Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Create Your Own Success by Promoting Your Own Classic Album

By Arthur Cundy

If you don't get signed by a record company in the beginning of your career, try to keep your head up and realize that all is not lost yet. Just because you don't have Sony on your record label does not mean that you are not going to be successful. You can still create your own success by promoting your own classic album.

Very few artists are experienced in this aspect of the industry and when you first start doing it, you can get a bit overwhelmed. To keep things leveled out, you have to make sure that you don't take on too much. Otherwise, you are going to feel like you are strapped into a sinking ship with no chance of getting out.

In order to do this successfully, you need to set goals and stick to them. Get everything written down that you want to achieve and then break all of that down into small steps that you can do one at a time. Remember, simplicity is always the best way to go when you are in doubt. For instance, if you are going to promote a show, break it down step by step so that you don't miss anything along the way.

The first physical step that you are going to have to make is in putting together an attractive promo kit to hand out. This is going to be similar to the press kit that you would have already put together for the record companies when you were trying to get signed. In this kit you should have: demo CD, a press release, a bio, photos, contact information, and website links if you have a site that is already built.

At this point, you are going to have to figure out who you are going to target for distribution. When you are promoting actual shows, the best bet is to focus on local media and try and draw as much attention as you can in order to get an audience at the show. You can try and get some local radio shows to help you promote the concert as well.

This is a point that can never be driven home too much. Putting money in places that will do you no good is just a pure waste of funds. In all likelihood, you are never going to get that investment back because your PR was not aimed in the right area during that stretch of time. Promotion is all about timing and making sure you get the right word to the right people at the right time.

If you go about this the right way, you will continue to make contacts and hopefully a few dollars along the way as well. As you meet these people, regardless of how big or small they are in the industry, be sure to get their contact information and give them yours. You never know when someone may be looking for a session musician or when that big break will come. Having your information out there will ensure that if they are the least bit interested, they will be able to get a hold of you.

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