Indies: What Do You Do To Stir Up A Buzz? (singer, cd)

~~Yippee~~ · 05-22-2004, 04:38 PM

Unsigned and Independent artists- what do you do to get people talking about you (or your group)? What methods do you find have worked for you, and are you willing to share?? Online and offline, what do you do to promo you?

xcollapseofmyheartx · 05-23-2004, 07:58 PM

in my opinion, the internet is probably the most key element to a bands success or failure. like stated in nothing feels good, a band can play in new york and sell out in california. and thats their first time to california. so i would say go to forums and stuff and put up a website with samples and stuff like that.

~~Yippee~~ · 05-27-2004, 02:42 PM

Yes xcollapseofmyheartx, you are right there. If you want to stay local, fine, but if your goals include going global, the Internet is your best tool. There are quite a few options open to the independent or unsigned musician, songwriter, band, or singer to find an audience. But what do you do to really get noticed amongst the thousands of other musicians screaming to be heard?

Having a web site is a start, yes,...but wouldn't you say you need to have a bit of Search Engine Optimizational know-how to get your web site found? Most of the music artists I run into are so busy developing their talent that they don't have time or know-how to promote themselves online AND offline, though both are equally important. Therefore, wouldn't you say, it's HOW you are connected?

You have to be seen to be heard.

~~Sharky~~ · 06-07-2004, 11:33 PM

In one word: Publicity.

Nobody is going to know about you if they never see you anywhere they normally look. This includes TV, the internet, magazines, billboards, and so on.

If you can get a BIG section in a magazine by really impressing them with your music, then you might be able to get peoples attention enough - if you can, get them to put a taster CD of your stuff on the front cover, or as an insert on your page. That way if people like what they read about you, they can hear you too. If they like what they hear, then job's a good'n as my foster dad says.

To get you some good slots in magazines and TV shows, you might want to get a publicity agent. He'll also get in contact with various labels, and he'll talk to contacts in the industry to stur up some noise in the scene. The desired effect there is to have the record labels know who you are before they even meet you, but this sometimes doesn't work.

The internet is fine to use to get your music "out there" but actually drawing in listeners is the hard part. If you DO get a chance to be reviewed in a magazine though, ask them to advertise the address of the website where all your music is at.

Hope that helps.

austin · 06-29-2004, 01:22 PM

sometimes it's just nice to sit back and listen to other people, you know? just tkae a road trip through california or something and hit the spots, hear other bands. that way you know your way around the industry, you can make references, that's what indie is all about. don't worry about the big bands or what the hot style is. influence is not a badge for your band to wear, it comes out through your music and your actions. If you were really influenced by the beatles, it will show in you songs...

05-22-2004, 04:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
~~Yippee~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA Posts: 60	Indies: What Do You Do To Stir Up A Buzz? Unsigned and Independent artists- what do you do to get people talking about you (or your group)? What methods do you find have worked for you, and are you willing to share?? Online and offline, what do you do to promo you?

06-29-2004, 01:22 PM	#5 (permalink)
austin Groupie Join Date: Jun 2004 Posts: 3	yeah, but... sometimes it's just nice to sit back and listen to other people, you know? just tkae a road trip through california or something and hit the spots, hear other bands. that way you know your way around the industry, you can make references, that's what indie is all about. don't worry about the big bands or what the hot style is. influence is not a badge for your band to wear, it comes out through your music and your actions. If you were really influenced by the beatles, it will show in you songs...

05-23-2004, 07:58 PM	#2 (permalink)
xcollapseofmyheartx Music Addict Join Date: Apr 2004 Posts: 138	in my opinion, the internet is probably the most key element to a bands success or failure. like stated in nothing feels good, a band can play in new york and sell out in california. and thats their first time to california. so i would say go to forums and stuff and put up a website with samples and stuff like that.

05-27-2004, 02:42 PM	#3 (permalink)
~~Yippee~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Alexandria, Virginia, USA Posts: 60	Yes xcollapseofmyheartx, you are right there. If you want to stay local, fine, but if your goals include going global, the Internet is your best tool. There are quite a few options open to the independent or unsigned musician, songwriter, band, or singer to find an audience. But what do you do to really get noticed amongst the thousands of other musicians screaming to be heard? Having a web site is a start, yes,...but wouldn't you say you need to have a bit of Search Engine Optimizational know-how to get your web site found? Most of the music artists I run into are so busy developing their talent that they don't have time or know-how to promote themselves online AND offline, though both are equally important. Therefore, wouldn't you say, it's HOW you are connected? You have to be seen to be heard.

06-07-2004, 11:33 PM	#4 (permalink)
~~Sharky~~ Account Disabled Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: I live wherever I go. If I didn't, I'd be dead. Posts: 51	In one word: Publicity. Nobody is going to know about you if they never see you anywhere they normally look. This includes TV, the internet, magazines, billboards, and so on. If you can get a BIG section in a magazine by really impressing them with your music, then you might be able to get peoples attention enough - if you can, get them to put a taster CD of your stuff on the front cover, or as an insert on your page. That way if people like what they read about you, they can hear you too. If they like what they hear, then job's a good'n as my foster dad says. To get you some good slots in magazines and TV shows, you might want to get a publicity agent. He'll also get in contact with various labels, and he'll talk to contacts in the industry to stur up some noise in the scene. The desired effect there is to have the record labels know who you are before they even meet you, but this sometimes doesn't work. The internet is fine to use to get your music "out there" but actually drawing in listeners is the hard part. If you DO get a chance to be reviewed in a magazine though, ask them to advertise the address of the website where all your music is at. Hope that helps.