With an influx of tourists during this holiday season, it’s only right that there should be a “locals only” party held in BROOKLYN! #LetsGo
The first thing that is important to know about show business is that contacts and relations are everything. In the music industry, knowing who’s who in the business is utterly important if you wish to obtain success and a healthy career for you or your band. Knowing how to mingle and who to contact in order to get that dream gig will certainly get you far and open some unimaginable doors for you. Whether you are looking to be a studio musician, an agent or an international artist, building your contact base is something to focus on.
If you wish to be a studio musician, you need to make contact in this specific industry. There are many studios all across the country and each of them usually work with a certain roaster of musicians when needed. Trying to get into that roaster or rotation of musicians can be especially hard in larger cities such as Los Angeles and New York as these cities are filled with aspiring musicians; studios do not have to look very far to build their relations with local musicians. The best way to go about this is to contact studios directly; find out who’s in charge and what musicians they usually work it and send in some promo materials if requested.
Many individuals are also interested in becoming agents; while being an agent is nothing like being a musician, agents and managers are an integral part of the music business and need to build their contact base as well. Aspiring agents will need to seek contacts and relations with studios, venues, radio stations, promoters and more. Every contact that could eventually lead to advancement for an artist needs to be researched; an agent with no contact base will not lead a very successful career.
For all aspiring international artists, a solid contact base is also very necessary. You need to create a buzz about yourself and your art and you need to have enough contacts all around the world to bring you the gigs and the appearances you wish to obtain. Discuss with promoters, charm A&R representatives around the globe and develop an audience internationally in order to achieve a successful career all over the globe.
The bottom line is that if you wish to make it in the music industry, you need to work on building your contact base and talk with as many people as possible. Use your charm and sell yourself to anyone who might possibly be able to offer assistance or help at any point in your career, regardless of your area of expertise.
-Paul
One of my favorite artists of 2011, Tabi Bonney brings that laid back chill vibe to the rap game. I’d be lying if I said I’ve been following Tabi from the very beginning. Very smooth rhymes mixed with his unconventional personal style and not to mention dope videos. What I like about Tabi’s videos and music is that -it’s not all about “money, bitches, drugs… etc”. There is usually a story embedded in his songs and beautiful black woman in his videos (not twerkin’ and doppin it like it’s hot). Not that there’s anything wrong with a good booty popping video, it’s just good to see an artist shy away from what everyone else is doing and remain true himself. Look out for Tabi because this dude D.A.F(DOPE AS FUCK).
Where we gonna go is definitely on of my favorite Tabi tracks - especially after I saw the video( lol you’ll understand).
Where We Gonna Go:
[pro-player width=’640’ height=’360’ type=’video’ image=’http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tabi.jpg’]http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Tabi-Booney-Feat.-Lykke-Li-Where-We-Gonna-Go.mp4.mp4[/pro-player]
*Update* Couldn’t add this yesterday from the cafe I was in but this is one of Tabi’s latest videos
Parachute:
[pro-player width=’640’ height=’360’ type=’video’ image=’http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/tabi_Bonney_-_Parachute-570x302.png’]http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/PARACHUTE-tabi-Bonney.mp4[/pro-player]
[pro-player width=’640’ height=’360’ type=’video’]http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Vinny-Chae-Gold-Feat.-Ninjasonik-Starring-Taz-Arnold.mp4[/pro-player]
With the internet not only can you get radio play, grow a fan base, create a distribution channel but you can also sell CDs and music downloads. But is it really that simple? Most musicians have no idea where to begin when it comes to online promotion. They might go as far as to setup a website but that is about it. What they lack is right tools or rather the right ideas to make it big in the vast world of online music promotion. Here are few tips for you to go through.
Have your own website
This is your first step on the road to a successful music career. Build your website, promote it and attract a following.
Have a story
When people come to your website, you have still got to encourage them to stay and listen to some music and preferably visit again. Think about what angle are you going to take? Why are you different? Why is your music different?
Give it away
In the beginning you will need to give away something. But be smart! Give away a track and collect email addresses. Let people know it is a gift. Just recording your track and placing it on YouTube may not be the smartest way forward especially if there is no means of collecting details.
Get your MP3 tags right
Another thing very important in the world of music is how you present yourself. They are not joking when they say Out of sight, Out of mind. Make sure your artist name and song name appear in the appropriate tags of the MP3, and put your website address in for the album name. Try to put your website address in the filename too.
Solicit testimonials
Encouraging customers to review your music goes a long way in your promotion. The standing positive reviews on your website will not only attract more visitors but also more customers. What’s more is that you will also get a feel of what your customers are expecting, and what you need to offer.
Take control
The most important thing you need to do to ensure your success in this competitive field is to take a stand. No one is going to make a career for you; you have to make an effort. Go out, perform, build a fan base; most likely these are the people who are going to buy your music. What needs to be done is to be innovative, find the opportunities, and making the most of them.
