Music Business

Charmed285
Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
in Chit-Chat
I want to be a singer and I realize its very difficult and a lot (most?) people don't get their "big break" however, I've been wanting this since I was a child (I'm sure others as well) but I want to go for it anyway, I want to try

I may not ever be a signed recording artist, but I'm looking to becoming a indie artist, for instance like indie authors they write a book and upload it to a site for purchase, promote, ect, ect, ect and that's it sort of along the lines of what I'm trying to do and hopefully make a decent living off of it; I realize I may not become a millionare from this so that isn't what I'm aiming for, but if that happens that'll be awesome

I live in a small country town, and I want and need to get out of here and get my foot in the door somehow, whether as interning or whatever else I'm googling, checking out different sites, and doing my homework, but I'm hoping you could help point me in the right direction in achieving my goal to getingt myself heard; using this as another source of information

eta: I'm still in college and no plans of dropping out or changing my major because I want to be practicle also and have something else to fall back on and I'm nowhere near ready/prepared to take a trip to LA or NYC
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Replies

  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    I may just keep bumping this till I get an answer ;)
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    This is a pretty bad place to ask a question like that!

    I've had friends who've gone off to nashville or NYC or LA. I've not had any friends be successful.

    It seems like the Youtube makes people famous like that justin beiber kid or the Fri-ee-day girl.

    So how about fitness?!?!
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    Have you tried uploading anything you've created to Soundcloud? That's where my music page is. You can network a ton there, get heard by smaller industry people, collaborate with other artists.

    Also, if/when you do have a finished track, try Ditto Music (just google it). For a small fee they can have your track for sale and on the radio internationally.

    ReverbNation's a great place to get noticed too and they'll email you about industry opportunities.

    And of course, get a Facebook page. When you start having complete tracks you can offer people a free download for a Facebook 'like'.

    Good luck! :)
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    @ emanyalpsid: they're other topics on this chit chat forum that's not health and fitness related, what's wrong with posting?
    that's one of my plans, to upload my music/songs on youtube to gain exposure along with a few other things

    thanks for posting, though!

    @Litlbeast: you're awesome, thanks so much for that info! I haven't, I'm trying to come up with a plan and have it written down, so I know what I need to do I will check out those sites
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    Any time, rabbinehall, I'm happy to help. :)

    Hey, there's one more site I just thought of that might really help you out. You can upload your acapella vocals and allow composers to use your voice in their tracks; then you get credited when they upload that track elsewhere. (you won't make money from this, but you will get exposure).

    www.looperman.com
  • Jersey_Devil
    Jersey_Devil Posts: 4,142 Member
    american-idol-judges.jpg
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    bumping for more responses
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    bump
  • Tonnenator
    Tonnenator Posts: 71 Member
    <
    Music major and has hubby in a band that has toured the world.

    Your best bet? Just keep singing. SING SING SING. Sing everywhere and anywhere! If your break is meant to be, it will happen! Oh and be like I was about my husband's band, and blab all over the internet about what you do. Post videos, make a website, make a FB page for your music, etc, etc, etc. Good luck and break a leg! I'm singing 4 songs for my Vocal Tech final tomorrow. Send up a prayer for me around 2:00 Eastern time!
  • Tonnenator
    Tonnenator Posts: 71 Member
    Hey LitlBeast I'm on SoundCloud too - I'm Tonnenator. My stuff on there is VERY weird though - it was for an Electronic Music class!
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    thanks^

    more replies?
  • ZeeShay
    ZeeShay Posts: 1,132 Member
    i studied music business...
    you need to get out there and meet people...
    if i have learned anything its who you know not what you know.
    also make sure your social media accounts are well maintained and your music is easily accessible. if i hear you play at a show and i go home and cant find your music i will most likely forget about you.
    when you go play a show at a club or something have a something to give people whether it be a download card or a pin or an EP. try to find other people who are in bands that are similar to you, i have friends in a band who always get a gig with a more successful band because they are buddies.
    Send your music to campus radios and try to play on campuses. it helps build up your fan base.

    good luck! :]
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    thanks! I heard that saying before but fogot it and unfortunatly my campus doesn't have that
  • ZeeShay
    ZeeShay Posts: 1,132 Member
    not just to your campus but others... i dont know where you live but there has to be some campus radios somewhere... alos indie radio station on the internet. I think you need to find people who are like you, start- ups, they re more willing to work with you. giant companies arent interested usually unless you already come with a fan base
  • Moosycakes
    Moosycakes Posts: 258 Member
    Talk to people. Make friends in the business, be SUPER SOCIAL.

    See if you can get some small gigs at local bars or similar doing covers (and maybe one or two originals) - people like it better if all your music is live, so try to get that happening.
    Don't ask to be paid while you're just starting, do it for fun and to get your name out there :)

    Remember, it's REALLY difficult to make a living off music unless you're VERY well known. A lot of bands don't even break even. You have to do it because you love it, and always have another job to pay the bills.
  • BurtHuttz
    BurtHuttz Posts: 3,653 Member
    @ emanyalpsid: they're other topics on this chit chat forum that's not health and fitness related, what's wrong with posting?

