03/03/2010

5 Tips from Behind the Merch Table

As you may already know, there's more that goes into selling merch than just lugging a bin of t-shirts into your show. You went through all of the effort to get merchandise printed, so why not make the most of it? Here are some tips to help you sell merchandise, keep it organized, and give your fans an experience while you do it.

1. Create a cool and unique way to display your merch
Think of your merch table as a storefront window. While it's not the absolute most important aspect of merchandise (if someone just wants to buy a t-shirt from you, they may do it regardless), it does set you apart from other bands. So get creative! Some of my favorite merch table displays have included t-shirts hung up inside of guitar cases, display screens with live footage or other creative material, even stringing Christmas lights and other decorations around the table. That table is yours to use, so take a bit of time to plan how to best utilize your space. Everyone at the show will stop by just to see what the hell is going on over there!

2. Stay organized
This part is important for saving both time and sanity. With different t-shirt designs, styles, colors, and sizes, if you don't have a system set up you could spend 20 minutes fulfilling each order. Different systems work for different bands, but there are a few efficient ideas I've seen over the years. One is to roll up each individual shirt and put a piece of masking tape around it. On the piece of tape, write the shirt design and the size. You could even separate each design by bin, so you only need to write the size. This makes it easy to grab the size you need, plus you can also store tons of shirts this way (time and space efficient!). Another idea is to get plastic stackable drawers, each one designated for a different size. When a size-medium fan asks what shirts you have available, you just open the drawer and the options are right in front of you! As long as everything has a place, it'll be easy to find what you're looking for, especially when you're pressed for time.

3.Keep inventory
It's a great thing when a fan wants to give you money to wear a piece of merchandise with your band name on it. So what's worse than running out of merchandise at a show when fans are eager and willing to make a purchase? In order to prevent this from happening, you have to be sure to keep track of inventory. We've put together an inventory sheet for you to print and use behind the table! When you see that a certain design, size, or color is getting low, do a re-order with us. (Did you know that when you re-order shirts, since we already have the screens, you don't have to pay a set-up fee or worry about resending us artwork?) On this sheet, you'll see what you came to the show with, what you left with, and how much money you should have in the cash box. Click here to download the inventory/sales sheet

4.Build your mailing list
You want to allow the fans you make at shows to keep in touch with you; this is how you build up a following. However, you can't grow your fan base if you have no way to contact your new fans about upcoming shows, releases, or news. Take advantage of your merch table and the people that visit it by building up your mailing list. Even a simple clipboard with a form for collecting contact info will do the trick! I've seen bands that have traded the clipboard for a laptop, leaving it on their table with a page open for fans to input their info. Regardless of your means for collecting the information, the most important aspect is to make sure you're pro-active with your list. Go around the room asking people to sign up for your mailing list. Before you know it, you'll have an entire audience waiting for your updates!

5.Keep it personal
Use your merch table as a home base for your fans to interact with you. The more band members you have present, the better! When you take the time to be personal, building a relationship with the audience at a show, you're more likely to make a lasting impression on potential fans. Who wouldn't rather buy a t-shirt from a band they support, not only musically, but because you're great people? Stay connected with your fans and use your merch table as a resource to do it.

01/05/2010

1. Get organized
Before being able to clear your heads and start planning for the year, you have to clear your space. Organize the area where you practice; throw out or donate anything you don't need, fix any instruments that need repairs, stock up on guitar strings, picks, and drum sticks. When you're finished you'll feel like you can take over the world!

2. Acknowledge 2009's accomplishments
Making goals will be an important part of starting the year off right, but let's first take a moment to honor the last year and all the things your band has to be proud of. You can either verbally acknowledge these accomplishments or write them down to display in your rehearsal space. Point out the best shows, funnest memories, and any ways that your band has made steps forward since the previous year. Pat yourselves on the back, then be ready to set up 2010 to kick 2009's ass.

3. Make a list of goals for 2010
This step is the meat and potatoes of this “How To”. You want to make an impression, take over, move 10 steps ahead this year. So what exactly do you want to accomplish? Does your band want to put out a new CD? Go on tour? Get a record deal? Think of all of your dreams that you've had as a band and turn them into goals for your 2010 list. Once all of your goals have been realized and recorded, break them down. How are you going to accomplish each goal? Take each idea one step at a time. For example, if you want to go on tour, first figure out who will be booking it: will you try to find an agent or book a DIY tour? How long do you want to go for? When will everyone be available? Then start mapping it out. Next, start making calls. One step at a time, you're moving closer to accomplishing your goal. If you want to get signed, you may want to start with getting press kits made. Perhaps networking and handing out IndieCards for your band at events would be your ticket to getting signed. Think of each step your band needs to take, and write it down. The goal as a whole may seem overwhelming to accomplish, but each step is within reach. Want to put out a new CD? First decide how many songs you want to record. Then start writing the material. Find a producer and decide where you're going to record: do you know someone with a home studio or do you want to put in money to go to a state-of-the-art studio? Will you release it yourselves or on a record label? Anything you can think of doing, you are able to do. So dream big, work hard, and take it one step at a time until you've scratched every one of those goals off of your 2010 list!

4. Create a calendar
It can be easy to procrastinate or let time slip by without working at your goals, so here's an idea that'll keep you on track! Get a band calendar and hang it in your practice space. Use this calendar as a timeline for when you want to get things done, as well as for your practice and show schedule. If you wanted to have new t-shirts done by the end of the month, you won't have to worry about forgetting to order them if the deadline is staring right at you! This will also help each member because everyone will be able to clearly see what the schedule looks like, allowing you to...

5. Plan ahead
Using your calendar and list, you'll find it easy to plan ahead. This is the key to accomplishing goals, making progress, and not incorporating stress into any of your plans for 2010. Don't wait til the last minute to order CDs for your record release party, tshirts for your tour, or IndieCards for a music conference. Plan in the fall for next year's South by Southwest and start promoting your new record in the winter for a summer release. Big plans involve planning ahead, so don't let this factor take away from all the things you could be accomplishing this year. 2010... this is your band's year!

12/03/2009

We get a lot of questions regarding our ordering process and how one goes about making merchandise with us so, in an effort to alleviate your concerns, we bring you an article on exactly how our ordering works. enjoy!

1. Shop the site, decide what kind of merchandise you'd like to buy
Ordering merchandise shouldn't be considered a chore for bands. With all of our products clearly displayed on our site, we suggest that you browse our different merchandise options and make a decision about what you'd like to order. Want a few different promotional products, or are unsure what to order? Consider one of our merchandise packages!

2. Fill out a contact request form
Once your band has decided what kind of merchandise you'd like to make, the ordering process begins! Simply fill out a contact request form with the information about your order. Let us know what products, colors, sizes, etc. you're interested in. Don't worry, this isn't final- you'll have time to fine tune your order later on if you'd like.

3. Speak to a representative
Within 24 hours of submitting your contact form, a representative at Bandsonabudget.com will get in touch with you about your order. Remember that we're here to assist you every step of the way, so feel free to ask any questions!

