their face. --> <-- Then, they give me the old "like I would know?"
Ok, what I am wanting to find out is if you think it's possible for me to start an indie label.
First,
THE MARKET:
The local music scene has always been pretty dead, but with the construction of several new venues, interest is slowly increasing.
Local bands and musical tastes consist of:
Country (most)
Rock (a lot)
Blues (a little)
THE BANDS AND PROMOTION:
The artists I want to sign:
I have my eye on a couple of unsigned local bands that are really good.
Once I sign a band and record a CD, I want to promote them heavily in our area, get them to play a lot of gigs, both free and paid. the band and I will take a percentage out of each paying gig to finance the mfg. of fanwear such as t-shirts and posters. At every gig, I'll operate a table that sells the band's CD's, plus the fanwear we had made.
I have connections at a couple of local radio stations and the newspaper, so I might could get fair airplay (providing the songs are good) and frequent press releases.
I also had the idea of printing a small flyer that contains news and info about my label's artists, making a few thousand copies and getting it slipped into the Sunday paper like the "Sale Paper" ads. I think the cost would be worth it.
I want to build a very strong local following for each band, before even considering expanding to other cities. I want my bands to be sort of like the "home team" that everybody roots for. (and buys tickets to see! )
I realize I will have to pick a few really good (and marketable) bands at first, because I couldn't afford to produce records and then nobody buy them. And you can't record over used CD's. At first, I will take the profits my label earns and invest in recording equipment and my next project. Hopefully, as my label's popularity grows, so will the profits and I can put a little in the bank and re-invest the remainder.
SALES
We have several "mom and pop" book and music stores in our area that could sell my CD's without need of a barcode, although that would be mandatory in the future, for large sales to retail stores. I would also sell the band's CDs on their website as well as mine.
I am a marketing guru. I mean I LOVE to sell things. I would be constantly trying to sell CD's at any opportunity I came upon.
To get the band into it, I'd give them a higher percentage on the albums they sold themselves. That would keep them from having the "Hey, you own the record label. We make the music, you sell it." attitude.
INCOME
My label's income would come from CD/fanwear sales at gigs, music sales online, and I would also keep a small percentage (say 2%?) of any gigs/concerts that I lined up for the band.
THE BUSINESS
No employees, at least not at first. Too much paperwork regulations and trouble. I'll handle it all myself. No business expenses, I'll run it from home and meet bands and contacts on their turf.
THE PROBLEMS
1. I have no money.
2. I have no studio to record the bands in.
I do have a couple of computer recording programs, but I threw my cassette recorder out when it tore up. (and I killed it even deader when I tried to fix it ) But my house does not sound good enough for a professional recording.
That said, Do you think a professional studio would let me record my band for a cut of the profits? I could record them myself, so all I would need is the studio, no session musicians or Producer.
Would a band be willing to help finance their project in return for the following?
1. Me doing all the work
2. Getting a professional quality CD
3. Having the recognition and credibility of being backed by a label
4. Being constantly promoted
Or would they rather just do it themselves and leave my label in the dust?
MY ATTITUDE
I realize that all this will be a lot of work, but I have no problem with that. Any new business venture requires a load of work to get off the ground. Nobody ever had it easy starting a business, and those that say they did are probably lying. I'm not wanting to do this for the money, but because it's what I love to do. Sure, I want my label to turn a good profit someday, but I'm not in it for the money. I can't understand why someone would become a musician or label owner just to become rich & famous. I started playing guitar because I wanted to play guitar, not because I wanted girls to think I was the best thing since sliced bread. (ok, ok, they are a nice side effect )
I have a strong sense of DIY, and would much rather do something myself than to try and get someone else to do it for me. I'm good at stretching dollars, (although some banks don't want to take them afterwards) and I think I could keep my business alive on a limited budget.
HOW YOU CAN HELP ME
Ok, what do you think? If I left out anything, or something isn't clear, just let me know and I'll answer your questions. Basically, I want you to quiz me so I'll know if I have all my bases covered.
I don't have to have answers to my questions, just more questions for me to answer. If you give me a question that I cannot answer, then I'll know my plan needs more work.
