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Rock Band 101: Tips for the Beginning Band

Beginning bands often have difficulty in finding which direction to go next in order to advance their career. The following article outlines tips for bands just starting out in the music biz.

Author: Phillip Carmen

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I have worked with many beginning bands in the years that I’ve worked in the music industry, and there are some reoccurring themes that seem to remain throughout the years. The following are some common band topics and guidelines that you can use

1) Songwriting: Most of the bands that I come across think that their material is the best, that people will instantly hear it and demand all of their songs and merchandise. Well, I hate to burst any bubbles, but most bands do not listen to their material objectively. I believe in natural ability, but ask any coach in the world and they will tell you that natural ability needs development, guidance and focus. You may think that you have a hit song because your friends and family say that you do. Test it! Play the song for total strangers-if they love it the same way, then you may have something.

2) Recording: Practice, rewrite and develop before you go into the studio. When you do start recording, get the best recording that you can afford. Some studios offer off-peak hour rates and better rates on studio “B” or “C” production rooms instead of the peak-rate “A” rooms. A good engineer will get good digital tracks at any location if the source material is solid. No matter how good the mix is, get the tracks sweetened by the best mastering house that you can afford. There is a standard used in broadcasting, in consideration of accepting and playing material; make sure you meet or exceed Red Book standards.

3) College Radio: Now that you have your professionally recorded and mastered killer song, I’ll bet you cannot wait to get played on the radio, but there’s something you need to be aware of. Radio stations get paid by advertising dollars. They play music to attract listeners. Why would they want to take away from their valuable time to play your song, one that no one has ever heard of, without a marketing budget behind it?

But there is an opportunity at radio. College radio is a good place to start-they don’t work with advertising dollars and are open to new music. Get a station guide and find a DJ with a similar format to the music that you play. Call the DJ and introduce yourself. Explain your situation politely and see if there might be an opening for you to go in for an interview and play your tune. DJs and producers are looking for interesting content or show ideas that create a larger listening audience. Do not forget to give back! Give the DJ give away several pairs of your show tickets to listeners. Offer a few CDs to get your music out there and as something of value for having you on. College stations usually do not have a huge listener base, but one can hone their interviewing skills, beat back any on-air jitters and have fun.

4) Local Commercial Radio: Some FM stations have a homegrown hour where local bands can get some spins and maybe some positive feedback. Ask about it. If you’re given the ok, send in a press kit and professional demo. Have your contact information printed on the label-do not just write it with a marker. There are label-making kits everywhere, and there’s no reason your CD shouldn’t look professional. And make sure that your band photo looks like a real band photo, not just some candid shot that just happens to have all the members of your band in it.

With some hard work and persistence, these tips should help make your journey in the music industry a little smoother. Good luck, get out there and start playing!

© 2008 Refugee Entertainment, LLC. All Rights Reserved.

About Author

Phillip Carmen is executive producer and co-owner of Refugee Entertainment, LLC, an independent record label and publishing company. Phillip Carmen has over 25 years of experience in the entertainment business, and has acted in various capacities during that time including producer, manager, merchandiser, radio promoter, publicist and booking agent.

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Rock Band 101: Tips for the Beginning Band