|
By Mars P
Now if you know someone who blogs about bands or music, good for you! Perhaps
you can get them to write up a review about you and your music. If you are
friends with someone who works at your local newspaper, great, try to get them
to write something up about you. If you don't have any friends in high places
things are going to be harder for you, but not impossible. You'll just have
to work extra hard and not let rejection get you down. Remember I was talking
about rejection on the very first page? This is where you'll get the bulk of
it.
You need people to write/say stuff about you. You need
help from the press because you can only do so much and every band's bio
says "we're super
awesome and the next big thing". You need someone to verify your hype.
Additionally, you can make all your accounts online and join a ton of forums,
but you still won't have the reach that blogs, review sites, radio, newspaper,
or TV has. However, getting those places to write/say something for or about
you will be a pain. You will be ignored. You will be told "no". You
might even be told "yes" and then get a stinging review. It will
hurt. It will suck. You will get over it. If anything, it should make you angry
and then you use that anger to keep you going. To prove to the naysayers that
you were right and they were wrong.
Online
There are a ton of sites and blogs out there that review Independent and unsigned
bands and artists for free. Some reviewers will only review you if they like
your sound. Some will write a review for you no matter what. Those reviews
won't be very good, accurate, or helpful. It will just look like something
you wrote up about yourself. There are even sites that will write a sparkling
review for anyone, provided you hand over some cash. Don't do that. If you
can't get reviews based on the quality of your music, you won't fool anyone
by purchasing a good review and you'll waste your money. Many sites have ways
for you to submit your music to them for the chance of being reviewed.
Other sites will ask you to email them with your info and a couple MP3s or
link to download them. If you are sending out emails or conversing with a blog
or site in any way, you'll be tempted to make a generic email that you can
send out to a bunch of people all at once. DON'T. That's a great way to NOT
get reviewed. Be unique with each email you send out asking for a review. Do
some looking around on the site to show you're interested. Knowing the name
of who you're emailing is a huge bonus. Be personable. Be funny. Think about
it: These sites are probably getting 100s of emails a month from musicians
begging for a review. You've got to stand out from the pack. You're creative
- figure something out.
Local Newspapers
If you have a local newspaper, maybe find out if they have some writer who
checks out local bands and artists. Many do, believe it or not. If they have
such a writer, ask if they'll come check out your next show. If they don't
have such a writer, ask if you can buy an ad-space. They should be pretty cheap.
In your ad-space put your next couple shows (assuming they are local venues),
your band name (clearly and boldly), and a very short description of your music
or a very short excerpt from a particularly good review. Don't forget, Indieonthemove.com
gives you a list of newspapers that you can contact while you're touring. Use
them. Get some press away from home.
Independent Radio Stations
I am pretty fortunate. St. Louis is a great place for musicians. There are
all kinds of music related websites, papers, zines, etc. around here. People
love music in St. Louis. And one of the best things about Independent music
in St. Louis is that we have a friend in KDHX. KDHX is a radio station that
caters to the Independent musicians and artists off all kinds. They've been
talking the talk and walking the walk for over 25 years now. If you're lucky
enough to have a radio station who serves the Independent musician, go to them.
They will help you in some way. I promise.
Local Television
Go to your local news station(s) and see what they can do for you. Maybe they
are hosting a party or fundraiser somewhere and could use a little live entertainment.
Maybe they'll use your music as background music in a broadcast. Maybe they'll
even let you perform on live TV, like Barley Station, Beth Bombara, and Miss
Jubilee were able to. You'll be surprised how much you can accomplish with
a well-phrased email or polite phone conversation.
When you get a review from a blog or review site, a local newspaper, or if
you get airtime on local radio or TV, you need to share that on your site.
Have a Press page and put all your reviews and good things said about you there.
You can even put Press reviews on your ReverbNation page. Showing the world
that other people like you creates validity to you saying how good your band
or music is. Without that proof, it's just hype. Flaunt those positive reviews!
|
