Finding success mp1 p1_web_ex

FINDING SUCCESS IN TODAY’S MUSIC INDUSTRY:Leveraging Your Live Performance

PANEL SERIES OPENER Introduction Breaking the Artist: A Methodology by Bram First Steps: Aligning the Band

©2013 Indiehitmaker is a service mark of PolyPlat Records ADSD | www.indiehitmaker.com @indiehitmaker

Introduction

Who is Indiehitmaker

About This Panel

Who Are the Panelists

What to Expect


Breaking The Artist HOW TO GO FROM EMERGING TO TIMELESS – A METHODOLOGY BY BRAM

THE SONG IS #1Content is King The stronger the Lyrics, the stronger the song Guitar sounds bring a tune to the next level – be mindful Create the bed on which the music lies –enhances

texture/live feel Get a producer – someone you trust who has more

experience than you Back up vocals are icing on the cake



THE SONG IS #1Follow the Conventions Fit into radio format (3-4min. max / pref. 3:30) Needs Hook & Melody foremost Chorus to always be the climax/highpoint (big & open) Bridge offers the change

the escape/interlude/transgression of the tune Use Intros & Outros to complete the song Vocals always on top



THE SONG IS #1Seek Criticism, then record Play demos for industry first Refine songs in preproduction Repeat until ready for full production

Amplify the Passion Record as you were performing to 1000’s Don’t hold back in the studio / amplify your passion Push the envelope



BE YOU 1000%Be true to yourself - formula for creating your image: YOU x 1000% = Your Image

Know the difference between being a musician and a performer – Be Both Performer = Actor / Performance = Acting (keep it real) 1st Impressions stain – your stage show must amplify the music Engage the audience – making eye contact wins fans every time



BE YOU 1000%Use the Football / Sports Club discipline Study tapes of you, your competition &

your colleagues (video & audio) Practice the way you play on stage /

Play on stage the way you practice Play to win – play each show the way you would

to a sold out arena of thousands



BE YOU 1000%YOU DON’T GET PAID TO GIG, YOU GET PAID TO:Rehearse Follow the above principal

Load and Unload Or pay someone else to do it

Be Professional Party like a rock star only after you have conducted

business like businessman (or get someone professional to do it for you)



TOUR SMARTTour to cover costs This will set the pace at which you need to be touring,

retro fit the amount of time on the road to meet your financial needs (not vice-versa)

Ideal schedule: 3 weeks ON / 2 weeks OFF



TOUR SMARTCreate Market Strategy: 4 Market vs. 8 Market – weekly, bi-monthly, monthly Mix Bar & College Include In-Store performances and live radio promos Make yourself available for special events & festivals Promote while touring / Face-Time with potential fans

brings best results



TOUR SMARTMake every show count: Post calendar listings to all major sites

www.artistdata.com (this site will syndicate dates to other sites) www.songkick.com www.jambase.com www.reverbnation.com www.eventful.com

Report your music sales to SoundScan: Online & Retail: Download This Free Report At your shows: www.indiehitmaker.com


http://www.artistdata.com/

http://www.songkick.com/

http://www.jambase.com/

http://www.reverbnation.com/

http://www.eventful.com/

http://polyplatrecords.us1.list-manage.com/subscribe?u=0a705c797a077c64b25f127ec&id=99dc38bbb2

http://www.indiehitmaker.com/


TOUR SMARTMake every show count: Sell yourself

First and foremost, mind blowing musical performances are the fastest way to a fan’s pocket book but you must also: Plug your merch throughout the show Send your front man to the merch table right after the show Create demand for your brand and product



TOUR SMARTMake every show count: Provide pre and post event content to

stay connected with fans Social Networking Free live exclusive content (music/video) Contests Street Teams Fan involvement



SPEND $ TO MAKE $ Spend $ On Your Marketing Marketing that costs dollars will most likely help you

more with less effort than free marketing which yields little results while taking up too much time

Know the Difference Between Buzz, Hype, Publicity, Promotion & Exposure (BHPPE)

