I've been an observer of the 'org' for many a moon now and I occassionally post myself but I'm usually just happy to watch whats going on from a distance.

For a long time now I have been involved in the music business myself either as a session musician, writer or co-producer of my own material or others trying to break. I was almost signed to a number of indie labels (and one major) but a major family change pushed that into the background. Things have changed for me recently and I have become even more determined to make a success of myself in the music industry than ever, but how to do it is confusing. I am still attempting to gain the ever illusive 'record contract' while in the process of putting together a project studio that will free me up from expensive recording sessions using other engineers and producers who never seem to be able to transfer what is in my head onto the computer.

Is there anyone on the org who can help in anyway even if it is a giude on how to win a tender for TV/AD/Computer game/library music or contacts to speak to etc in similar markets. I need help. I have the ability but not the contacts or knowledge of the market.

I can't help U, but goodluck!!!

WILL NOBODY HELP ME!!!???!!!

kidsherriff said:

Heres a good site for info http://www.bandname.com

I learned most of the marketing techniques behind the cloud9 mission there & from the other sites it links to

Lewis

the record biz scares the hell out of me

so why are we trying so hard to break in?

Thanks Lewis. I have been chipping away in various ways for years but keeping the energy levels up to earn enough for my family and I to survive on as well really stretches me.

I think the only thing that keeps the passion alive is the reward that you get from creating something beautiful. Getting paid for it is the icing on the cake.

The only thing I can tell you is that you have to keep doing it, getting yourself out there and making connections. I think if you've done it once, you can do it again. My friend quit because she was disgusted with the business and is attempting a comeback and she started her own record label and has a recording studio. She just did it and put out her own CD and found different avenues to promote it. She does gigs with or without a band if she has to. Send your stuff out to radio stations that play indie music and follow up with phone calls, send packages to managers, agents, contact labels and make a connection there. Soon people just start dropping your way.

Honest, I feel like the Internet is pretty dead for marketing yourself unless you gig and already have a following. There's some good resources here and you can make connections, but other than that, I find it pretty dead if you're hoping someone of any worth will contact you. It happens and it doesn't hurt to try, but go for the "live" contacts.

LQ

Good advice. The best results I have ever had have just come about by e-mailing high level decision makers in record labels, selling my abilities like a bitch and then insisting that we meet in order for them to hear my material. I ended up sitting across form Max Lousada (president of Musgroom Records (Home to Grabage) this way. He said we didn't fit the roster at the time (whatever that means) but the power of a 'good line' was emphasised to me at that point.