4. Get a Bandsonabudget.com Account
Upon filling out the contact request form, a Bandsonabudget.com account will be automatically created for you. This account will allow you to login to see your invoice, upload art, access IndieCards campaigns, see your order history, etc. Simply go to Bandsonabudget.com/login, and use your email address as your username and the password that was emailed to you.

5. Review Invoice
After your order has been finalized between you and your representative, a formal invoice will be uploaded to your account page, which includes all shipping, taxes, and order information. Once you have reviewed the information and are ready to place the order, you can pay right on that page with a credit card!

6. Upload artwork
If your artwork is ready, simply upload it using the upload form under “FILES/ARTWORK”. We'll check the resolution to make sure your merchandise will be the highest quality possible. When ordering t-shirts, we'll send you a proof that shows exactly what your artwork will look like on a shirt. Once you've approved it, we'll put your order into production. If you need help setting up your art, we have an in-house designer who is available at a reasonable hourly rate.

7. Get awesome merchandise
Turnaround time for merchandise depends on which products you ordered, but generally within 7-10 business days you will have your merchandise shipped to your provided address. Local bands also have the option of picking up t-shirts right from our Asbury Park address. Now it's time to share your merch with the world!

11/02/2009

The music industry is certainly in the middle of a paradigm shift, which isn't necessarily a bad thing. As labels are becoming more obsolete, many bands are taking this opportunity to learn how to get things done themselves. Putting out a CD is something that can be done by anyone, but we're here to give you some tips on how to do it right!

A successful record is nothing without the music. Phase one: the creative aspect.  Before selecting which songs you want to record, you need to decide if you want to put out a single, sampler/demo, EP, or full-length CD. There are several factors that can help you determine this, specifically purpose and budget. If the purpose of recording is to shop your band to venues, labels, etc., it's best to select your strongest songs and go with a 3-4 song sampler. Alternatively, if you want to put out a record simply to deliver your music to your fans and you feel like you have enough quality material and resources, go with a full-length. Just remember, putting out a full-length demands some more resources than a sampler or an EP. That brings us to budget. Putting out a record without label support costs money. Ideally, your band or someone you know has a studio set up with pro-tools, allowing you to do a quality recording without going into a state-of-the-art $100/hour studio. If the actual recording budget isn't a huge concern, it could potentially be more efficient to record a full length over an EP. Getting a CD pressed costs the same amount regardless of how many songs are on it, however you can sell them at a higher price if there's a greater number of tracks. This will allow you to recoup your expenses much faster.

Let's move on to the belle of the ball, the reason we're all here, what it all comes down to: the music. There are so many aspects that go along with putting out a record, but this should be the #1 focus, especially in phase 1. We all get anxious to put some tunes down, but don't compromise the quality of your record by rushing it.

Step one: look at your entire catalog of songs, and select your strongest tracks. Try to avoid too many filler tracks. If you're struggling to come up with 10 or more quality tracks for a full-length, you may want to consider just releasing a solid EP.

Step two: Pre-production. These songs are your babies, and when you're so familiar with them, it's often hard to hear the potential for small changes to improve them. If you can't afford a professional producer, ask someone you know with a musical background for input. The more fine-tuning you work out before you head into the studio, the more prepared you'll be (remember, more time means more money!). At this point you know what type of record you're putting out, which songs will go on it, and the songs are ready to be tracked. Time to lay those beats down!

Once the recording is complete and the tracks have been mixed, it's time to move on to phase two: The fine tuning.The final touches on the record aren't going to necessarily make or break the songs, but it will determine how professionally your songs will be presented to your audience. Three important steps come into play in phase two:

1. First, determine the track order.

Start out strong, keeping in mind that some people (namely labels, venues, etc.) won't give it more than a few minutes, or even seconds. If you have a single, place it early enough in the record so your audience doesn't have to dig for it. You want your CD to be an experience; spread out slower songs instead of bunching up tracks with a similar feel. Focus on the overall vibe of the record, instead of individual songs. Create playlists with several different song order variations, and listen to them as a whole. Ask outsiders for input. Consider the songs that work best as openers and closers at your live shows. Song order is important; it's how you and your fans will get to know and love your record for the rest of it's life, so spend some time on this step!

2. A crucial step in creating a professional-sounding record is mastering.

Having your record mastered ensures that all of the tracks will be a standard volume and will sound bright and full. You don't want your fans to put the CD on in their car, only to hear a mere muffled murmur of the songs you worked so hard on. By mastering the tracks, the sound quality will be comparable to any major label record. Details are important, such has having smooth and equal transitions between tracks. This process is imperative in giving your record a professional sound; consider it the finishing touches on your masterpiece.

3. We're told not to judge a book by it's cover... but some do, so let's talk about CD packaging!

You want your CD to be the full package. The goods are inside, so you want to make the outside match as well (this sounds like a make-over show). When it comes to art, there's really no right or wrong. Simple vs. detailed, black and white vs. full color, photography vs. drawn art, it's all up to you. However, there are some tips to keep in mind when determining how to wrap up these tunes of yours. First, keep in mind the style of your music when coming up with the style of the package. Obviously having an acoustic record with lyrics dabbling in the wonders of love shouldn't have artwork that makes people think they've come across hell's headlining metal band. So try to match the artwork with the overall vibe of the music. That's the only advice we'll give on the artwork itself; it's your creation! It's very important to make sure that somewhere in the packaging you include the credits (composers, musicians, as well as engineering, producing, mastering, etc. info), contact info, publishing company, copyrights, and any other pertinent information. And of course, don't forget the track titles on the back!

The last important thing to mention is a bar code. By including a bar code on your CD, you are allowing yourself to set up sound scan at record stores and at shows. This is a system set up to officially track how many records are being sold. When getting your CDs pressed, simply ask the company you're ordering them through to include a bar code, you'll be happy you did it!

You've accomplished a great feat by creating a record with the full package. Now onto phase 3: your CD's life.

The CDs are hot off the press and in your hands- what an amazing feeling! It took a lot of work to get to this point, but this is no time to rest! Celebrate, yes; rest, no. Now is when the work really starts (if you want to do this right!). In order to make the most out of your efforts and use your record as a vehicle to get further as a band, there are several important aspects to tackle at this point: sales, promotion, touring, licensing. Let's break them down.

1. You don't need a big distribution deal to sell records.

Bands often get so caught up with the idea of distribution deals that they forget about the more important “D”: demand. As an up-and-coming artist, it's not important to have your CDs in as many stores as possible, rather just a few right places. These days, the Internet is your absolute best resource for selling your CD, both for digital and physical sales. When a digital track is purchased, it costs no money for you (as opposed to a physical CD), so the money that goes to you is 100% profit. When fans want to buy a physical CD from you, they can do so online; therefore, you're only sending out CDs that have been purchased. One of the most efficient ways for bands to sell their music is CDBaby.com. The way it works is you'll have your own page on this site where fans can order CDs (CD Baby will even send them out for you, so you don't have to worry about anything). They also submit your tracks to all the major digital download sites, including i tunes. You can use the links they provide to sell your music on your website, Facebook, Myspace, etc. The best part is, when you have a certain amount of money in your account, CDBaby.com will wire your profit right into a bank account. Doesn't get much easier than that! In addition to covering the online angle, you could also go into your local record stores and sell your disc on consignment. You simply walk in with 3-5 CDs, they'll give you an invoice indicating how many records you left there, and if someone buys a CD, you go in and pick up your money. As long as your music is available to any fans that want to buy it, there's no sense worrying about getting your record into stores across the country where there's not demand yet!

