Artist Band How To's

Artist/Band How To's

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IN THE BEGINNING
First, get one or two good books on the subjects of songwriting. Most major labels now expect their new talent to be able to write some of their own material. While it is not an absolute requirement, it is a mark against you if you don't write.

Second, Third, Fourth, and Fifth - get some GREAT ORIGINAL SONGS. In real estate the most important three things in buying property are location-location-location. For a new artist to get a deal it is Great Songs-Great Songs-Great Songs. You can NOT make it if you do not have Great Songs. Period. Write them yourself or go get some. And these are not good songs, not really good songs, not I think they are great - but songs (at least 3-4) that are better, yes better, than anything on the radio today. If you have even the slightest doubt in a song - it is not great enough to get a new artist a deal.

These are the kinds of songs that after you perform them on stage a dozen people request it again. These are songs that either make everyone stop dancing and come to the front of the stage and scream, or ones that fill the dance floor to capacity. If these songs don't do that, then they are not great songs.

DO YOU PLAY AN INSTRUMENT?
If you do great, get better. Artists who also happen to be top notch musicians have a much greater appeal to labels if all else is equal. Why? Audiences love it. But if you don't play, or are just a strummer - don't try to hide behind a guitar. Push the personality and voice.

BUILD A LOCAL FOLLOWING
Sixth, change your bar band into an act. That's not really that big of a change. Do what you always do, except on one set per night, the set becomes a totally planned and coreagraphed show. Rehearse it, stage it, light it, select a good mix of cover and original songs that work together (that only change to improve the show), hone your personality, create a "look" for you or the group, and interact with the audience. A 30 to 45 minute show is perfect. It is what you will use to open for major acts in your area. This act must drive the audience wild. If it doesn't you are not ready, work harder, if you have to be able to please folks in your own town before you can move forward.

Get local press coverage (every month and keep copies), get radio interviews (regularly and tape them all), get on TV (tape it), do free gigs for charity (whenever asked), do free or affordable shows for the radio stations, and get involved with radio (the right radio station can become a front door right to a major label).

If you have a CD, push it, get radio play, get it in stores, sell it at all gigs, do Tshirts and Hats at gigs, set up a table, get a pretty girl to help. You have to begin thinking like the big stars. You don't really have to spend much, it's mostly just hard work and time.

Start getting opening acts, do whatever it takes, it is an absolute must. Get in the annual GMC Showdown (or Jimmy Deans round-up), you need to at least get to state finals, winning state makes you one of the top 50 in the country. Several top country acts today got to Nashville as National Winners including Ronny Dunn (Brooks&Dunn). Become one of the 4 regional finalists and you have a real shot at it.

Learn Country Music inside and out (not fan junk), learn what makes a hit song, what's different about a top group. Who is the hottest group in your area, get better! Read, learn, practice and work hard.

If you think this is too hard, or you can't cut it, then don't quit your day job!

GET HELP (no not the psychiatric kind)
Seventh, join a songwriting organization to meet songwriters, network, talk with them, collaborate (write together), and then get the best ones to write you great songs. When you think you have a few great songs, start performing them at your gigs. You will soon find out if they are great. Get a great booking agent, and learn to work with them. Make them happy, become their #1 act. As you begin to succeed regionally, are working full time as an artist (or very close) you will need a good Artist Management Firm to help you. If your are country, they should be in Nashville. You do not need management on a local level.

LEARN MORE
Eighth, buy a couple of books on the business of music. Learn about artist packages, and put one together. It has to be first class and different, not expensive, different and professional.

In 1994 one record label in Nashville received 25,000 artist packages in the mail. That year they signed two, neither were from the unsolicited material and both were discovered out of town! Your package should consist of at least one professional photograph (2 or 3 is better) and it must make you look like a million bucks, which is about what a major label will invest in you!

You also have to be able to look this good on stage too. Don't use a 10 year old photo, it must be current, you will be expected to look better in person. Next is a bio, a story of you that is interesting, factual and fits on one page. Have it professionally produced and printed. You will also need 10 to 12 great press clippings, letters from local radio stations help, letters from charitable organizations are also good, and any taped interviews.

