WTF does this have to do with music??

mr_debauch wrote:There are some great posts in here, and I dont often feel the need to read entire posts of those lengths.

And one thing that sticks out: 10,000 copies. I feel that, because it is possible to manufacture that many by hand, and it would be hard to do. But it is a barrier breakthrough goal for anybody who runs their own **** 100% solo like I do. I am nowhere close to selling that many disks though, haha.... but I think I will set my near future standards on that number.



Has anyone here done any advertizing by themselves? (postering, flyering, all that type of ****... adds in the local weekly entertainment paper) if so how did it work out for you?

Advertising worked out great for me. Once I felt my sound was okay enough for people to hear and I felt comfortable standing behind it I started promoting.... three hours a day was my goal. I got a lot of feedback... A LOT. In one week I had label offers, newspaper articles, reviews, people buying beats, etc....

But... when it was time to create again I didn't have time to do all this and so I have fallen back some again. It is hard to keep the momentum, and work, and make beats, and dig, and blah blah

I got burnt out. Just try not to burn out like me. I need to step up and promote again.

objektivone wrote:

mr_debauch wrote:There are some great posts in here, and I dont often feel the need to read entire posts of those lengths.

And one thing that sticks out: 10,000 copies. I feel that, because it is possible to manufacture that many by hand, and it would be hard to do. But it is a barrier breakthrough goal for anybody who runs their own **** 100% solo like I do. I am nowhere close to selling that many disks though, haha.... but I think I will set my near future standards on that number.



Has anyone here done any advertizing by themselves? (postering, flyering, all that type of ****... adds in the local weekly entertainment paper) if so how did it work out for you?

Advertising worked out great for me. Once I felt my sound was okay enough for people to hear and I felt comfortable standing behind it I started promoting.... three hours a day was my goal. I got a lot of feedback... A LOT. In one week I had label offers, newspaper articles, reviews, people buying beats, etc....

But... when it was time to create again I didn't have time to do all this and so I have fallen back some again. It is hard to keep the momentum, and work, and make beats, and dig, and blah blah

I got burnt out. Just try not to burn out like me. I need to step up and promote again.

Well comming from a background of various other promotion based hobbies (wont mention what) I know more or less how much effort it takes.... I was just curious as to what methods worked best for what occasion..

theoretical example: in a month we want to do a show in a small venue (lets say 150-200 people) and nobody has heard of us or our name. We've considered postering and other non facebook/myspace forms of advertising. What should be the final descision on where we should put our main focus. Our music is on point, we have enough material to cover a whole evening etc...

I mean I am not in that rut exactly, but it might be interesting to spread a little bit of knowledge for everyone...

mr_debauch wrote:

objektivone wrote:

mr_debauch wrote:There are some great posts in here, and I dont often feel the need to read entire posts of those lengths.

And one thing that sticks out: 10,000 copies. I feel that, because it is possible to manufacture that many by hand, and it would be hard to do. But it is a barrier breakthrough goal for anybody who runs their own **** 100% solo like I do. I am nowhere close to selling that many disks though, haha.... but I think I will set my near future standards on that number.



Has anyone here done any advertizing by themselves? (postering, flyering, all that type of ****... adds in the local weekly entertainment paper) if so how did it work out for you?

Advertising worked out great for me. Once I felt my sound was okay enough for people to hear and I felt comfortable standing behind it I started promoting.... three hours a day was my goal. I got a lot of feedback... A LOT. In one week I had label offers, newspaper articles, reviews, people buying beats, etc....

But... when it was time to create again I didn't have time to do all this and so I have fallen back some again. It is hard to keep the momentum, and work, and make beats, and dig, and blah blah

I got burnt out. Just try not to burn out like me. I need to step up and promote again.

Well comming from a background of various other promotion based hobbies (wont mention what) I know more or less how much effort it takes.... I was just curious as to what methods worked best for what occasion..

theoretical example: in a month we want to do a show in a small venue (lets say 150-200 people) and nobody has heard of us or our name. We've considered postering and other non facebook/myspace forms of advertising. What should be the final descision on where we should put our main focus. Our music is on point, we have enough material to cover a whole evening etc...

I mean I am not in that rut exactly, but it might be interesting to spread a little bit of knowledge for everyone...

Oh I see. I think the effort is most of it, but I believe that there are techniques to make people interested. Good graphic design, interesting imagery, interesting ways of connecting with people..... For instance some bands give out cheesy doory prizes at their shows, or mail stuff to people, or blog, or make videos, or all kinds of interesting things. Right now in the internet market we live in I think there are new and interesting ways of promoting yourself that are arising.

That is the only advice I really have. It is about knowing you, and really knowing who would listen to you. For instance, I make trip hop type stuff.... so what am I going to do? Give my music to potheads. So I am going to put 100 CDs fro free in every head shop in the area. Done.

As far as advertising, this is something that we are doing quite heavily now, but the key is to be creative. I'm not talking about graphic design, but you need to be very creative to get and keep peoples attention. Here in Detroit, we can get 5000 fliers on glossy card-stock (printed on both sides) for $125.00, but most people see a flier, and throw them to the side. People need to see fliers at least twice, but more likely 3 times before they take it seriously (unless they know your label/artist and want to attend a show immediately).
Advertising in magazines helps also, but you have to be careful where you are placing the ads. Cost is usually high for a quarter page ad, but if the publication is delivering 30,000+ copies a week, the price is understandable.
Advertising should be a priority in any business adventure, but before anyone spends the money, make a name for yourself by doing shows, and get cool with other crews out there. I don't care how hot your music is, people will not attend your shows unless they have a reason. You will get a better reaction from advertisers if people already know your sound.

Hi everybody, I dont know much about biz, but what I know is that everyone wants to rip you off. Everything is so complicated that it just makes you upset and loose your focus. How I want to do it is so simple that I have a goosebumps as I am writing this. Just burn your hot staff on the CD and go out to the streets and sell it. People will have chance to meet you, to get to know you for real and you will make friends with your fans and there is nothing better to spread the word. You will have no headaches about legal BS and you will pay your bills. And as you go on you will make contacts and meet people who can help you to take it to another level. I have no doubt about this. PEACE!

Aivy wrote :

' Hi everybody, I dont know much about biz, but what I know is that everyone wants to rip you off. Everything is so complicated that it just makes you upset and loose your focus. How I want to do it is so simple that I have a goosebumps as I am writing this. Just burn your hot staff on the CD and go out to the streets and sell it. People will have chance to meet you, to get to know you for real and you will make friends with your fans and there is nothing better to spread the word. You will have no headaches about legal BS and you will pay your bills. And as you go on you will make contacts and meet people who can help you to take it to another level. I have no doubt about this. PEACE! '


Er, that is until the Inland Revenue Service catches up with you for undeclared earnings !!