2. Your record is out in the world, now you just need everyone else to know it!

Marketing and promotion: perhaps the most important tools for making your record a success. Once your music is available for fans to buy, you need to let them know about you. There are several ways to do this, that we promise aren't too intimidating! Let's start with the basics, which I'm sure you already have covered, and that of course is the web. Don't do what a lot of people do and mistake social networking sites not as a great resource, but as the only resource. Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, etc. are fantastic tools that you should be updating regularly, but don't rely on them as your only form of promotion. Make sure that you have a website full of information, especially links to buy the record (don't ever make a fan search your site to figure out how to buy your CD! Make it easy for them). Blogs are also a great way to link your product to the outside world. Keep a journal online documenting everything that your band is doing, and include useful information that people outside of your existing fan base would like to read. This will hopefully draw them in, introduce them to your great music, and expand your fan base! Now remember, there are many other ways to promote your record outside of the Internet. We strongly recommend getting postcards and posters made with your album artwork and information. Send these promo materials to venues where you'll be playing (or even ones you're not!), in record stores, tattoo parlors, and any local hang outs you can think of. Send your CD and a nice cover letter to local radio stations. Also, don't underestimate the importance of press. Getting a review or setting up an interview for an article can go a very long way. Put together a spreadsheet of local, regional, and even national music rags and send a CD to them (be sure to include a letter and one-sheet with info about the band). No one can expect up-and-coming artists to be able to afford a full page ad in one of these magazines, but press is free. Good press in a credible magazine can single handedly create buzz on a band, so it's worth the effort you put into sending those discs out!

3. Being a hero is something to be proud of, but let's take this to a national level!

Many will agree that touring on a record is a necessity. You want as much heat on your record as possible, in as many places as possible. This is a grassroots effort, and involves playing local clubs around the country to slowly build up that fan base and the popularity of your new CD simultaneously. In my experience, you sell more records on the road then you do playing local shows. Think of all of those CDs sprinkled across the country that will plant seeds for the next time you visit that city. Having a CD is the most important aspect of touring, because you have something to leave behind that properly represents you. Each time you go back you'll have a bigger fan base, until your popularity has spread across the nation! Don't know how to go on tour without label support? We've got a blog about that which gives you all the support you need!

4. It's all about the music, but it's nice to collect a paycheck for your hard work!
We know you're doing all of this because of your love for music and faith in your band. But without a label putting money and resources behind you, we know this can get expensive. Think of it as an investment; you believe you've got the goods, and you've put in the work and money to see it through. The positive side of not having a record label is that you don't have to share any of your rights, royalties, or revenue with anyone! So let's figure out how to recoup your expenses, then get some additional money rolling in for the band. The first step is not the easiest to understand, but it certainly is one of the most important, and it's called publishing. We've put together a nice long blog to help you set up your publishing, so we won't go too deep into the logistics here. Basically, you set up a publishing company for your band, send out some CDs and put the effort into getting your songs played by anyone and everyone, and in time collect royalties. This isn't the best way to make money in the short term, but it'll pay off for years to come! For short term income ideas, let's look to the most obvious, easiest, and beneficial ways to make money: merchandise! As a band, you get great rates on custom merchandise, then you can mark it up however much you'd like to sell to fans at your shows. Not only will you be making your fans happy and recouping money, you'll also have free marketing!

This may seem like a lot of work, and to tell you the truth, it is. But hey, if it was easy everyone would do it. It often takes one great record to break a band, so if you think of the potential outcome of your hard work, isn't it worth it?

Nina Chiminec is the marketing director at BandsOnABudget.com In her previous life she was the head of new media at SPV Records. Her clients included Motorhead, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy. She also spent 8 years recording and touring with the NJ rock band Avery. She can be reached at nina [at] bandsonabudget.com.

07/31/2009

Media Kit

BandsOnABudget.com Vector Logos

05/01/2009

Here you can download the Intellectual Property Release (IPR) forms for your CD order:

IPR Form Page 1

IPRform Page 2

04/10/2009

Static Data IndieCard™ Templates

Photoshop .psd (7.8 MB)

Variable Data Plastic IndieCard™ Templates

Plastic IndieCard Illustrator .ai (CS1) (2.58 MB)
Plastic IndieCard Illustrator .ai (CS3) (2.45 MB)
Zipped Archive Illustrator .ai (CS1 & CS3) (3.38 MB)

04/10/2009

Photoshop .psd 4x6 Postcard Template (4.74MB)
Zipped Archive 4x6 Postcard Template (2.29MB)

01/15/2009

Bandsonabudget.com saves you money when you make merch. Keep that money in your pocket by having a good inventory. Here's a merch inventory and sales sheet which will help you from show to show. The sheet will keeps track of what you brought to the show, what you're leaving with, what you gave out, what you sold, and how much money you should have. The sheet also includes a section for venue percentage, to help you settle up with venues which collect a portion of your sales. The inventory and sales sheet is in .pdf format. If you'd like an excel file which you can edit and also includes formulas, go to our contact page and write "send merch inventory sheet".

Click To Download Inventory Sales Sheet

12/12/2008

We know that if you’re in a band you’re a pretty cool guy or gal… but when it comes to the holidays we’re all just gitty little kids. You work hard all year, so it’s important to take the time to celebrate, give back, and get your ducks in a row for the New Year. In this special holiday edition blog, we will suggest ways to make the holidays as a band more fun, productive, and charitable!

1. Take advantage of the fact that you’re going to spend a little money on each other. Band members always need something. Whether your guitar player is always scrounging around for picks, or your singer has been duct-taping the mic to the stand after breaking the clip- there are always things to spend money on. If your band is planning on exchanging gifts for the holidays, make it a rule of thumb to keep it band-related. Not only do you get to be a nice pal by giving a gift, but you’re putting your money where your band really needs it.

2. Use your talent to give back. During this giving time of year, there are many ways for bands to incorporate charity into your shows. First, pick a cause that your band really believes in. There are several ways that you can raise money as a band to contribute to your charity of choice. One option is to pledge a percentage of your merchandise profits to the charity. Another option is to hold a show and donate all profits to the cause. If you want an even more simple way to give back, set up a food or toy drive at all of your shows around the holidays.

3. Instead of spending money this holiday season, how about making some? If you have all of your publishing set up (if not, read the blog on setting up publishing for your band), your main goal is to get usage out of your songs so you can collect royalties. Did you know that the songs that make the most money are marching band scores, children’s music, and holiday music? Get in the holiday spirit by writing some holiday songs and trying to get people to license them from you. Then all you have to do is sit back, and collect a check!

4. Start off the New Year with a fresh set of goals.The start of a new year is very refreshing. In addition to joining a gym and swearing to lose 10 pounds as your New Year resolution, sit down with your band members and come up with your own goals for 2009. Collectively decide where you’d like to be in a year, and come up with a strategy for how you want to get there. If your goal is to put out a new record, sketch a time line for when you’d write the songs, book studio time, and plan to put out the CD. It’s also a good opportunity to look back at your accomplishments from the previous year, and brainstorm how to build on that.

