This is a popular subject. So many bands and artists out there are looking to get "signed." There is a big misconception that being "signed" is what makes a musician famous, that "once I sign that record deal, I'm going to be famous and make a ton of money!" Sorry, wrong. Sorry to burst your bubble, but it's not always that way, and it's not as easy as it seems. In fact, for many people, it's not necessary.
Thanks to social networks like Facebook and Myspace, and online music retailers and broadcasters like iTunes, Rhapsody, and Pandora, the music industry has changed - and for the better. For just a few bucks, your music can now be heard around the globe, and with the click of the button, you can update all your fans with news about your music. This has created the demand for a connection between artist and audience.
Because of this, being famous so much always about being "discovered" by some label exec and having him/her turn you into a star. Yes, this still happens, but most successful bands/artists will tell you their success came from sleepless nights, hard work, and sacrifice.
Before we go on, let's understand what getting signed actually means. It means you're signing over certain rights to your music to that label. For certain deals, you may only sign distribution and publishing rights, others, you may sign performing rights, others, you may sign over your entire brand. If you sign the wrong contract, you can get gypped and make hardly anything at all.
Also, just because your signed doesn't mean your going to "make it." Many bands get signed, and the next thing they know, the label drops the contract. Yes, they can do that. They may think your new songs won't sell, or that you were just a bad business mistake. At any rate, getting signed is not the key to success.
Record labels today aren't so much looking for great talent. God knows, there are hundreds of thousands of AMAZING artists out there that NO ONE knows about. However, there are a select few who have made the big time. Why? Because people go to their shows and buy their music. This, if not anything else from this post, is the most important thing you need to understand. If you want to be signed, you must already be performing to large crowds and selling lots of records.
"So how can I be famous?"
Well, if that's your main concern, be willing to work your butt off. Here are a list of things you MUST do to be famous:
1. Be amazing at what you do. Don't jump the gun and start your serious band before you are near expert-level at your instrument. Frankly, if you suck, no one will listen to you, buy your records, or pay to see you perform. Therefor, no label will ever sign you. If you're not an "Expert" but you still sound really good to everyone who has heard you, you'll need to at least be a good performer with great audience interaction, stage presence, and a unique quality that will make you stand out.
2. Write good music. Once you're good enough and confident in your skills, start your band - or go solo. The first thing you as a solo artist or band will need to do is write your music. Be sure you write music that's comfortable for you to perform. Write a lot of songs - at least 6 to get you started. Rehearse those songs until their ready to be skillfully performed on stage. Join a Performing Rights Organization and register your songs. If you get radio play in the future, you have a chance at getting some royalties.
3. Raise some money. After you've written your songs, and have begun practicing them, start saving up. In my opinion, it is important to save some money to record a good album/EP/demo before you start booking gigs. The fact is, when you first start performing, you won't get paid. Plus, chances are you're going to open for someone else, and your audience won't be there to see you. If you don't have something for the audience to take home with them, chances are, they'll forget your existence within 24 hours. So save up some money for the next step.
4. Make that record. It doesn't matter if it's a small EP or full on record. What does matter is that the quality is decent. You probably won't get the BEST if you're just starting out, but save up as much as you can and get the best bang for your buck. You want your listeners to ENJOY your music, right? Sign up to CDBaby or Tunecore and get your music on iTunes, AmazonMP3, etc. People who go to your shows may prefer a digital version of your album. It's cheap and easy to do, so why not do it? DONT CHEAP OUT OF PHYSICAL CD's. Your fans DO need something to take home with them after your gig!!!
5. Now that you have a product in hand, it's time to book some shows. Contact your local venues, or venues in towns near by, and offer yourself as an opening act. Find local bands from your hometown and surrounding cities and offer the same. Let them know you're a good fit for their upcoming gig as an opener, and hope they'll let you. Get ahold of the county fair and see if you can perform on a small stage. Join a talent show. Perform at an old-folks home. The venue doesn't matter right now, what matters is wherever you play, you want there to be an audience - no matter how big or small.
6. Promote. Get a Facebook, Myspace, Twitter, ReverbNation, Last.fm, Purevolume, etc. Get yourself out there. Invite all your friends and family to follow you. Let them know about your new gigs by posting them on all your sites. While this may seem weird to some people, call everyone up and personally invite them to your gig and to bring a friend. Make flyers and post them around town with the basic details of the show. How much to get in? Is there an age limit? What other bands are playing? Be sure to include all your social network links. Create a second set of flyers to bring to the show with all your social network links and some contact info to hand out with your new album.
7. Once you've booked your first gig, perform the crap out of it. Show off your skills. You've got an audience full of people who want to like you, don't let them down. If all goes well, you'll likely be able to set up a small merch booth to sell your new album. Your new fans will buy it if you make it cheap enough, and they'll share it with their friends, and since you have made that flyer - a good percentage of those fans will follow you online.
8. Repeat step 5-7. Book a lot of shows, sell lots of CD's, and expand. Record another album, start performing in other towns. Get the press involved for publicity. Send your music to magazines for review. Promote, promote, promote. Go on tour, work your butt off. You're going to start seeing things unfold.
9. This step coincides step 6: Join ReverbNation. ReverbNation is a great place for musicians to connect with fans. You get a free mailing list and you have the ability to submit to perform at amazing gigs, festivals, etc. You occasionally get opportunities to make money with your music. They have a gigfinder to locate venues, presskit makers to send the venues, etc. ReverbNation is just a great place for network artist to join.
10. Get a real website done. The cost of a real, custom site can be expensive, but there are alternatives. HostBaby is one. ReverbNation has a sitebuilder as well. (Here comes some self promotion...) I actually build websites, it's what I do on the side. If you need a website for a REALLY good price, contact me at david@davidcrandall.com
Once you've done at least 1-8, you have a shot at getting signed. Of course, at this point, it may not be necessary with all the success you may have. Consider starting your own label for yourself.
If all of this seems like too much, consider hiring a manager, publicist, promoter, and/or marketing specialist to help you out. It may be in your best interest to keep YOUR focus on your music, and keep all the "business stuff" to the "business guys."
A couple extra tips:
Be professional to your fellow musicians and venues. It's just good ethics to do so, but having a bad rep can kill and chance of having a career in music fame. Don't treat music like a competition with other bands/artists. It's not. Music is a fun, emotional, and meaningful experience.
In conclusion:
Getting famous is HARD WORK. You reap what you sew. If you work hard, perform well, and be professional and respectful, you may very well make it in the biz. Being "signed" shouldn't be your biggest concern. Focus on getting out there for people to hear. You can do it on your own. Just work hard and have faith in yourself. Don't let ANYONE tell you you can't do it, because with hard work and determination, you can.
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