So, you’re ready to take your band to the next level but you’re not quite sure exactly what direction you need to take. With the spawn of technology we have in our day and age, there really isn’t such a strong need to get signed to a label anymore. There are positive and negative aspects to signing eventually, but until then, there is much that you and your bandmates can do to ensure you become known and successful.
It's widely up for debate, depending on who you talk to, on how exactly a band should start exposing their music. Some will say playing live and touring is the best way, while others feel the need to play shows so frequently is not as effective anymore. The answer can be both yes and no to this dilemma. Of course, your band needs to play live in front of people otherwise…you’re not much of a band, now are you? The point of making music is to play it in front of people so that they can experience something entertaining and uplifting for a brief moment in their life. Not only are you doing it for your fans but you should be doing it for yourselves as well. Building camaraderie and having fun on stage is a key element to having a successful band.
What is also a huge question for bands is how frequently they need to be playing all these shows and where. Obviously, the more shows you play, the more exposure your band gets but allowing yourself to be so available might pose some challenge. Especially with people who are older or have career type jobs, finding this time can seem almost impossible. Matching every member’s schedule up as well can be tough for bands to do. Don’t stress out. Play when YOU all want to. This experience should be fun and not overly stressful, as this can cause fights and break ups. Play every show you can but don’t also spread yourself thin and think touring the country is your only option. Build a super strong local following and like a virus, your music will spread on its own to the surrounding areas.
On the flip side of things, a lot of bands want to come out with a bang and have recordings and a strong social media presence before they decide to play live. Fans and labels alike want to see that your band is taking things serious so looking and sounding professional is a key to becoming successful.
After writing a few songs, ask each other what route you want to take. Whether you take what you have and record a small EP or continue writing and come out with a full-length, neither is a bad idea. Usually, bands start with an EP, to get a feel for if people like their sound or not. It’s also smarter financially in most cases, as you’re not recording as many songs or spending as much time in the studio.
When choosing a studio, you, of course, want to get the best quality product for the cheapest price. Stay within your bands' financial means but also don’t cheap out on quality if money is an issue. Save up and only record when you have enough for the studio that fits best with what you’re looking for. Also, don’t pick a date to start recording until you guys have all the songs down perfect. If you rush into the studio with half-finished songs, you’re going to pay the price quite literally.
After all the mixing and mastering is done on your tracks, it's time to get your songs out to the public! With the coming of technology and the Internet, this process is actually really simple and cost effective. Using online distribution sites like CDbaby, for a few dollars you can have your songs put on many of the top music streaming services such as Spotify and also have them sold through iTunes! Having actual CDs pressed however can become a bit of a money pit but is also a crucial part still in getting your band’s name and sound out there. Some of these online distribution sites will have package deals with this service included as well but it’s still best to shop around first.
Graphic designers can sometimes be very expensive, especially when they’re good at what they do. Go in with a general concept of what you want the album art to look like, as this can save you a lot of time and money. Coming up with concept art is fun and should reflect what the album sounds like before the listener even hears it. Once your artwork is complete, you’re ready to submit it to be pressed along with your CDs at whichever company you’ve chosen to work with. Don’t go overboard with the amount pressed, as many people now choose to digitally download songs versus buying a CD. CDs still are a strong representation of professionalism, however, as you can now sell them at your local record store or display and sell them at your own shows.
The songs are recorded, the CDs are in your hand and now you’re onto the final leg of this trifecta; Merchandise! Having merch to sell online or at your shows is also a crucial part of your band becoming successful or not. Although a lot of money needs to be put into making this merchandise, the return on investment can be huge. This process can be somewhat easier than the others, as many graphic designer/printers in your local area can produce these items for you. Starting simply with a t-shirt design and some stickers is a great way to go about this. You can mark up merch as high or low as you want and it’s really up to you on how you want to proceed with the sale of these items to your fans. Making package deals can be a great way to establish relationships with whoever it is that took the time to listen to you guys and buy your merch. Not only is your music now getting out there through these sales, but your name and logo is now being marketed to the public. The more people physically see your name or logo, who might not have ever listened to you guys before, the more included they are now to look you up and download your music!
Whether it’s doing this all on your own or having a label help set you up with all of this, the impact is still the same across the board. Bands supply the music to their fans, which in turn creates a culture amongst them. The life cycle of a band isn’t only through making music and it's important to see your band as somewhat of a business as well. If all is done correctly, everything can come together smoothly and your band should start to flourish more quickly than you imagined.