5. And most importantly….. Celebrate!!! When you’re done donating to charity and raking in the big bucks from your hit single “Rock ‘n Roll Reindeer”, take the time to throw your own band Holiday party. Invite all of your friends, family, and fans, and give them a private show. Shameless self promotion? Perhaps. But everyone loves a party, and by now you’re smart enough to know that every ounce of promotion counts!

Nina Chiminec is the head of New Media and a publicist at SPV Records. Her clients include Motorhead, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy. She also spent 8 years recording and touring with the NJ rock band Avery. In her free time she is a contributing editor for BandsOnABudget.com. She can be reached at nina [at] bandsonabudget.com.

12/05/2008

While we here at BandsOnABudget.com are based out of the United States we, on occasion, work with artists visiting from Canada, Mexico, Europe, and other International points. When visiting you may encounter obstacles such as tariffs, over-zealous border patrol, and space limitations when it comes to merchandise so it's important to think things through before planning a tour to the United States. Below are a few things that you should take into consideration when gearing up for an International tour.

1) Drop ship Your Merchandise To Your First Show
You may not be aware of it but, as an international visitor, if you plan on bringing anything into the United States and selling it, like t-shirts or hoodies, you are going to have to pay a tariff, or tax, on it. This can be quite a hassle and sometimes customs will not even let you bring your merchandise over the border. There is an easy solution, however, and that is to print your merchandise in the United States and have it shipped to the club, bar, hall, or basement of your first show. Not only will you avoid any tariffs you'll also be able to lighten your load and avoid any extra baggage fees.

2) Print Only What You Need
Unfortunately, the same rules may apply when leaving the United State, and you may be subject to tariffs and excise taxes when bringing your merchandise back into your home country. The best way to avoid doing this is to NOT come home with any merchandise by printing only what you need. While this may be a shameless plug, we have a 3-5 day turnaround and can accommodate a variety of shipping methods; so it's easy to re-order and have your new merchandise drop shipped to a future date should you run low on the road. After the first few nights you'll be able to get a handle of how much you are selling and how far in advance you will need to order to keep from running out.

3) Bring An Extra Duffel Bag
Do yourself a favor and throw an extra duffel bag into your luggage when you leave for tour. Should you have extra merchandise at the end of the tour you can use this bag to bring it back home. Pass it off as dirty laundry when going through customs and avoid any import/export issues.

4) Print Promo Materials In Advance
With the rising cost of everything these days, even something as simple as mailing a poster or press kit to a club can really put a dent into your budget, especially if you're mailing it from overseas. Cut down on this cost by printing your promo materials in the states and mailing directly to the clubs in advance. While we do not advertise it on our website, we can assist you with mailing any promo materials and press kits – just ask us and we'll be happy to work with you.

5) Consider Digital Download Cards As An Alternative To CD's
Lets face it, CD's are quickly going the way of VHS and 8-tracks. They're also not cheap to produce and they weight a lot. In short, when touring from another country they just take up valuable space. On that note, consider ditching CD's and moving to a digital solution. We've been a huge fan of download cards for the past year or so and have been using them at events as promo items for that very reason. Not only are they cheaper than CDs, they take up a lot less room and, face it, they're a lot cooler. Again, while we do not currently advertise them on our site, BandsOnABudget.com can readily assist your should you decide to make the leap and ditch the compact disc.

Bret Morgan is an owner of and web developer for BandsOnABudget.com, SwimMerch.com, ZenMerch.com, and DBLSystems.com. In his free time he enjoys surfing, ashtanga yoga, riding bikes (both motorized and foot powered), and reading. His current beer of choice is Carlsberg. He can be contacted at bret [at] BandsOnABudget.com

11/20/2008

Its common knowledge that writing great songs and having a great live show is only half the battle when it comes to succeeding as a band. Standing out from the 1000's of others trying to do the same thing as you takes dedication, a lot of hard work, and a strong set of marketing tools to promote your music from multiple angles. Below are a few keys things that you NEED to do to succeed as a band.

1) Learn The Role of Social Media Sites

Let me be clear – baring a few extreme examples, posting on Myspace or your local “scene” message board will NOT break your band. Nor will sitting tirelessly for hours on any of these sites adding friends or spamming other users about how great your new demo is. Social media sites such as Myspace, Facebook, Twitter, & others are great tools to compliment your other methods of promoting and marketing yourself. Far too many bands use these sites as their primary means of reaching out to fans and this rarely succeeds. Do yourself a favor and limit your time to about 10%-20% of the total time you spend marketing your band. Use your new found time to hand out flyers, go to shows, or to writing some new songs.

2) Build Your Contact List

You know your supposed to do it but even the best of us are slackers when it comes to building our contact list at shows. Make it a goal to put out a sign up sheet at every show. Even better – walk around after your set with a clipboard and ask people to sign up. Give them something free, like a sticker or demo, to make the offer sweeter. Be sure to try and ask for name, email, myspace, facebook, twitter, hometown, and phone number.

3) Hand Out Flyers, Stickers, Posters, & Postcards... Everywhere...

One of the most effective ways to promote yourself is through printed promotional materials such as stickers, flyers, posters, and postcards. Before the Internet really exploded, this was one of the ONLY ways a band had to promote themselves. While it's become somewhat of a lost art form, I still think it the most effective means of marketing yourself. Print up stickers and put them on everything – telephone poles, bathroom walls, venues, tollbooths, etc. Make some tour posters, flyers, or 4x6 Postcards and hand them out at shows, put them in record shops, coffee shops, venues, bars, and anywhere YOU might notice a flyer. Before any shows send a club some promotional materials about 2-3 weeks in advance. Get your material out there any way that you can.

4) Hang Out At Your Shows

Again, you know you're supposed to do it but all too often you skip out to go to a party, bar, or home to hang out with your girl/boyfriend. Make it a goal that at least one person from your band will show up early to see the openers and stay though the end of the show. Talk to the other bands and start to build your network. Stay in touch with these bands and swap shows with them. Introduce yourselves to promoters and club owners and give them something to remember your band. You may have noticed that it seems like the same bands are always getting the opening slots for all the big shows. As a former club owner and promoter I can attest that 9 times out of 10 I booked bands that I had met personally and had somehow made a positive impact on me. I also noticed what bands stayed and supported the other bands and the ones that packed up and were out the door right after they played. Do you want to guess which bands I gave the opening slots to?

5) Play Shows

Its simple. It's easy. Now just do it. Make it a goal to play a show every weekend. Do you have problems getting booked by clubs or bars? Don't let that stop you – book your own shows. Backyards, basements, colleges, & coffee shops all make great venues. Use your network of bands and help book each other. Check out sites like SonicBids for festivals in your area and apply to be a showcasing artist. There are so many avenues to playing shows so don't let “we can't get booked” stop you from playing.

6) Build a Press List and Work It.

One of the most underused means of promotion is using the local media to help promote your event. Many of these organizations NEED event listings, artist interviews, and other “local” news items. I suggest making a media contact list that consists of local papers (both music related and just general papers), zines, college radio stations, blogs, & labels. Send out press releases and updates at least once a month but be sure not to over saturate them with information to the point that it ends up being skimmed over. Contact your local college radio stations and try and set up in studio interviews and performances. Get creative – the sky's the limit.

