Dead Boy Productions

 

Making It In Your Band

Justin

It's a classic tale, you and your buddies just made a band. Now you're ready to get an agent, go on tour, get signed, and meet the groupies, right? Wrong. The truth is there is much hard work that goes into making it in your band. Once you think your band has got a sound that no one can deny, it's time for people to hear that sound. In order for people to hear that sound, you need to play shows, record demos, and promote yourselves.

First, your band needs to start playing shows. There is no point in having a band, practicing, and getting good, if you never play shows. That is of course, unless your practices sell out. Do the big shots book their own shows? Most likely no, they have booking agents for that kind of stuff. Do you need a booking agent? No, you are not at that level yet. Before you ever get a booking agent, you need to book your own shows and promote yourself. By taking control of your band's career, you then make yourself appealing to booking agents. When I spoke to Stormy Shepard, the booking agent for numerous bands including the Offspring, she pretty much made it clear that it was ridiculous for a band to just pass on the responsibility. " We prefer that bands book their own tours first, Personally, I am completely turned off by managers or bands who think they need an agent before they have even toured the U.S. To me it shows a lack of motivation to promote your own band." I'm not a booking agent, but I would agree. If some random kids showed up at my door saying book me, promote me, etc. I'd say hand me what your smoking. If you aren't committed to your band, why should I be? How do you show that you are committed? You can show that you are committed by promoting yourself, recording your demo, and making your image. What do I know about image? Nothing. So let's ask Ryan J. Downey, the manager of many bands including Tiger Army, Bleeding Through, and Throwdown, what he thinks about image. "Image is very important, however I should clarify what I mean when I say "image." I'm not talking about bone structure, conventional attractiveness, weight, hair cuts, fashionable clothing... I'm talking about your logo, your cover artwork, your flyers, your merchandise, your website, your Myspace page." I would have to agree. You don't need to look pretty to make it. Different looks work. However, image is something completely different especially when it comes to Myspace.

Now, this is all starting to sound like hard work. Maybe you should just get a manager to handle it but what does a manager do? Let's go back to Ryan J. Downey on this one. What are a manager's duties and responsibilities?

"A manager handles a great many things. They are involved in the day to day business operations of the artist, negotiating deals, dealing with record labels, booking agents, attorneys, publicists, merchandise companies, road crew, business managers and accountants, anyone involved in a band's career."

Now, unless you have to worry about all that, at this point, you don't need a manager especially if it is just to book your little shows. Eventually you will need to obtain a manager; the only way to do so is by making yourself appealing to them.

The irony is, in order to live the rock star life you have to work for it. I'm going to outline exactly what you need to do in 5 steps. Are you ready?

1. Record a demo.
2. Market yourself.
3. Create a Myspace page or website.
4. Book shows and promote yourself to the public.
5. Network, Network, Network!

In order, to get a manager and booking agent, you need to manage and book your own shows. Does this make sense? Not to me. If rock and roll is hard work, why the hell do I want to be a rock star? Oh yea, the groupies.