How Many Rock Stars Can You Think Of That Didn’t Start Out Playin
It doesn’t matter what kind of music you play, if you want to make it big in the music world, you can’t just dream about it. You have to get off your bottom, and get out there and do whatever it takes to make it happen. You can visualize whatever you want, but until you do something to make it happen, all it is a wish, not a reality.
The older ways of making it big in the music business have changed more dramatically and faster in the last few years than any previous time in history. With those changes, come plenty of great opportunities. In fact, according to the staff at MusicMarketingCenter.com, there’s no ‘next big thing’ happening, and there’s never been a better time to get your start. If you have something new and exciting, the sky’s the limit. If your music fits an established genre, then there are already people who are anxious to hear it.
One of the most important things you need to do is to figure out what niche your music fits. In a future article, we’ll go more into depth on that topic along with all kinds of ways to get yourself heard in the digital world. But, for this article, we are going to concentrate on playing live.
If you have figured out your musical style, or one that is similar, start there. Look for local places that are already known for music similar to what you play. Bug them till you get a gig there. Don’t worry too much about the money in the beginning… you just need to build a loyal following for now.
Every time you play, it is an opportunity to gain new fans and to build your mailing list. You do have a mailing list, don’t you? It’s the most important thing you can do to help create that important buzz about your music. List building is one of the most popular subjects in posts at the MusicMarketingCenter.com. You’ll find plenty of info about it there, but for now, just know that you need to bring at a minimum a pad of paper and some pens so people can give you their email and contact info at every show. Tell them to sign up before, during and after your set. This will become your main fan base, and they will tell others about how great you are.
Along with promoting yourself, your gigs, your cds, etc. with your mailing list, why not make some cash? Get tshirts, posters, or other merchandise created, and offer it to your list at a profit. Music fans love to talk about the new band they’ve discovered, and tshirts are a great way to help them to talk about you. Think it’s going to cost you a lot of money to print tshirts? Wrong.. Check out cafepress.com. They print tshirts and other merchandise on demand and there is no start up cost at all.
At the end of your set, spend some time with the audience. Tell them to sign up for your list at every chance, but also, just chat with them. People love to be noticed by whoever is currently at the center of attention, and after you’ve just played, that is you! Be nice to them. They will appreciate it and promote you and your music like crazy.
Have you checked out your local colleges and small clubs? They love to ‘catch a rising star,’ and that could be you. Especially if your music is a little different than most, the people booking these places do so because they are music fans, and they’d love to be able to say that they had you play there back when no one knew who you were.
Even audition nights and open mike nights give you a great chance to play. There are plenty of famous people and bands that started there. Bring in some friends who can be your cheering squad. People are often like monkeys. When they see others enjoying the show, they are more likely to enjoy it themselves. The more excited your friends get, the more excited all the people in the audience that never heard of you will become also.
All in all, you need to just get out there at every opportunity and play your music live. For the fans, there’s nothing like hearing a band do their thing right in front of you as part of a crowd. And for you, it’s great to get the immediate feedback and admiration from a live audience. Although there are ways to get your music to more people at once, there is no other way to generate the kind of impact that a live show of your music creates.
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