Bret Morgan is an owner of and web developer for BandsOnABudget.com, SwimMerch.com, ZenMerch.com, and DBLSystems.com. In his free time he enjoys surfing, ashtanga yoga, riding bikes (both motorized and foot powered), and reading. His current beer of choice is Carlsberg. He can be contacted at bret [at] BandsOnABudget.com or you can follow him on Twitter

11/14/2008

I remember when I first started playing in bands there were two things that “made you official” and they were a demo CD and a t-shirt. Making the CD was easy, we'd get some beers and spend a few nights recording on a 4-track and then another few nights burning them onto CD-Rs on my computer. Throw in a trip to Staples (or just pilfering from whatever office job I had at the time) for some jewel cases and some photocopied jacket covers and we were half way to being a “real” band.

T-shirts were a whole other matter. I didn't know the first thing about making a T-shirt for my band. “How do I make a design?”, “Where do I even go once I have a design?”, and “What type of shirt do I use for printing?” were just a few of the questions that plagued me.

Fortunately, I have covered the guidelines for preparing t-shirts designs for screen printing in my past blog "A 5 Minute Guide To Preparing Your Artwork For Screen Printing". While it won't help you out on the creative side of your design, it'll get you started on making sure your artwork is ready and capable to be printed when the time comes.

I also have an answer for the question of where to go once you have a design. Pardon the shameless plug, but you are reading a blog for BandsOnABudget.com: Your One Stop Merch Shop, so in short – you're already in the right place.

The final question “What kind of shirt do I use for printing” is a much trickier question. While I could go on for hours I've decided to keep things simple and discuss the most popular shirts we print at BandsOnABudget.com . This list is by no means exhaustive and doesn't cover brands such as Alternative Apparel, Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, or Jerzees. With that being said – here is our T-Shirt Roundup:

The Gilden G500 100% Heavy Cotton T-Shirt:

This T-shirt is one of the most popular “band” shirts out there. It provides a great blend of affordability with quality and can easily be compared to it's other 100% cotton competitors from Hanes, Fruit of the Loom, and Jerzees. While there are “cheaper” T-Shirts on the market they are often mixes of cotton and other synthetics to produce a lighter and less quality garment. If you've ever had the experience of buying a shirt, washing it a few times, having the colors fade, and the shirt fall apart then this is usually the result of a cheap “throw-away” garment. On the other hand, the Gilden G500 is a great shirt with a great price and will not only hold up to years of washing but retain it's ink for a long time to come.

Link To Price Chart

The American Apparel 2001 Fine Jersey Short Sleeve T-shirt

American Apparel is the Mercedes of the T-Shirt world, minus, of course, the fact that they are produced in the U.S.A. and Mercedes is a product of German engineering. That aside, the American Apparel 2001 is a high quality, extremely durable, and extremely soft garment – in fact according to their marketing it is “The softest, smoothest, best-looking T-shirt available anywhere. “. It holds inks exceptionally well and their cuts are a little more form fitting than a Gilden G500. The downside to all these wonderful amenities is, of course, the price, which is typically several dollars more per piece; but don't let that dissuade you from taking this garment for a test drive. If you've ever bought a shirt from a big “rock-concert” the chance is that it was an American Apparel.

Link To Price Chart

The Tultex Fine Jersey T-Shirt

Tultex is a relatively new T-Shirt manufacturer to the game, in it's current form, anyway. Tultex aims to bridge the gap between the Gilden/Hanes/Fruit of the Loom (and other 100% cotton blends) and higher end brands such as American and Alternative Apparel. It is also priced accordingly and will typically run a little more than a Gilden G500 but a little less than an American Apparel 2001. Quality wise, it is softer than a Gilden G500 yet not as durable as the American Apparel 2001. It does hold it's ink extremely well and comes standard with a convenient “tear away” tag. Tultex has been gaining a lot of popularity with touring bands these days such as Fallout Boy and even Motorhead.

Link To Price Chart

The Anvil Organic 100% Cotton Shirt (OR420)

The last shirt on our roundup, and my personal favorite, is the 100% Organic Cotton T-Shirt from Anvil. First produced in 2007, this shirt was Anvil's solution to creating an affordable, yet non-toxic and sustainable, organic cotton T-Shirt. While a little more expensive than a Gilden G500, it is price much lower than competing organics from Alternative Apparel, American Apparel, & Econscious. I prefer the OR420 not only because is it sustainable, it's affordable. While produced in Honduras, it is guaranteed to have been produce in both environmentally and socially responsible ways - so rest easy that this shirt was NOT produced in a sweatshop.

Link To Price Chart

Bret Morgan is an owner of and web developer for BandsOnABudget.com, SwimMerch.com, ZenMerch.com, and DBLSystems.com. In his free time he enjoys surfing, ashtanga yoga, riding bikes (both motorized and foot powered), and reading. His current beer of choice is Carlsberg. He can be contacted at bret [at] BandsOnABudget.com

07/07/2008

When designing and preparing your custom artwork for printing on a t-shirt, sticker, vinyl banner, hat, CD, hoodie, or other garment you must take a few things into consideration in order to ensure it will print properly. While this may seem like a daunting task, here at BandsOnABudget.com we aim to simplify the process for our customers with this quick intro.

1) Make Sure Your Artwork is 300 DPI. Dots per inch, or DPI, is the number of holes per inch an area, such as a screen, contains. It works in a similar way to a TV or computer monitor, the higher the number of holes, the greater and more high quality the image can be displayed. While with screen printing one can get by with less dots per inch since most silk screens are less than 300 DPI, we suggest that when you set up your designs in Photoshop, use 300 DPI resolution. Please also be aware that scaling up an existing design from 72 DPI to 300 DPI in Photoshop does NOT cut it and will cause your final artwork to be pixelatted – and we see this ALL the time. So just keep it simple and remember that all artwork needs to be created in 300 DPI from the start.

2) Keep Your Design To 6 Colors or Less. When designing artwork for screen printing we recommend looking at some old band t-shirt, stickers, or other similar screen printed items. Notice that the design only uses a few colors, often between 1 and 6. Notice how some designs actually use the color of the shirt as an additional color. Screen printing is completely different than another type of printing called 4-color process, which can blend colors to product shades and is often seen when someone wants to duplicate a photograph. 4-color process is a completely different printing method than screen printing and costs about 4 time as much. Our advice at BandsOnABudget.com is to stick to traditional designs between 1 and 6 colors. It'll save you a boatload and it's the standard for bands.

Just one more quick note about your design. All too often bands send us artwork created by a friend, drummer, or other non-designer by taking a photo or other image found on the internet and slapping their band name across the front of it. 99 times out of 100 this artwork cannot be used for screen printing firstly because it isn't 300 DPI resolution and secondly because a photograph cannot easily be separated into 4 or less colors. While our designers can assist you in creating a suitable logo based on your initial concept, this does usually cost somewhere in the range of $75-$250/logo.

