The Music Business 

So you have an act together. Whether it is a band or a solo performance, you’re ready to try and make it big. The only problem is where do you begin? Most people go into the music business or the entertainment business in general with no idea what is in store for them. A little education is in order if this describes you at this point in your career. You want to have a cd in order for people to be able to hear your music, that is obvious, but there are many more things to think about.

 Get Exposure

 While it is true you need a cd, you also need to be out there playing and singing. You cannot be found if you are not performing. Play as much as possible and do not worry about how much money you are making right now, only worry about the quality of your music and your stage presence and all of the other aspects of the business. There are so many stories of people that were "found" playing at some out of the way dive it is obvious you must play to be heard. Play at cafes, festivals, friend's houses, and anytime someone asks you.

Consider Traveling

It is very worthwhile to travel to various cities to not only get a better perspective on the business but to meet other musicians and play in other places. The most obvious places are big cities, particularly L.A., Nashville, Austin, and almost any large city. Also you may consider overseas. Many people I know are playing consistently overseas and cannot get very many gigs here. Go figure. Certain places in the world are hungry for certain types of music. Define your niche and seek out the places that are hungry for it. Go there and see. You will not regret it.

Make a Demo

It should go without saying now that you must have a demonstration cd, a "demo" of your music to give to people and to sell at your gigs. Ask people where to record. Many people have home recording studios and would love to help you. It is very affordable theses days to have recording equipment and the quality is excellent. Learn as much as you can about recording. You do not have to be a technical geek , but the more you know about microphone technique, how to overlay tracks and so forth , the more you can utilize recording time efficiently. Record companies appreciate that, believe me!

Remember when you make a demo that most record execs only listen to the first 30 seconds before they have already decided if they like your music or not. I know it sounds cut throat, but it is! If you can begin to listen to your own music in this way, you will make a better, cleaner, more powerful song or demo that puts your best foot forward in the shortest amount of time. Good luck!