By: The Editor - Larry U.
Ok, music, but what kind? - what is your specific target market ? Don't try to sell country music to punk venues.
Once you know your target market, > your venues, your radio stations, your shops, your street press; you need something to show.
Most venues will not give you a gig unless you have a press kit, have you got one?
Your Press Kit
First you need a press kit that you can use to market yourself to people i your target industry, different performing venues, etc. A press kit consists of the following:
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Several promotional photos.
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A bio/fact sheet.
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A three song demo of your music. - probably the most important
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Your contact information, including your website address.
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Any press you've received from news papers, websites, etc.
That will take some time to get that together, and make it look good.
Next, use this press kit, and approach the venues where you would like to play. Start with an area where you live, than widen the area, depending on how far you want to travel...
Hopefully you get some good gigs, and maybe you have contacted the street press and get some reviews happening...
Lets sum up a bit; now you have a press kit, including the demo, some gigs and some reviews.
Make that into a whole new packaged press - kit and try to send it to your local radio station...
While your waiting to hear back from the radio stations, get busy creating a web-site.
I would recommend setting up a website with pictures, some samples of your music, and a bio (basically an online press kit). You can start with a free web-site, or do this by creating a profile on some of the music websites who offer listing you for free, like > www.alchemix.com.au for Australia.
Next, link to other music websites.
Having your web-site, you will need a gig-guide and a sign-in list for your fans...
Once you got a whole bunch of fans together, you could ask them to buy your demo, to get some money to produce a better CD.
Build your fan base, if you can fill a venue, venues will take you back, and you have a better chance of getting noticed.
While you're getting some attention online, start searching for managers to represent you. It's nice to have someone who is well-connected in the industry who can shop your material to record
companies.
At your performances, you can also promote your website and sell CD's once they are finished.
Also try to enter band or songwriting competitons. These will get you direct exposure with the industry who often are contest judges. You will also be able to get press more easily if you do well in these contests.
If you do all of this, it should give you the opportunity to get lots of exposure and meet people who could help you further your career.
This article is just a basic strategy.....
.... just use it to get started, be flexible and go where the music is.
Article supplied by > www.alchemix.com.au - Recording Studios - Brisbane - Australia