3) Color Separate Your Artwork. Now that your artwork is 300 DPI and limited to 6 colors you need to make sure each color you wish to print is on it's own Photoshop layer. The process of doing this is called color separation. When color separating, be sure to make sure that the background color (i.e. the color of the shirt) is on it's own, separate layer as well. While this seems simple, be careful to make sure that any strokes or other Photoshop effects you are using are broken out from the inside color. For example, if you used a black stroke around green lettering, you need to make sure the black stroke is on a separate layer from the green. Remember, our designers are always ready to help with any color separation issues you may encounter so just let us know if you have any problems.

4) Sizing Your Artwork. All artwork should be sized exactly to the dimensions you want to print. If you were designing a 2”x6” sticker, you would want your artwork to be 2 inches by 6 inches at 300 DPI resolution. Likewise, if you were printing a 2' x 6' Vinyl banner – make sure your artwork is 2 feet by 6 feet at 300 DPI resolution. Be aware that with our vinyl banners we use a digital print method and you do NOT need to separate your artwork or limit yourself to 6 colors.

5) Saving and Submitting Your Artwork. We prefer all artwork to be in Adobe Photoshop or Adobe Illustrator formats. We also accept PDFs and EPSs as well. If it is a large file (10Megs or more) you can zip it up using Winzip or Winrar and submit it that format as well. When you are ready to submit your artwork you can either email it to art [at] BandsOnABudget.com or go to http://www.BandsOnABudget.com/upload.php and upload it directly to our server. Just be sure to drop us a line letting us know it's there.

Preparing artwork for screen printing isn't a difficult task, however there are several things that must be done correctly to ensure a high quality and professional print job. While we hope this guide will be enough to get you going we are always available to assist you with your designs, color separations, and other prep work. If you require any further assistance, don't hesitate to contact us at 732-701-9045 or email us at info [at] BandsOnABudget.com

Bret Morgan is an owner of and web developer for BandsOnABudget.com, SwimMerch.com, ZenMerch.com, and DBLSystems.com. In his free time he enjoys surfing, ashtanga yoga, riding bikes (both motorized and foot powered), and reading. His beer of choice is 24oz Budweisers. He can be contacted at bret [at] BandsOnABudget.com

01/01/2008

» Jump To Stickers

11/15/2007

Strategies for nurturing a bond that will withstand all the hardships

Your band mates are more than people you play music with. In a sense, they’re your family, and you need to be able to get along with the people whose hands you put your heart in. This family you’re creating is going to go through a lot of ups and downs, but there area few important strategies to always coming out on top. For the sake of your music, your happiness, and your future, invest some time in strengthening the relationship with the people in your band as you prepare for what you hope to be, a life long journey with them.

1. Make the right decisions from the start. Sometimes people tend to be so anxious to start a band, that they let anyone that can play an instrument join. Although this is a faster way to put a band together, there’s much less chance for longevity. When trying out members, have two separate segments. Obviously, make sure they can play their instruments first, but after you’re done with the try out, hang out with them. Even if you’re grabbing a slice of pizza, you need to know how the band gets along as people, not just musicians. Think of it as a relationship- dating someone that’ll never be right for you and having to go through a break up is much harder than waiting a little bit longer until you’ve found the right person.

2. Keep communication open. Music is something that comes from people’s souls, and having to compromise your vision can sometimes lead to tension in the band. Every member is creating something new together, and there’s no way everyone always hears the same exact thing before it’s written. The most important aspect of getting along as a band is to have open communication. Creating a comfort zone where everyone can put their ideas on the table without worrying about being criticized or criticizing someone else, is imperative. If this atmosphere is created from the start it will be much easier to compromise, and guarantee a stronger band.

3. Make lists. One very effective way of keeping communication open and progressing as a band is to make lists. A good exercise is for everyone to take a piece of paper and jot down what they think can be worked on to help the band progress. Whether it is to correct bad habits at practice, or to work on stage presence, everyone can get their thoughts off their chest and move forward. Once everyone shares their list, create a master list; this can be a combination of musical, business, and personal goals. Keep this list in your practice area, so you can be conscious of the things you’re working towards, and cross them off together as they’ve been accomplished.

4. Learn to keep personal life separate. Ideally, your band mates should be your best friends. However, there is an art to keeping the lives as friends and as band mates separate. When discussing musical matters, there will be times where you and your band mates may disagree. You may be expressing what you think is best for the band, while your band mate feels something different. Leave the discussions that occur in the band behind when you spend personal time with your friends. At the same time, keep any personal matters that happen between you outside of the musical world that you share. It is possible to keep the two separate, which proves to be much healthier for both the band and the friendships.

5. Designate hang out time. All work and no play make it very hard to keep the band fun! At the same time, goofing off throughout practice won’t get your band to the level you want it to. Keep practice productive, and designate time when everyone can hang out. Plan trips together, go to shows and observe other bands, do a photo shoot. Especially if the musical aspect in your band is rigorous, make sure you take time to keep your ties together positive. This personal connection you maintain gives you more strength to make it through the other, more difficult aspects.

6. Go to shows together. One thing that makes a huge difference in the interaction of a band is going to shows together. Loading the equipment, driving together, and getting hyped for the show is a bonding experience that will show on stage. The band is made up of all members together, so having everyone work together is crucial. Showing up separately before you go on stage has no inspiration, and will eventually take out the personal aspect of playing shows. Sit at the merch table together, help one another set up equipment, and work like a team. The closeness you feel throughout the day will transfer into your performance, and your audience will see that.

Nina Chiminec is the head of New Media and a publicist at SPV Records. Her clients include Motorhead, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy. She also spent 8 years recording and touring with the NJ rock band Avery. In her free time she is a contributing editor for BandsOnABudget.com. She can be reached at nina [at] bandsonabudget.com.

10/23/2007

You need to tour to get signed, but you don’t need to get signed to tour!

Going on tour with your band may seem like the ultimate fantasy, but with some good advice, it’s much more possible than you think! Touring is the most effective way to grow as a band, and expose yourself in more than your home market. Few labels will work with a band that hasn’t popped their tour cherry, so if you’re willing to do the work (and it is a lot of work) it’ll be the most worthwhile experience of your life. Oh, and be ready for the experience to make or break your band.

1. If everyone’s not on board, jump ship. Booking your own tour is a very tedious and grueling process that will really benefit your band. Because so much work has to be put into it and everyone in the band will reap the benefits, everyone in the band should be in this together. There are several reasons why this is the key to booking a tour. First of all, it’s much less work when it’s divided up. If you have 20 dates to book and 4 members, that’s only 5 dates each as opposed to an overwhelming 20 dates for one person. The second reason is that you can support one another through the process, celebrating each confirmation, and venting about your frustrations to people that understand. The third reason is that on the day everyone gets in the van to leave for tour, you know you all deserve it. There is no resentment, and you know that you worked together to get through this experience. At every show you play, each member will remember what it took to get to where you are, and it won’t be taken for granted by anyone. People always say that tours make or break a band, and it’s the truth. However, if the booking is successfully done together, you’ll have had such a strengthening experience booking it, that going your tour will be nothing but blue skies!