Merch is Your Best First Investment Selling merch at low costs increases BHPPE



SPEND $ TO MAKE $ Many Points of Entry (MPE) The more avenues leading to your band/music

the better the BHPPE, overall sales & ROI



USE SYNERGY

Every connection is a good connection

Any publicity is good publicity

5 minutes of Face-Time will yield more results

than a 1000 printed flyers

Never burn a bridge

Speak about others only behind closed doors



ACHIEVE BALANCE Find the “Ying & Yang” between: Life & Career Man & Wife Band & Family

Adopt the 2-Way street Model – a democratic band is a timeless band Band members to band members Management to Band Band & Management to Label/A&R



ACHIEVE BALANCE Market Wisely Crossover mediums - let one flow into the other with

all roads leading to the hub of your band image – YOUR WEBSITE

Use all mediums equally to achieve the above: Print/Collateral Web/Internet/email/social networking Video/DVD Radio/Broadcast Street Marketing/Face Time Conventions/Industry Functions/Special Events Word of Mouth (one of the most important)



ACHIEVE BALANCE Band vs. Industry On a long enough timeline if you stay on a determined course (true to

who you are musically & image wise – experimenting to tweak & finesse,) one day the ups & downs (or shifts in sound/look) of the industry will one day intersect with that of your band’s – this is where timeless, legendary success is achieved:



CASE STUDIES Everything is perfect Maroon5

Lyrics Melody Production Rhythm section Guitar sound

Lenny Kravitz/Stevie Wonder One mind makes for genius cohesiveness

Metallica Perfect blend of Sound & Image



CASE STUDIES Surviving the Industry timeline (7 year + plan) Phish (’83) Dave Matthews band (’91) Lil’ Wayne (’97) Kanye West (‘96)

If you stick with it long enough – it will happen



CASE STUDIES It’s all ‘bout Tone & Sound The Beatles

Geoff Emerick & The Pepper Sessions DeLeo brothers

The right gear drives tone Attention to instrument sounds creates a signature Flawless musical execution - nothing more powerful than all

instruments playing the note perfectly together Listen to:

STP Army of Anyone (Can you believe this sound is live?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az11yLK4dqs)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Az11yLK4dqs


CASE STUDIES The Power of the Pivot

The Zoom-in Pivot: When a particular song or sound becomes more popular than the band itself, focus on that and drive it all the way Beastie Boys from hardcore punk to legendary rap/hip-hop

The Customer Segment Pivot: When you alter your music, sound and/or style to appeal to a bigger audience than you are currently attracting Katy Perry from Christian gospel goodie two-shoe to sexy bad-girl pop



CASE STUDIES The Power of the Reset: If all else fails, go country/EDM (or the genre of the moment) Did they sell out or just make good decisions?

Sugarland (Jennifer Nettles) Indie artists go country and find huge success

Zac Brown Jaron and The Long Road to Love (Evan & Jaron) Darius Rucker Kid Rock Robert Plant

Refire a career Skrillex


Aligning The BandTHE FIRST STEP TO BECOMING A PROFESSIONAL MUSICIAN

BAND EXERCISE written by Kathy Stringer, Atlantis Music Conference Manager 1998-2008

See if your band is truly on the same page. Have each member fill out this questionnaire independently and then review together to see where you align, disagree and can compromise to move forward as one cohesive unit.




1. What do you want people to think when they hear or see your band name?

2. What do you want people to think when they see your band live?

3. What do you want people to think when they see a poster or photo of your band?

4. When people hear your music, how do you want them to feel?




5. When people hear your music, how do you want them to feel?

6. Do you want to affect people with your music in a positive way? If so, to what extent?

7. Who do you think your demographic is?

8. Who do you want your demographic to be?




9. How would you describe your music?

10. Use three words to describe your band’s image today.

11. Use three words to describe the image you want your band to have.

12. Are you willing to compromise/collaborate with your band mates on your personal songs?


Documents

Finding success mp1 p1_web_ex