The bottom line of all this is that success never happens to people who wait for it to come to them; you need to work for it!
-Boomy
The words ‘tour manager’ might sound familiar but do you really know what they entail? Tour managers have a lot of work to do and mostly every band going out on extensive tours will hire the service of such an individual to help them out organize and settle every detail of the tour.
Once you become somewhat successful and you plan on getting your music out there by playing different cities and venues, it is very important to ask for help from experienced people to help you out, especially if this is your first tour - tour managers will do just that.
By definition, a tour manager is an individual helping out with the organization, schedule and administration of a band or solo artist during their tour. A tour in itself consists of a sequence of appearances at clubs and venues consecutively in different cities in a certain laps of time. There are many details to work through when trying to set-up a tour; venues, dates, pay rates, benefits, housing and accommodations, transportation and more. Having the help of a manager will lighten the burden of organizing it all and will help you make the most out of your own tour.
Tour managers usually work in association with booking agents to book the dates of a tour; booking agents are very resourceful and can sometimes pull off gigs and venues that would otherwise be impossible. The booking agent himself will work with concert promoters to obtain the best gigs for your band. These managers basically supervise the operations, making sure that everything about the tour is set and secure and will provide you with the success you are hoping for. Booking a tour is, as you can see, a complicated venture but is made entirely possible with the help of knowledgeable individuals such as tour managers and booking agents.
If you are looking to go on your first tour, or even if you’ve done a few of those yourself, always rely on the services of a tour manager to make the most out of the experience you are about to live. In the music industry, there is a history of scams and breach of contracts on the part of both club owners and musicians, and tour managers will ensure that every gig you book will go as smoothly as possible for both parties and that you will be welcomed at any venue for your upcoming dates.
-Paul
Out of the thousands of people who seek this path, only a hundred have the talent and out of those hundred, only ten might have the motivation and yet out of the ten of them, only one might get the opportunity. Yet a very significant portion of the population aims or at the very least, desires to become a music producer. What can be the reason for such favoritism? What do the masses see in this profession? What are the advantages of being a music producer? Let us take a look below.
Fame- Many a times it has been seen that the producers achieve a level of fame that even the music artists cannot compare to. Fame, recognition, respect - who among us doesn’t long for such levels of appreciation and when these are few of the most acknowledged perks of being a music producer, it is hardly a surprise to see the populace drifting towards the field of music production.
Creativity- Happy is the man who can make a living by his hobby! And when it is your job entailment that calls for the engagement of your creativity and talent, you can hardly get a more rewarding occupation. The music producer can largely make or break an album the same way a director can affect a movie; in fact it is largely up to the producer to make every track in the album sound its best, giving him ample opportunities for showcasing his talent.
Money- They say that money makes the world go round, and while it may appear to be a mercenary approach, it indeed holds true in regards to an individual’s profession and employment opportunities. Keeping to the scenario, the music production business is indeed offering ample opportunities to make big money. In fact, according to the Schools in the USA website, while the estimated salary for an entry-level music producer is just $14,590, the average salary of a music producer is an estimated $67,330 annually. And with this huge amount of money involved in the business of music production, it is hardly surprising that people are driven towards the field like flocks of sheep!
Record Label Opportunity- Another reason people desire to be in this career is that it offers a prime position for those who want to sign, develop and sell recorded products under their own brand. Since new and older talents are constantly passing through the stable of a producer; he or she has the opportunity of making profitable deals with the individuals. Remember that a good producer will also have great contacts within the music business; all of which make signing artist an easier process compared to other individuals who are not on first names terms with the label executives!
-Boomy
Last week Tuesday I met up with my homie Chozn -a dope solo artist from Cali, now residing on the east coast. We needed to get some footage for a project we’re working on… So we’re filming in the restaurant and a friend of Chozn’s by the name of Starz - co-founder of the Hip Hop label, Without Wonder walks in just as we were finishing up. Once we finally finished filming, we all hung around drinking tea and eating our fried dumplings and talking music. As we are talking, Starz and Chozn play different tracks for each other - Chozn plays his own music and Starz plays his younger brother J.U.S’ music.
Based purely off the short clips I heard at the table, I knew I was going to add him to the site. Although it’s taken me a while to really check out his music, I finally did get around to it today.
Repping Long Island, the 17 yr old J.U.S looks like J. Cole and sounds like Drake yet manages to break the mold and define himself as a force to reckoned with lyrically.
Get familiar because this young dude is already on the radar of the who’s who!
