For every established rock star, there are thousands of workers in the music industry that put in work some way to get the finished product to the fans. From audio engineer, to graphic designer, to publicity reps, all give support to a project in order give it the best chance to be successful.
It takes money to get the essentials done and the Do-It-Yourself (DIY) is the easiest solution for most indie artists with tight budgets.
Even though the DIY method saves money, settling for less is a mistake that many artists fall for when budgets aren’t there. In order to make the DIY method work, artists must be able to distinguish between what is a good job and what is good for their pockets.
Promotion – On a local level, it is best done by the artist themselves because it allows the fans to connect with the artists on a more personal level.
Performing at shows is generally the most effective way in gaining long-term fans as they get the most complete music experience from your music. Of course promotion from major labels with TV spots and commercials is great, but for indie artists, self-promotion is the most common.
Production – Nowadays, labels often overlook bands that aren’t self-produced because of the rising amount of bands that are self-produced in the digital age. Even if an artist’s production skills aren’t quite what they are looking for, just having experience in production is a plus for A&R’s who are always looking for the total package.
Without the beats, Kanye West would have never got his break with Roc-A-Fella. Another producer-turned-artist is Timbaland who’s vocal talent is sub-par, but made it because his beats are so damn good.Live instrumentation is a must for rock and r&b and adds another dimension to your music in all genres. Showing the most musical talent possible is a must and making your own beats gives you more control over your music. However, if your production talent isn’t truly up to par with the competition, paying a great producer over a “good enough” producer is still worth every penny.
Mastering – Having a different set of ears to perfect your work is crucial for getting that industry sound. After the multiple recording sessions and mixdowns, indie artists get their audio visuals blurred by hearing the same music over and over. This causes them to miss small details and this is where a specialized mastering engineer works magic. For quality sound, paying for mastering is a standard and should not be skimped on. Find an engineer by reputation of their past works and go from there. (Prices range from $50 per song to $150, but paying a whole album deal from $500 to $1000 can save you money)Graphic Design – “Don’t read a book by it’s cover” is the philosophy that most fans knowingly or subliminally disobey in choosing music. When an album cover or flyer looks cheap, the artist’s lose credibility. Hiring a specialized graphic designer should be automatic because the work they do is so precise and skilled.
There is a huge difference between knowing what looks good and understanding visual space, typography, color accenting and all the other aspects which graphic designers must take into account. Unless your own quality is good enough to charge others at least $25/hour, you can’t skimp here by doing it yourself; you get what you pay for.Gauging how good your DIY methods is crucial and this is when feedback and managers come into play. It’s easy for the band to get consensus that a song is a hit, but if the public doesn’t think so, it doesn’t matter.
Getting opinions from people who aren’t afraid to say that you suck is more valuable than the yuppie friends who like everything you throw at them. Use these un-biased and brutally honest opinions to see what you are doing well on your own and what could use help from a professional.
Nice find: Listen to an industry breakdown by Chris Blackwell of Island Records (U2, Bob Marley, etc…)
http://www.artistshousemusic.org/videos/a+forum+with+chris+blackwell+of+island+records+getting+signed+in+todays+music+business
No comments:
Post a Comment