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Entries in Advice (72)

Friday
Feb282014

How To Build A Superfan

OK - so recently you might have heard a lot of people saying that you need to be on social media “Engaging” with your fans… …but the mission of this lesson is really to show what on earth that means, the practical steps of how you can do it each day, and the benefit it’s going to have for your music promotion.

First off…WHY Should You Even Bother?

This is a question that was also bouncing in and out of my head for a while until I discovered “Check Move Theory”. This concept tells us that the more positive interaction (or “Check Moves”) fans take with the artist, the closer the connection will be… …and that will ultimately lead to more support, whether that be financial or just help with promotion bringing in new fans by word of mouth. I think this is an especially powerful idea for musicians because it means we don’t have to hammer the fanbase with slightly cheesy sales messages anymore, and can just focus on putting out super-duper stuff that they WANT to interact with.

It All Starts With CAPTURE

Or in other words, get a smart phone and press record a lot… …because often you can entertain your gang by just bringing them into your world, and making content based around what you’re already doing. The way this might look for a band on the road is that each member would be documenting the wild ride from their own point of view and posting it to Dropbox, and then the social media dude edits all the best bits for posting.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
Feb062014

Music Artists Need CPAs, Not Just Lawyers

For musical artists just entering the entertainment business or long time veterans, having savvy legal counsel is a no brainer. Intellectual property damage, unpaid royalties, copyright violations and breach of contract cases are just a sampling of issues artists may face along the way. But when the question of financial damages comes into play – lost profits, reputation or something else - that’s when having a certified public accountant (CPA) on the team can really pay off. Whether a major label artist or an independent, consider these four reasons to work with a CPA.

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Monday
Jan272014

Post-Show Procedures: 8 Things Every Band Should Do After the Performance

Do you have a post-show plan? Is there a set of procedures that you work on after each performance? Or, does your band simply work on the next upcoming event – the next show, the next rehearsal, time in the studio, etc.?

In almost every professional endeavor, there is some kind of routine or review period to measure performance or follow-up with customers:

  • In sports, the coach diligently sits down with the entire team to review footage of the previous game. Team member celebrate successes and most importantly, look for areas of improvement.

  • In corporate business, the board of directors and executive staff look over stock performance and make decisions to keep their shareholders satisfied.

  • In the arts, performers carefully review each element of the show to see what delighted audiences and what could use work.

Click to read more ...

Thursday
Jan232014

'Meet and Jam' launches, helping musicians everywhere.

It helps musicians find and connect with each other. And, for the first time, they can also book studio time online. 

Musicians can put up profiles, list their influences and instruments, post video and audio, and then connect with each other. 

The video means you can have a good look at other musicians’ level and style before you contact them - saving time and embarrassment in the studio…

The site is for all genres and levels of ability. There are professional drummers on the site, looking for a new band, as well as enthusiastic amateurs looking to play more. There are singer-songwriters, violinists, trombonists, pianists, death metal lead guitarists, rappers… all wanting to meet and jam.

Click to read more ...

Sunday
Jan122014

How Bands Can Break Into New Markets

One way to grow your music’s reach is to break into new markets. This could be taken a number of ways: new geographical areas (cities, states, countries, etc.) or simply new audiences in general (by demographic, interest, psychographic, etc). Before you try and expand your reach through new markets, it’s important to take a few things into consideration:

  • Return on Investment: What is the cost or effort required to break into this market? Is the return on investment worthwhile or would you be better off using those resources to grow an existing market?

  • Goals: What kind of role will this market play in your S.M.A.R.T.E.R Goals?

Click to read more ...

Sunday
Dec292013

The One (and Only) Thing A DJ Should Ask For In Return For DJ Mixes

You’re creating boatloads of amazing mixes - yippee! So, it’s only natural that for every piece of music you deliver people should automatically make people want to come to your gigs or buy your latest release …right?

Errrr..wrong.

One singular piece of music isn’t going to translate into an immediate purchase or attendance to your event.

