You the know the drill….check out parts 1, 2, and 3. Now onto 4.
“So before you spend any money recording an album, you should ask yourself a very important question: why are you recording an album?” (page 91)
Bands that don’t have any recorded music are like butchers that don’t have knives. You can’t make people fans without something to give them. But actually sit and write down why you want to make an album. Don’t just make it because you think that’s what your fans want to hear or what bands historically have done. Ask your fans what they want and in what form they want it. As for history, throw it out the door because there is no blueprint anymore.
“It’s the songs that matter, not the entity known as an album.” (page 92)
I’m a quasi-music elitist. I only get full albums, but I’m weird like that. Most people don’t care about full albums. They want the 1-4 songs that you have that REEEEALLY stand out. It’s songs that draw people in, so why feel stressed about spending the time and money on an LP that people will skip over. Might as well break that up into 4 EPS (give away at least one of them) over the course of the year.
“If you’re a new band, isn’t your number 1 priority to gain new fans?” (page 92)
You have music sell/give away, so GO OUT AND GET FANS!!! Go on blogs, go on chat boards, go on social networking sites, go to other shows to meet people, play for free in a park, and be creative. Today, I had a friend who told me, “I feel like if I give people juggling lessons [in a park] and then I give them a CD they’ll be more inclined to listen to it and tell their friends.” He gets it…do you?
“People expect new music often or you’ll be forgotten.” (page 94)
It doesn’t have to be new studio material. It can be live songs or remixes too. You just have to keep convincing people why to care. There’s sooooo much music out there. It’s a shame, but the sheer quantity of bands out there, you have to fight for people’s attention. The days of make an album, tour to promote it, and then take a break are over. You need to be distributing music to people every three or four months. People are beginning to expect it like waking up and getting the paper every morning. Keep the music coming, keep them happy, keep them as fans.
“It’s so much more fun and exciting to promote something new.” (page 94)
Say you release your album last fall. You did a tour to help promote it. What now? If you have new music every time your tour, it’s exciting for your guys, the fans, and the fans to be. There will never be a dip in your passion because the cycle of new music is more frequent that initial buzz from creating keeps your going until the next round.
“If fans get great songs, they will spread the word for you. If you consistently deliver, you’ll continue to grow your audience.” (page 95)
Fans are the best promoters. Riding the buzz (mentioned in previous response) works both ways. If the quality is there in your music, fans will only cherish your consistency and tell all their friends about it. However, quality is something I should mentioned earlier. Don’t just sell or give away music that sucks for the sake of fresh music. If you don’t like it, there’s a good chance your fans won’t.
“Staying true to what you want to express and keeping fans happy can sometimes be tough to balance.” (page 96)
Don’t be one of those super elitist musicians who only make music for themselves. You’re not gonna make a career if you make music only you and the ten people who are equally as snobbish and act like they understand your “art”. I’m not saying be a sell out, but don’t be so niche that people don’t even get you right away. Draw them in and then mess with their heads. Radiohead needed “Creep” to make “Like Spinning Plates”. So let me ask you, what’s your “Creep” gonna be?
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The New Rock Star Philosophy Pt 4
27 05 2009You the know the drill….check out parts 1, 2, and 3. Now onto 4.
“So before you spend any money recording an album, you should ask yourself a very important question: why are you recording an album?” (page 91)
Bands that don’t have any recorded music are like butchers that don’t have knives. You can’t make people fans without something to give them. But actually sit and write down why you want to make an album. Don’t just make it because you think that’s what your fans want to hear or what bands historically have done. Ask your fans what they want and in what form they want it. As for history, throw it out the door because there is no blueprint anymore.
“It’s the songs that matter, not the entity known as an album.” (page 92)
I’m a quasi-music elitist. I only get full albums, but I’m weird like that. Most people don’t care about full albums. They want the 1-4 songs that you have that REEEEALLY stand out. It’s songs that draw people in, so why feel stressed about spending the time and money on an LP that people will skip over. Might as well break that up into 4 EPS (give away at least one of them) over the course of the year.
“If you’re a new band, isn’t your number 1 priority to gain new fans?” (page 92)
You have music sell/give away, so GO OUT AND GET FANS!!! Go on blogs, go on chat boards, go on social networking sites, go to other shows to meet people, play for free in a park, and be creative. Today, I had a friend who told me, “I feel like if I give people juggling lessons [in a park] and then I give them a CD they’ll be more inclined to listen to it and tell their friends.” He gets it…do you?
“People expect new music often or you’ll be forgotten.” (page 94)
It doesn’t have to be new studio material. It can be live songs or remixes too. You just have to keep convincing people why to care. There’s sooooo much music out there. It’s a shame, but the sheer quantity of bands out there, you have to fight for people’s attention. The days of make an album, tour to promote it, and then take a break are over. You need to be distributing music to people every three or four months. People are beginning to expect it like waking up and getting the paper every morning. Keep the music coming, keep them happy, keep them as fans.
“It’s so much more fun and exciting to promote something new.” (page 94)
Say you release your album last fall. You did a tour to help promote it. What now? If you have new music every time your tour, it’s exciting for your guys, the fans, and the fans to be. There will never be a dip in your passion because the cycle of new music is more frequent that initial buzz from creating keeps your going until the next round.
“If fans get great songs, they will spread the word for you. If you consistently deliver, you’ll continue to grow your audience.” (page 95)
Fans are the best promoters. Riding the buzz (mentioned in previous response) works both ways. If the quality is there in your music, fans will only cherish your consistency and tell all their friends about it. However, quality is something I should mentioned earlier. Don’t just sell or give away music that sucks for the sake of fresh music. If you don’t like it, there’s a good chance your fans won’t.
“Staying true to what you want to express and keeping fans happy can sometimes be tough to balance.” (page 96)
Don’t be one of those super elitist musicians who only make music for themselves. You’re not gonna make a career if you make music only you and the ten people who are equally as snobbish and act like they understand your “art”. I’m not saying be a sell out, but don’t be so niche that people don’t even get you right away. Draw them in and then mess with their heads. Radiohead needed “Creep” to make “Like Spinning Plates”. So let me ask you, what’s your “Creep” gonna be?
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