Mindset (Audio Only)
[audio:http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Mind-Set.mp3]
“Big Sean - I Do It” (Remix) (Video)
[pro-player]http://gordian.tv/thedank/wp-content/uploads/2011/12/Big-Sean-I-Do-It-Remix.mp4[/pro-player]
New York, NY, December. 15, 2011 - (SABIT NYC MEDIA) - New York City based label, SABIT NYC. INC. continues our premium Japanese street-wear meets Americana couture designs. Highlighted as one of the top designer labels during “MAGIC” Las Vegas trade-show, designer Shoichi Amemiya finds inspiration from his Japanese roots combined with his experience as former director of outerwear for Marc Ecko.
Meaning “the hook” or “the best part of a song” in his native tongue, SABIT NYC reflects Amemiya’s vision of creating enjoyable apparel with a subtle flare. Our newest seasonal collection offers a unique take on varsity jackets with interesting textile choices. More information regarding SABIT NYC can be found at our official website www.sabitnyc.com
Who: SABIT NYC, INC. SABIT HOLIDAY SALE
When: FRI, SAT AND SUNDAY, December 16th-18th, 2011, 2:00PM-7:00AM
Where: SABIT OFFICE 262 w38th ST #1001 NYC
Check out this Sabit NYC interview…
With the rampant politics, fickle fans and lack of knowledge abound, it seems a Herculean task to make yourself stand out in this challenging industry. However with a set mindset and a few select skills at your disposal, you can and you will make it big into the industry. Here are a few pointers for you to take a look at.
Passion:Harbouring a music ambition?-many people do! What many people do not is make their way into the industry. The reason? To break into the music industry, you have got to put yourself in, lay the insecurity aside and make a go for it! You might be a top class musician but opportunity will not come to your door on a silver platter, you have to work for it, and maybe even be willing to accept that you are going to make a few mistakes in the quest for your success. What is indeed important is never to lose your passion, that fire that makes you a good musician!
Contacts: Music industry is a lot about connections. Who you know is very important in the long run and the people who can help are not going to come and ring your doorbell. You have to go and meet them, establish contacts and get them to open some doors for you. The bottom line is that networking is good, networking is essential, after all what you do not ask for, you will never get!
Management: There are things in your music career that you are good at, and there are things which are better off being handled by somebody else. It is important to know the difference and let a few select trusted people handle these works for you. Remember, collaboration is important and cooperation unavoidable, no matter how good you are.
Organization: Music is an art; music industry however is all business. It is important to draw a line between the two. It is also imperative to get your contracts right, your communications professional, deadlines met and expenses carefully considered. If you want music as a profession, it always pays to treat it like a job from the very start.
Promotion: Life and careers can never be conducted from behind the scenes. It is vital to make your presence known. Be it social media, blogs or your own website, building a fan base is essential. It is always better to make your own website where you can build your distinguished image, your own brand or persona so to speak. Again, networking is important; your direct line to someone who can help you get a foot in the door might just be a tweet or Facebook update away.
Do you want to learn more about making money with your music? If so, download my brand new free 5 week music business training course here: http://www.musicbusinesstools.com
-Boomy
For all newbies in the music industry, there are certainly many confusing terms, such as conferences and showcases. While it may sound obvious at first, most people don’t understand what these events really are about. The music business is full of promotional events tailored to network and get to know the industry’s big shots and high-profile individuals; conferences and showcases are two types of promotional events and, while both offer the same end results - exposure and marketing opportunities - both are different and apply to different people.
Conferences - Conferences are mostly for corporations and brands to showcase their products and services. An example of a famous music conference would be the NAMM conference (National Association of Music Merchants), held every year. This specific conference is held for music merchants such as Yamaha, Kustom, Les Paul, Gibson and other music instrument brands to feature their new products. Merchants attending these music conferences will gain exposure and will have the opportunity to promote and market their products and services to a willing crowd. These conferences are much like trade shows and exhibits and can be attended by everyone and anyone, given that you have registered your presence in advance.
Showcases - Showcases are typically used for artists and bands to promote themselves directly. For example, many bands or artists will usually put on a showcase to promote their latest release or announce the launch of their upcoming tour. Showcases are usually attended by the who’s who of the music industry; booking agents, record labels’ A&R representatives, tour managers, producers, concert promoters, managers and agents, amongst others. These events represent a great way to attract reviews and publicity upon yourself and circulate the word about your band’s new achievement, whether an album, a tour or anything else you may want the world to know.
This being said, if you are hoping to mingle amongst the high-profile individuals of the music industry, attending a conference or organizing a showcase for your act or band might be a very good idea; these types of events usually attract a very desirable crowd and will feature some individuals that may just help you jumpstart your career, given that they have the opportunity to become acquainted with your music. Research any renowned conferences in your area or travel to the big city to hold your very own showcase and finally get the opportunity to stare at the face of success!
Ultimate Musician Package of ReachFame.com is tailored for aspiring musicians and artists, offering all-in-one software. Contact thousands of record labels, music business contacts, comprehensive guide to start a successful music career, record label business plan and much more. For more info, visit http://www.reachfame.com
-Paul