2. Make sure you have a form of transportation. This may not seem like such an important step in the beginning of planning a tour, but it is absolutely crucial and needs to be worked out way in advance. If you already have a van, make sure it doesn’t need any major work- you do not want to get stranded in the middle of nowhere with all of your equipment. If you don’t have a van, consider renting one. Take note that in many states, the driver has to be 21 or 25 years of age- renting vans can also be very expensive, and you don’t want to leave for tour in debt. If you don’t have access to a van, there are other options. It is a much cheaper alternative to rent a trailer, which can be towed by SUVs that have a towing package. The last option is to borrow equipment from other bands or use a backline at the shows that you book. This will enable the band members to fit in one car, and just fit only the necessities in the trunk (guitars, snares, keyboards, etc).

3. Plan a route that makes sense. The first step to booking the actual tour is to figure out the routing. Your band needs to collectively decide how long you can be on the road, and how far you want to go. For first timers, a 2-3 week regional tour is a good goal. Make sure that you’re planning this several months in advance to eliminate some of the stress and pressure. Look at a map and plan a route that makes sense. Think about what the weather is like in those locations at the time of year you’re going, and try to visit states that have tour markets closer together. Although you most likely won’t be able to stick to the plan 100% while you’re booking, at least start out with consecutive stops so you save the most gas money, and spend less time in the car. Remember, many states are very large, so aim for specific cities, not just venues anywhere in the state!

4. Buddy up with another band. Touring is a very bonding experience for your band because you’re usually the only people you know at every show. If you’re not going far, only bring the members of your band, and maybe one person to watch your merchandise. However, if you’re thinking about taking a longer trek, the best way to do it is to partner up with another band. With limited finances, it’s most efficient to share a van, trailer, equipment, and hotel or hostel room (hostels are a great inexpensive alternative to hotels!). This means your gas and toll expenses are cut in half, which makes all the difference in the world if you’re not guaranteed a lot of money at each show. In addition to that, you’ll have twice as many people to help book the tour!

Note: Booking a show with 2 out-of-state bands is more difficult because you’re taking up more slots that could be filled with local bands that draw more. Offer to split set times if it’s a make or break situation. Also, by sharing equipment, it cuts set up time by a lot and is more convenient for the venue.

5. Use more than one strategy to try to book a date. There are several strategies to booking a tour date, and you’ll probably need to do a combination of them. First, use any personal connections you have. If you know someone in a market you’re trying to play, ask them to help get a show- they’re more likely to know a venue owner or promoter than someone from out of state. At the very least, try to talk to people from the area to get recommendations of where to play and who the contacts are. Second, use some of the many online or print resources to obtain a list of venues and promoters in different states, such as www.BYOFL.org and Musician’s Atlas. Just keep in mind that cold calls are the hardest way to get access to a venue since they get so many of them. Note that your band has a much better chance of getting added to an existing show than getting a show set up around you. If you do this, research the other bands on the bill and make sure you won’t be playing to the wrong crowd. Be sure to be extremely polite when asking for an opportunity to play there. Additionally, tell the booker that you plan to promote the show to the absolute best of your ability, and hope to draw at least a few people. The third option is to do a show swap. Find bands from the area you wish to play, and offer to set them up with a show in your hometown if they return the favor. This will motivate them to get you on a good show for the same opportunity in your town!

6. Stay organized. You’re going to be talking to a ton of people from all over the place, and you have to be able to keep track of who’s who, and what’s getting booked. Find a system that works for you. One way to stay organized is to set up a spreadsheet with a list of every venue and promoter in the area. Next to the name and contact information, have a column that keeps track of your last interaction. If the promoter says “follow up with me in a week”, you need to remember to do so. Keep this up to date, so you don’t bug people that passed, or miss potential opportunities. Always stay in touch with the people that booked the show after they confirm it- especially with a phone call before you leave to say you’re looking forward to the date.

7. Promote, Promote, Promote! You may not know anything about the town you’re playing in, but you want them to know about you! The more people that come to your show, the more worthwhile your trip will be. Find a list of all local radio stations (especially college), newspapers, music rags, record stores, tattoo parlors, and bars (you can usually find these lists in the same resources you use to find the venues). Your band should ideally have posters made, with a blank strip on the bottom for you to write the venue name, date, time, price, and other bands for each show. Mail these posters, postcards, and music samplers to these spots in every town you’re playing, along with a letter explaining where you’re from, what day you’ll be playing in their town, and how much you’d appreciate them promoting you in their area. This letter should also be formatted so that it can be used as a press release for local newspapers. Make sure you also send the promotional material to the venue that you’re playing at! With hard work, you’re guaranteed to make a few fans before you get there, and you won’t depend on other bands to give you someone to play to. And don’t forget about your local fans! If you have internet access on the road, keep a tour diary so your local fans can stay involved even when you’re gone!

8. Find ways to break even on the road. When you’re getting a show as an out-of-state band, don’t expect to get paid much for playing. Since you probably aren’t making the venue any money, you’re lucky to have had the opportunity to play in front of a new crowd. When booking the date, try to agree on at least $50 for gas money, but don’t persist if they won’t set it in stone. This isn’t to say that you’ll never get paid, but you just can’t rely on it every night. With this considered, there are ways to hit the road without breaking your piggy bank. The number one thing that will keep you afloat is your merchandise. Overestimate how much you think you’ll need, so you don’t have to worry about running out. On tour, you have to do more than set up a merch table when you’re on the road. Those sales decide whether your band gets to the next show or not, so you have to hustle without being overly aggressive. Grab a stack of CDs, and approach as many people in the room as you can. Have a conversation about the town your in, talk about the tour, and let them know how much you’re really depending on CD sales to get you to the next show. People will respect that you’re working so hard, and throw you a bone even if they didn’t love your set! Another option is to learn a full set of cover songs, and play a second show in as many markets as you can as a cover band. Cover bands can get guaranteed a decent amount of money, but you’ll still be getting your original music out at a show that you might not get paid at! Lastly, instead of eating out every meal, get your food from grocery stores- you’ll be able to stretch it a lot further!

9. Make the most out of your experience. There are so many amazing aspects to being on tour. Not only are you traveling, you’re traveling with your best friends. And not only are you traveling with you friends, but you get to play your music every night. On top of that, you’re going to be meeting new people on a daily basis. There is a wonderful advantage to having a blast and making friends with people at each of your shows- you’ll have someone to play to the next time you come back! Take the time to introduce yourselves to the other bands, and mingle in the crowd as much as possible. Set up a mailing list at each show, so you can keep in contact with the fans you made. Even though you’re tired, hang out after the show, and even see if someone will let you crash at their house. Not only does this save you money, but it guarantees a longer lasting friendship with the person that hosts you. More often than not, the person that volunteers to put you up will also invite over everyone they know and have a party for you. The stronger the relationship you build that night, the easier it will be to come back in a few months for a follow up tour. Imagine if all of the people you meet bring their friends to see you next time- that’s how a fan base grows at a national level.

10. Follow up. If everything goes as planned, you’ll have gone on a great tour and plan to do it again. Don’t let your hard work go to waste! Keep your contacts organized, and stay in touch so they remember who you are. As soon as you get back from the tour, call or write to everyone who booked you to say thank you for letting you play the show. They’re not used to getting calls from people who aren’t asking for something, so it’ll be worth it to go out of your way. You can even mail a small gift (like a band t-shirt) to show your appreciation, and set you apart from other bands. The next time around will be much easier, and your popularity around the country will begin to snowball, thanks to all the hard work you put in!