Thank you very much for your help
Ok, what I am wanting to find out is if you think it's possible for me to start an indie label.
First,
THE MARKET:
The local music scene has always been pretty dead, but with the construction of several new venues, interest is slowly increasing.
Local bands and musical tastes consist of:
Country (most)
Rock (a lot)
Blues (a little)
THE BANDS AND PROMOTION:
The artists I want to sign:
I have my eye on a couple of unsigned local bands that are really good.
Once I sign a band and record a CD, I want to promote them heavily in our area, get them to play a lot of gigs, both free and paid. the band and I will take a percentage out of each paying gig to finance the mfg. of fanwear such as t-shirts and posters. At every gig, I'll operate a table that sells the band's CD's, plus the fanwear we had made.
I have connections at a couple of local radio stations and the newspaper, so I might could get fair airplay (providing the songs are good) and frequent press releases.
I also had the idea of printing a small flyer that contains news and info about my label's artists, making a few thousand copies and getting it slipped into the Sunday paper like the "Sale Paper" ads. I think the cost would be worth it.
I want to build a very strong local following for each band, before even considering expanding to other cities. I want my bands to be sort of like the "home team" that everybody roots for. (and buys tickets to see! )
I realize I will have to pick a few really good (and marketable) bands at first, because I couldn't afford to produce records and then nobody buy them. And you can't record over used CD's. At first, I will take the profits my label earns and invest in recording equipment and my next project. Hopefully, as my label's popularity grows, so will the profits and I can put a little in the bank and re-invest the remainder.
SALES
We have several "mom and pop" book and music stores in our area that could sell my CD's without need of a barcode, although that would be mandatory in the future, for large sales to retail stores. I would also sell the band's CDs on their website as well as mine.
I am a marketing guru. I mean I LOVE to sell things. I would be constantly trying to sell CD's at any opportunity I came upon.
To get the band into it, I'd give them a higher percentage on the albums they sold themselves. That would keep them from having the "Hey, you own the record label. We make the music, you sell it." attitude.
INCOME
My label's income would come from CD/fanwear sales at gigs, music sales online, and I would also keep a small percentage (say 2%?) of any gigs/concerts that I lined up for the band.
THE BUSINESS
No employees, at least not at first. Too much paperwork regulations and trouble. I'll handle it all myself. No business expenses, I'll run it from home and meet bands and contacts on their turf.
THE PROBLEMS
1. I have no money.
2. I have no studio to record the bands in.
I do have a couple of computer recording programs, but I threw my cassette recorder out when it tore up. (and I killed it even deader when I tried to fix it ) But my house does not sound good enough for a professional recording.
That said, Do you think a professional studio would let me record my band for a cut of the profits? I could record them myself, so all I would need is the studio, no session musicians or Producer.
Would a band be willing to help finance their project in return for the following?
1. Me doing all the work
2. Getting a professional quality CD
3. Having the recognition and credibility of being backed by a label
4. Being constantly promoted
Or would they rather just do it themselves and leave my label in the dust?
MY ATTITUDE
I realize that all this will be a lot of work, but I have no problem with that. Any new business venture requires a load of work to get off the ground. Nobody ever had it easy starting a business, and those that say they did are probably lying. I'm not wanting to do this for the money, but because it's what I love to do. Sure, I want my label to turn a good profit someday, but I'm not in it for the money. I can't understand why someone would become a musician or label owner just to become rich & famous. I started playing guitar because I wanted to play guitar, not because I wanted girls to think I was the best thing since sliced bread. (ok, ok, they are a nice side effect )
I have a strong sense of DIY, and would much rather do something myself than to try and get someone else to do it for me. I'm good at stretching dollars, (although some banks don't want to take them afterwards) and I think I could keep my business alive on a limited budget.
HOW YOU CAN HELP ME
Ok, what do you think? If I left out anything, or something isn't clear, just let me know and I'll answer your questions. Basically, I want you to quiz me so I'll know if I have all my bases covered.
I don't have to have answers to my questions, just more questions for me to answer. If you give me a question that I cannot answer, then I'll know my plan needs more work.
Thank you very much for your help