    I'm sorry - I wasn't trying to criticize you, I was just saying that I don't expect many people here to know much about this.
  • the_journeyman
    the_journeyman Posts: 1,877 Member
    Don't be afraid of Youtube. That's where Colbie Cailat got started.

    JM
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    Hey LitlBeast I'm on SoundCloud too - I'm Tonnenator. My stuff on there is VERY weird though - it was for an Electronic Music class!

    Heh; cool I'll have a listen to it today. :)
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I used to be in the biz.

    YouTube. Great source.

    Stay in your small town and make it from there. That is always a better proven strategy. You will get swallowed up and lost in a bigger city. I made the same mistake moving to LA. I was already semi-famous in my town and I should have stayed. Everyone knew me, radio play, could have used all that better to propel myself forward. But, instead, I dropped it all and moved to LA where no one knew me and I was just another face in the crowd. It's one of my biggest mistakes in life, actually. It killed my musi career. I wound up homeless and sleeping in my car. I say, stay put. Make it happen from where you are. It makes a better story too if you become successful at it.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    @ emanyalpsid: they're other topics on this chit chat forum that's not health and fitness related, what's wrong with posting?

    I'm sorry - I wasn't trying to criticize you, I was just saying that I don't expect many people here to know much about this.

    understandable and I was thinking the same thing before posting, but I had to give it a shot though, thank you :)
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    I used to be in the biz.

    YouTube. Great source.

    Stay in your small town and make it from there. That is always a better proven strategy. You will get swallowed up and lost in a bigger city. I made the same mistake moving to LA. I was already semi-famous in my town and I should have stayed. Everyone knew me, radio play, could have used all that better to propel myself forward. But, instead, I dropped it all and moved to LA where no one knew me and I was just another face in the crowd. It's one of my biggest mistakes in life, actually. It killed my musi career. I wound up homeless and sleeping in my car. I say, stay put. Make it happen from where you are. It makes a better story too if you become successful at it.

    Thanks, never thought of that
    if you had to do it over again, what would you do differently to get heard beyond your town and how did you get semi-famous there?
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    I used to be in the biz.

    YouTube. Great source.

    Stay in your small town and make it from there. That is always a better proven strategy. You will get swallowed up and lost in a bigger city. I made the same mistake moving to LA. I was already semi-famous in my town and I should have stayed. Everyone knew me, radio play, could have used all that better to propel myself forward. But, instead, I dropped it all and moved to LA where no one knew me and I was just another face in the crowd. It's one of my biggest mistakes in life, actually. It killed my musi career. I wound up homeless and sleeping in my car. I say, stay put. Make it happen from where you are. It makes a better story too if you become successful at it.

    Thanks, never thought of that
    if you had to do it over again, what would you do differently to get heard beyond your town and how did you get semi-famous there?

    I was very aggressive and determined. I got in a band and our band just started getting noticed and liked a lot. I knew everyone that was in the business. It really felt like I was going to make a living at it.
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    ^thanks for replying
  • laarae
    laarae Posts: 332 Member
    Don't be afraid of Youtube. That's where Colbie Cailat got started.

    JM

    Yes this is what I was going to tell you-start uploading to you tube and maybe twitter and facebook-share-share-share, someone will "discover" you Good luck
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    Thanks, I will do youtube in time as well as check ing out the other sites, I just want to have a plan laid out, so I know what I'm doing and going step by step to try to avoid many mistakes and make sure all my bases are covered

    this is my working in progress plan and if you see any thing I should add, take off, or any suggestons please let me know
    career planning in no particular order:

    karaoke bars/clubs
    song writers workshop
    self-promotion (not sure of details)
    networking (not sure of details)
    vocal lessons (could always improve)
    selling music online and creating a website
    uploading songs on youtube


    not much but it's a start I guess
    If I had the money I would try and get a group (few) girls (hold audtions), dance teacher, and find a place (school gym?) to create a low budget music video to upload to youtube along with the song
  • Litlbeast
    Litlbeast Posts: 340 Member
    This is a ways off, but I've signed up for this course; it sounds pretty interesting:

    https://www.coursera.org/course/songwriting

    Coursera offers free online classes from major universities. I took one and it was not bad, homework-wise (something I'm a bit allergic to)
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    thanks! have you started it and benifited anything from it? there's homework? :/
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    bump
  • Charmed285
    Charmed285 Posts: 189 Member
    bumping one last time for info
  • neverstray
    neverstray Posts: 3,845 Member
    Networking is probably the single most important thing. You are probably only about 3 people away from knowing a music company executive or talent agent or whatever. So, I would say play with anyone. i think you said you're a singer. So, you need back up bands. Play with anyone and everyone. Don't worry about skill level. Just play. Sing your butt off anywhere and every where. Network with everyone. Make it your job to get known. Getting known and being connected to people makes you marketable, likeable, and hard to say no to later when you're working on a project or have an idea for some songs, or want to record or whatever. Plus, when I was doing it, I was poor. Everyone has something you need. That's why you need a huge network and lots of people. It's not a business where just because you're good, you'll get there. There a lot more to it than that. Everyone is good. Lots of so-so musicians make it really big. It's not because they sing well, it's because they know how to network and how to sell themselves well.

    Good luck.

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