Nina Chiminec is the head of New Media and a publicist at SPV Records. Her clients include Motorhead, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy. She also spent 8 years recording and touring with the NJ rock band Avery. In her free time she is a contributing editor for BandsOnABudget.com. She can be reached at nina [at] bandsonabudget.com.

10/19/2007

How to make a lasting impression, without even bringing your music into it

Music conferences are congested with 2 groups of people: bands and people that bands want to see them (i.e, industry folk). In my experience, I’ve seen some effective and not so effective ways that bands have gone about promoting themselves even if they’re not playing at that conference. Here is a list of 5 things that have worked, and have gotten me to check out a band, regardless of their sound.

1. Make acquaintances before talking about your band. The most valuable thing for a band member to accept is that they’re one in a million. By acting like a rock star, people in the music industry tend to have less of a desire to support and help you. At the same time, people won’t take you as seriously if you do nothing but kiss ass. Instead, try to relate to the people you’re talking to, buy them a beer, and begin by talking about a topic other than your band! By making acquaintances before mentioning what you want them to do for you, you’ll have a much better chance of them taking the time to check you out. You may be depending on guilt for this one, but it works and you may even get a friend out of it!

2. Give people something to hold onto. People in the music industry are not excited about a paper flier or sticker when they’re walking around a music conference. If you’re going to be giving out promotional material to help advertise your band, you’ll need to hand out something that people will hold on to. Is the festival in the summer? Buy a few cases of water bottles, slap on a label with your band information on it, and hand it out on the corner. It may only be in their hand for 5 minutes, but you’re giving something valuable away and people will notice that. Make custom umbrellas with your band name to hand out if it rains, or a custom Frisbee if it’s an environment where people can play. Even making mini CDs or download cards instead of regular CDs to hand out will more likely get home with the people you hand them to. Think about what you would be happy to receive, and have your gift ready to give when you meet the right people!

3. Be polite. Acknowledge that people probably have better things to do than see another band that they know nothing about. You may think your music is a gift to the world, but you have to get people in front of the stage or stereo before they have a chance to see that. Be polite when asking someone to check out your band, and show how much you appreciate it if they do. A thank you email would be a great way to follow up!

4. I hate to say it- but have a gimmick. It may be a cheap way to get attention, but intriguing people enough will get them to check your band out. There are many ways to physically stand out and get people curious about you, thus looking further into it. Costumes have always been a popular form of standing out. Getting a large entourage to parade around with, perhaps chanting something usually demands attention. This certainly doesn’t guarantee to get people to like you, but it’ll draw them in, and hopefully the music will take it from there.

5. Show that you’re willing to work hard for yourself. Music conferences are a great opportunity for label reps to discover bands, so you want to be ready to set yourself apart, music aside. Getting signed isn’t the end of your hard work and DIY attitude; in fact it’s only the beginning. Bands that work hard now, and are ready to work harder with a label behind them are much more likely to impress a label rep. Talk about the accomplishments that are directly related to work you put in. It is okay to brag if it’s about something you worked hard to make happen- like booking your own tour. Show your passion and enthusiasm, and people will want to share it.

Nina Chiminec is the head of New Media at SPV records and works with bands such as Motorhead, Type O Negative, and Skinny Puppy. She also spent 8 years recording and touring with the NJ rock band Avery. In her free time she is a contributing editor for BandsOnABudget.com. She can be reached at nina [at] bandsonabudget.com.

09/24/2007

Publishing is one of the most important aspects of the music industry, yet the most unknown to bands that haven’t broken through yet. Publishing handles the money generated from the usage of your songs. Every band should be receiving composer royalties and publishing royalties on songs that are used in public.

At some point, outside publishing companies will want to own a percentage of your publishing rights for songs that could potentially be making them money on royalties. They will most likely offer an advance (money upfront that doesn’t have to be repaid until royalties start coming in). Until this happens, bands need to set themselves up as publishers so they can collect money.

Publishers should not be confused for composers. You want to be collecting 100% of composer rights AND 100% of publishing rights until you sell some of your publishing rights. But how can you keep track of who’s playing your songs, so you can collect royalties? There are 3 organizations set up to do that for you. They are known as Performing Rights Organizations.

ASCAP, BMI, and SESAC are the 3 PROs, and you can only affiliate yourself with one of them. First, you have to decide which of the 3 performing rights organizations are right for you.

ASCAP is the American Society of Composers, Artists, and Publishers, and they are the largest PRO.

BMI is Broadcast Music Inc. which is better suited for artists who have their music used on television, and other like media sources.

SESAC is the Society of European Stage Authors & Composers, who has a more exclusive registration process.

Every successful artist is registered with one of these 3 PROs. We recommend exploring each of their websites and deciding which organization suits you best. Once you have decided which PRO you want to affiliate yourself with, you must apply to join. Here is a step by step on how to collect from your songs:

Step 1:

Artist writes song that will be commercially recorded and used on TV, radio, internet, etc.

Step 2:

Artist registers with ASCAP as Composer AND Publisher (click on form that says writer & publisher), BMI as Composer AND Publisher (2 separate forms), or contact SESAC for further evaluation. As the publisher, band can register as an individual (using someone’s social security number), or they can start an incorporated company and use the tax id #.

Step 3:

Artist registers songs with their performing rights organization by filling out the form on the ASCAP, BMI, or SESAC website

Step 4:

Anytime one of your submitted songs gets used, your Performing Rights Organization collects royalties for you as the composer and as the publisher, and sends you money.

09/24/2007

Copyrights, I know, it sounds scary and complicated but it’s really a very simple process that protects the most valuable asset to a band- your songs! Did you know that your songs are technically copyrighted as soon as you’re done writing the music down, or recording them?

However, there is a difference between having a copyright and registering a copyright, which is where the government and paperwork come in. Copyrights were created to protect songwriters, so there’s no reason for you not to do it. The only way to ensure that your songs are protected are to register the songs so they are on file as already being written by you(so no one can steal your songs and claim that they wrote them first!).

There is one simple application to fill out, which covers the copyrights of a WHOLE CD, not just individual songs, which is pretty convenient! Before you begin, you might want to read more about the steps to register your recording of music.

Because you’re copyrighting music and lyrics, you’re going to need to fill out the Sound Record form which is Form SR. If you need help with any part of the form, or you’d like to get walked through it step by step you’ll want the Form SR with instructions.

Once you’ve filled out every space, and your form is printed and complete, enclose it with the following: a recording of all of the tracks you listed on the form (if the songs are published already, enclose 2 copies); sheet music and lyrics if you have it (not mandatory); and a non-refundable check or money order for $45 payable to Register of Copyrights. The $45 is the fee per CD to file your application with the Copyright Office.

Put all of that in a package addressed to:

Library of Congress
Copyright Office
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20559-6000

Your registration becomes effective on the day that the Copyright Office receives your application, payment, and copy(ies) in acceptable form. If your submission is in order, you will receive a certificate of registration in approximately 4 months.