Market Yourself Effectively

eturnol · Post by **eturnol** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:36 am

This thread is kind of a spin off of the "ableton saturating the market" thread, but i didnt want to hijack that thread and change the topic, so here it is.

One of the answers to the recent abundance of producers was to market yourself and your music effectively. But how can we do this? How can we stand out in a sea of other producers?

For instance, lets say you have a great song, and think it could do really well. In short, your ticket to stardome =) What do you do with such a song? Should you send it to labels first? Send it out to djs first? Should you keep it under wraps until a label picks it up, or show it to the world via myspace or soundclick?

I think a lot of us are getting better concerning the technical side of producing but are definitely still in the dark when it comes to putting our music out there.

Tone Deft · Post by **Tone Deft** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 5:34 am

What I'm catching from KK's 'how much for a hired gun' and the 'has Live saturated the market' threads, networking is key (as in through this site or others). A couple of skilled slobs can work together and make gold, or they could seek out commercial means and dilute the funds and visibility, not to mention shop for a connection first.

The established studios have the bling but a good tune is a good tune and some bedroom producers are skilled amateurs, some are people who got out of that game but set it up at home.

My $0.02 and a bump.

Lord Kahn · Post by **Lord Kahn** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 1:57 pm

Yep, the easiest way seems to be networking, though personally I wouldn't go near the majors, if you don't fail to get on you'll end up owing millions (record labels are just banks that loan money to musicians) or you'll end up as some celebrity tart flashing your bits in public so you can make the front page of the red tops.

theshaggyfreak · Post by **theshaggyfreak** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:13 pm

This is a pretty good book.

Tarekith · Post by **Tarekith** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 2:18 pm

Networking has always been the main way to be successful in this business. The old, it's what you know, but who you know.

eturnol · Post by **eturnol** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 7:34 pm

When you guys say "networking," i think of schmoozing in some night club or at some dinner party. Getting to know a guy who knows a guy. Networking has always, for me, meant starting close relationships locally, and eventually branching out.

Or are you referring to sending letters and tracks out to as many labels as you can around the world, in hopes of getting a call back?

Or is it both?

dreamlandscheme · Post by **dreamlandscheme** » Thu Jan 18, 2007 10:12 pm

hey guys, glad to see this post. Might turn out to be very helpful for many.

To me networking means going to special events where producers meet up and striking up conversations with them. If you read advice from already established video game composers thats the main thing they suggest, meet these people in person! I have had little success personally with internet promotional companies like musicsubmit because Its quite impersonal. If you want success with internet promotion services then your music has to be unbelievable or rock.

Anyway, I've just recently begun a career in composing for films and video games. I have done about 3 jobs and the best one has come through a personal meeting with the film producer (quite random). Hope this helps,

eturnol · Post by **eturnol** » Sat Jan 20, 2007 11:25 pm

so would it be a waste of time to just send out a song to many labels, hoping that one picks it up? do we need to know someone within that label in hopes of having a chance?