Promotional Tips | Marketing | Bands | Musicians | Artists | Free Promotion

Get your Copyrights!

Promoting your work to the public is a great idea.  The internet is full of opportunities to market your music and creative work.  But remember this:  A band can have a million hits on Youtube and never make a penny; or even be remembered for more than a week.  Remember, Creativity is a gift and just like anything else that is valuable, it can be stolen. Without Copyrights, you cannot prove that your music and creative work belongs to you.  Therefore, you are giving it away!

To learn more and to get your Copyrights, click here. To watch a video covering the basics click here.

Create Videos that Show off your Talent!

Videos can be difficult to create.  The websites below offer free footage that you can use to create videos for your performances.  Once you have footage that you like, Head to Youtube to learn basic video editing skills.  Add captions with your band name and links to where your work can be sold. While you're at it, get your band together, sit on a couch, and have a friend ask you questions about how you met, when you decided to start a band, who were the original members and tell some funny stories about your journey.  The key ingredient to creating true fans is not just their love for your music.  A fan that will follow your music for years relates to you somehow. Whether you grew up in the same town, were inspired by the same classic rock bands, had a similar upbringing, whatever! If they don't know anything about you, they cannot establish the connection necessary to truly admire you and your creative work.

 http://www.videoblocks.com

http://www.ignitehd.com

Get out there and Network!

It's easy for artists and musicians to hide away in their work.  A true artist is often not self-promoting.  However, if you want the world to see what you have to offer, get over it!  Fans need to be able to see who you are and there’s nobody out there who is going to believe in your music and creative work the same way you do.  

1. If your a musician, become a regular at local bars and clubs that host bands.  Get to know the owner and let him know that you want to perform there!
2. While performing live, say the name of your band after every two songs you play!  Also mention where your work is sold online and always have CDs & merchandise ready to sell.  Have some simple flyers printed so you can give them to people who like your band but are unable to purchase your CD at that time.  Put the links to your website and Exstreamlive profile on them so they will be able to keep up with you!  
3. Make business cards.  A great website for creating quick and easy business cards for a good price is Vistaprint. We also recommend Acidflyers.com. Introduce yourself to everyone who has an interest in your talent or genre of music.  You never know when one of those cards will connect you with someone who could impact your career. 
4. Be professional. Keep your word, be on time, and don't have a strange voicemail message or ringback tone.
5. Don’t be afraid to take risks!  If you’re saying to yourself, “My town doesn’t have any clubs that host musicians”, this is a problem.  If you're passionate about becoming successful, you’re going to have to take some risks.  You may need to consider moving to a town that supports your type of music/creative work and has a culture that will embrace your talent.  Ask anyone in this world, who qualifies as “successful” in your eyes, if they ever had to take a big risk... the answer will always be YES!  Nobody ever achieved anything by being afraid of failure. 
6. Once upon a time, there was a Rock star who was discovered in a hole in the wall bar by a music industry professional in town from LA.   Do not count on this happening to you!  Realistically; there is nobody out there searching for you.  Read the biography of any successful artist, if they were discovered, it was after years of playing anywhere they could in pursuit of a dream that they couldn’t lose their passion for.  The ones who succeed are the ones who worked toward their goal and never doubted that they could make it happen.  Don’t wait for your golden ticket; create your own destiny.

Network, Network, Network

If your goal is to make a career out of your creativity, you need to start treating your talent like you would treat your career.  In order to succeed, be prepared to give 250%.  Prepare to be turned away, embarrassed, or even laughed at.

-“Success if often nothing more than moving from one failure to the next, with undiminished enthusiasm."     -Winston Churchill

-"Once you realize that there is nothing stopping you except for self-doubt, the world will be at your fingertips!"  -Exstreamlive

Be your own manager, Booking Agent and Promoter

1. Rather than sitting at home calling record labels and asking if you can send a demo… get out of the house!  Surround yourself at all times with people who have the same interests as you.  If you’re an actor, join acting classes.  Many communities have clubs that are free to join.  Make friends with other actors and make your interests the topic of every conversation.  Before you know it, you will have a lot of new friends and contacts that will help you in your career.
2. Remember that quality is more important than quantity! Realize that everything you release to the world, via the internet or any other medium, is a reflection of your work as a whole.  Don't let one bad apple spoil the whole bunch.  Have you ever listened to a song that you thought was terrible and then told yourself, "I bet they have more songs that are better"?  Be your own toughest critic and do not release anything that is not high quality.

Go to the Theater, Museum or your Local Venue

Better yet, get a job there!  It doesn’t matter if you’re pulling the curtain or sweeping the floors, artists need inspiration and it’s your job to surround yourself with what inspires you so that you can grow your talent.

1. When opportunities arise:  Never sign anything without a lawyer reading it and ensuring that you understand the terms.
2. If you use all of these tips and you find yourself with an interested party, don’t think your work is done.  Getting signed to a label or management company could be your dream come true. But, do not sign the first offer that comes along. 
3. Decide what terms would be fair to you, put on your best suit, march in there (with an appointment) and negotiate!
4. If they will not work with you, walk out and never look back.  More opportunities will come your way as long as you stay focused.
5. Join Exstreamlive.com and explore the differnt groups and forums created to help artists understand and succeed in the music industry!