But, I have good news.

Building trust and BFF-worthy relationships with people so that they do backflips of joy when you make an offer is something you can do.

Click to read more ...

Wednesday
Dec112013

An Honest Review of the All-New Sonicbids EPK System

Today, I was checking out a Sonicbids EPK that was emailed to me. Much to my surprise, the layout for a Sonicbids artist profile completely changed – there was no quick bio, music player on top, or a useful set of links (press, stage plot, etc.). Instead, I found a Pinterest-like layout with navigational tiles. I thought it was just some lame option that the artist chose, but decided to check using my own band’s profile.

This is what I found:

Click to read more ...

Monday
Nov252013

5 lessons in 5 years from Audio Blood CEO & Founder, Sari Delmar

Every day, I get to wake up and go to work at my favourite place in the world with my favourite people. Every day I shake myself and say - HEY THIS IS REAL LIFE. YOU AREN’T DREAMING! 

My brand and artist development company Audio Blood is turning 5 years old next month and I can’t help but do some reflecting. 5 years somehow feels like it has just flown right by. I can see 10 in the not so distant future, and 15 and 20 thereafter. But, when you look carefully at each year it also feels like it’s been so long since starting out on my own in my little bedroom on Salem Ave in Toronto to our new downtown office with 7 full time staffers. It kinda blows my mind.

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Friday
Nov152013

MelodyFusion.Com Band Gear Give-Away

Enter to win, One of 5 High-End Musical Instruments worth over $2000. Whether you’re a music lover, promoter, musician, singer, or just want to win a smoking hot instrument, the “MelodyFusion Band Gear Give-Away” gives you more chances to win! Visit www.MelodyFusion.Com. Join. Learn. Listen. Promote your music. Connect with local Musicians & Fans. ALL for FREE! It’s EASY & QUICK to register.

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Tuesday
Sep032013

One Book To Rule Them All! The Elusive "It" Factor in the Music Industry

I have always been a creative entrepreneur, and not allowed the world to get the better of me, but instead, let the world fuel me. Throughout 13 years in the music industry I’ve worked with some of the best in the business: Anita Baker, KC Porter, Jim Henson Studios, Never Land, OK GO, George Duke, Lauren Mayhew, Pomplamoose, and as far as I can remember, I’ve heard of “it,” this elusive thing setting apart the extraordinary from the ordinary. These people encapsulate: auras, energy, and empower all that are near; you’re drawn to them.

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Thursday
Aug152013

7 Tips to Increase your Exposure and Potential

By now it’s apparent that there is a ton of music out there – over-saturation is a term you may hear often these days. For anyone getting involved with the music industry there is always a need for more exposure and promotion. If an artist or a record label has it, they will sell better, simple as that.

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Friday
Jul122013

MINI: Music Business: It's a Dirty Game!

MINI: Music Business: It’s a Dirty Game! FULL COLOR eBOOK & INSERTS! Preview Chapters 1-6 for only $2.99 This MINI version is AVAILABLE NOW at the low cost of $2.99 Direct from www.sevenwestpublishing.com for a limited time! See full color inserts showing firsthand some of the tactics used to deceive the masses and to hide the truth behind decades of abuse. FIND OUT FOR YOURSELF WHY AND HOW IT ALL BEGAN!

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Wednesday
Jul032013

Music Insurance: Is It Worth It?

Musical equipment theft is actually something that is extremely common. Unfortunately, it’s something that many musicians encounter and even some of the musical greats have found that their equipment or instruments have gone missing.

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Thursday
May302013

Before You Sign... 

What You Should Know Before You Sign the Deal can be found in this book…

Unlike any other book about the music business, “Music Business: It’s a Dirty Game!”,

this book is not a ‘puff piece’ about the glitz and glamour about the music business.

This book takes you on a journey from the excitement of having a music publishing contract with a major music publishing company to the legal battles that followed.

Click to read more ...