Now for the music, it must all be original - no karaoke! You now need at least 3-5 Great Songs (yes we're back to great songs). They need to be produced where ever you intend to pitch them. For a country artist, you really need to produce them in Nashville if at all possible.

You will spend at least $750 per song and $1,000-$2,500 (with a good producer) is better and not out of the question. They should also be mastered at a place like Master Phonics. These need to be every bit as good as you hear on a major CD.You can not compete in the Indianapolis 500 with your Honda (even though it is a great car)!

BEHIND CLOSED DOORS
Finally the hardest part. Getting in the door. Talk to your local radio station program manager. He has a real good in with the record labels, even if he doesn't know it. The bigger the station, the more pull. Getting people like this to believe in you is key. Get strong on a local level, then branch out regionally.

Sending your package blind to lots of labels is a waste of time and money. If you are a good writer, working with a publisher and your songs is the quickest way to a label. More artists get deals through their writing with publishing companies almost any other way.

The best way, well that's by getting on the big entertainment attorneys to take you on, but that can be harder than getting to a label and they charge by the hour ($400 and up). But if you can get a good one (one that represents at least two of the top 25 current artists) to believe in you - well you are on your way.

GOING TO THE MOUNTAIN
You will eventually have to go to Nashville (for country). Before you come, learn about the town, and the music business. Our site is a good starting point. Make a plan for your future, define both your long term goals (like being an artist), your short term goals (like how do I live and eat after I move there), and immediate goals (planning your first visits).

Your first trip should be 3 to 4 days, to get the lay of the land, where to stay, where to hang out, where writers nights are, where you can meet others like you. Our site can probably do all of this for you, and make your first trip much more productive. But before you move here, take a few 5 to 10 day trips to Nashville. Make sure your goals are clearly defined for each trip. Call ahead and let people know you are coming.

SHOWCASING YOUR WAY TO THE TOP
Planning showcases is a must, but only when you are ready, and not until you really understand what they will and won't do for you. Talk to 5 to 10 others who have done them, and ask hard questions, did they help, what specifically did they accomplish, and really who showed up.

They can be very expensive, and if done wrong, or too early in your trek, are not only a waste of time and money (your money), but can actually hurt your chances.

THREE BASIC SHOWCASES
One is to do a solo showcase, where you are the only artist/band, and you do all the organization, planning, invitations, rent the club and do all the work yourself. The biggest problem with showcases is that most artists do them too soon. In reality, showcases are usually done late in your trek to the labels. Few industry leaders and labels, if any ever show up, they generally only show up to see artists they are already interested in or ones that have created an "industry buzz"! And remember, you will need those great songs (I know - here I go again), and great artist demos and a great package before you do one of these. A pre-showcase investment of $1,000 to $5,000 is not unrealistic at all, most of it in your 3 to 4 songs.

Second is to perform as part of a larger showcase , where you are only one of several artists performing. The showcase organizer does all the planning, promotion and invitations. These types of showcases, done properly, will always cost much less, if not avoid them. These are the kind of showcase to do earlier in your trek. Not only are they more affordable, they usually attract some industry leaders and labels to the show either because of the promoters or the fact that there will be multiple acts. You can also afford to do more of these which will expose you to a larger group of professionals. They are also a good training ground. You do need to have a fairly good package ready to hand out.

Third, and most affordable, is the songwriter showcase. They are usually free, you just show up and wait your turn. You don't always get on, but if you go to enough of them, it all works out. They are held all over Nashville, every night of the week. You usually get to do 2-3 songs. The only disadvantage is that there are rarely any major labels or even publishers there (in fact, usually the only people there are other starving artists and songwriters). It's pot luck if anyone who can really help you attends. They are also a favorite hangouts for people who can quickly drain your bank account.

In reality, you will probably do all three. Beginning with the last as a starting point, then moving up to group showcases, and finally, when you are really prepared, doing your own showcases. But what will get you noticed . . . GREAT SONGS and being a GREAT ENTERTAINER!

Songtek Publishing, Inc. (BMI)
SongTrek Publishing, Inc. (ASCAP)
4930 West 116th Ct
Westninster, CO 80031
Phone: (303) 438-9831

Click Song & Material Submission Form to submit songs or materials to our publishing company.