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Scott James

Music Promotion: A Persistent and Sustainable Approach

by Scott James March 26, 2010

I remember back in the day when I played my first show with my first real band. We were really excited about the whole thing and eager to promote it. This was well before MySpace or Twitter or Facebook and at the time the obvious way to promote was to put up flyers. And put them up we did. We made tons of them. We made some really big ones too. Getting them in very visible or creative places was a source of pride. The theory was that if 0.01% of people who saw the flyer came to the show then we could pack the venue by making sure that 50,000 people saw the flyer. Read more…

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What is a Free CD Worth?

by Scott James March 9, 2010

I recently had someone on the Disc Makers blog ask me about a promotion they were thinking of doing for their upcoming CD. The idea was to give out 50-100 CDs to fans who were willing to recruit a certain number of their friends to join the band’s Facebook fan page. I thought it brought up some things that are worth thinking about. Here was my response:

My first thought is that you might get a better return on investment with Facebook advertising. Read more…

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Do You Have a Video Policy?

by Scott James February 24, 2010

I recently went to a show at a small L.A. venue called the Baked Potato. The band was phenomenal. One of the best guitar players I’d ever seen. However, half-way through the set he spotted a fan videotaping the show. Apparently he didn’t like that too much and chastised and embarrassed the fan in front of the entire crowd. As much as I loved the band I had to question why they thought it would be a good move to make their fan feel like a jerk in front of everyone for doing something that could help them reach more people. Read more…

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CD Release Tips

by Scott James February 22, 2010

So you’ve put your blood, sweat, time, and money into making your brand new CD. Now what? Do you have a plan to make it successful, or were you just going to “get it out there?”

One of the best ways to ensure disappointing results with your new CD is to release it with no plan for how to market it. You can do better than that! Time and time again I’ve seen artists release CDs by just “making it available.” They just put out a CD and ask people to buy it. They don’t pick a single and they don’t have a good plan to build anticipation for the release. Don’t let that be you! Read more…

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10 Marketing Basics for Musicians

by Scott James January 20, 2010

With the barrage of new websites and blogs targeting independent artists, it can be difficult to know where to start when it comes to marketing your music. Information and ideas are everywhere and unless you’ve got a strong marketing foundation it can feel like trying to put together a giant puzzle without being able to look at the box. With that in mind, I’ve put together a list of 10 marketing basics to help expose the underlying structure that makes a music marketing campaign successful. Read more…

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An Interview with David Ellefson

by Scott James December 28, 2009

David EllefsonDavid Ellefson is a man who needs no introduction in the world of heavy metal. For those unfamiliar with his work, David has earned 7 Grammy nominations, multiple gold and platinum records and has been on numerous world tours as a founding member of the band Megadeth as well as with recent bands F5, HAIL! and Angels of Babylon. He also holds a Bachelors degree in business and marketing, has authored a book titled “Making Music Your Business…A Guide For Young Musicians” and continues to educate musicians through his online video series “David Ellefson’s ROCK SHOP”. Read more…

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What’s Your Holiday Plan?

by Scott James December 9, 2009

It’s that time of year again. If you went shopping at all this past weekend you probably noticed that the shelves are full, deals are advertised everywhere, and many stores are staying open late. Nothing unusual for this time of year, right? Can you imagine if Best Buy or Target decided they weren’t going to advertise, put together any deals, or extend their hours for the holidays? How do you think that would work out for them? It doesn’t take a genius to realize that such a strategy (or lack thereof) would be a monumental waste of an opportunity. So why then, do 99% of all bands out there do nothing extra to promote themselves this time of year?! Read more…

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Start Your Own Scene

by Scott James October 26, 2009

I hear a lot of people complain that their band can’t really get anywhere because there’s not much of a scene where they live. However I don’t see a lot of people doing anything about it. If there’s going to be a scene, someone needs to have the vision and initiative to start it. So if you don’t have a booming scene where you live – start your own! Here’s how:

The first thing that you need to do is to scout out at least one good venue. What you want to look for are venues that are: Read more…

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Command: The Difference Between Good and Great

by Scott James September 21, 2009

curtain-thumbHave you ever been to a show where the music was very good and the playing was flawless but…you just didn’t “feel it?” Something was missing but you just couldn’t put your finger on it. Chances are what was missing was command. The artist didn’t have command of the room.

A few years ago I went to see an artist named Jim Bianco at a local club called “The Hotel Cafe.” He sat down at the piano to play a softer song called “Painkiller.” I started to chat with the girl I was with when he began playing. I remember stopping mid-sentence as this wave of energy seemed to hit the room. Read more…

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5 Common MySpace Mistakes

by Scott James September 4, 2009

I encounter a lot of Myspace music profiles. As a web designer who focuses on musicians, I spend plenty of time marketing to bands and artists on Myspace. In my time doing so, I’ve come across some things that a lot of people seem to get wrong. Read more…

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Are You a Beggar or a Rockstar?

by Scott James August 28, 2009

Beggar or Rockstar?Most bands out there are looking for support. They want you to help them out, vote for them in a contest, go to their show, buy their CD.

By contributing to their cause you will get them far enough to get their big break. When they get their big break they will have made it and other people will be there to give them all they need and they’ll live happily ever after.

There’s just one small problem with that model: It’s an illusion that will keeps artists trapped until long after all of their dreams are gone. It’s a fundamental misinterpretation of the way that money and value work. This strategy will no sooner make you successful then it will a beggar. Read more…

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Move It or Lose It

by Scott James August 17, 2009

What’s your dream?

If you’re like most musicians I know, your dream probably includes getting a lucrative record deal and playing in front of large crowds of people. Maybe you’d like to score a major motion picture and go down as a brilliant composer. Either way, your dreams probably go beyond playing at Joe’s Bar and Grill on Tuesday nights or playing in front of your cat in your bedroom.

Sadly, most people will never realize their dreams. Sadder still, most people will never be able to overcome their fears enough to even give themselves a chance. Most people are full of rationalizations and illusions that keep them where they are. They cling to their dreams but they wake up one day and realize they never bothered to put one foot in front of the other to bridge the gap between their dreams and reality. Read more…

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Learning To Sell Effectively

by Scott James August 13, 2009

If you plan on being successful in the music business then you’re going to have to learn how to sell. Whether that means selling out shows, selling CDs, or selling your bass player on the idea that he should start wearing deodorant, you need to learn how to sell. The way that you sell is indicative of how you view the world and will go a long way towards determining your level of true success and happiness.

At least once a day I walk a half mile down the Walk of Fame on Hollywood Boulevard to get to Starbucks. I see more sales pitches in a week then most people see in a lifetime. Everywhere I look someone is either trying to get someone to go on a tour, take a personality test, buy their CD, give them money, join their church, or any number of other things. Read more…

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5 Ideas to Transform Your Music and Your Life

by Scott James August 10, 2009

Is your music career and your life where you want it to be right now?

We run on auto-pilot a lot more than we realize and more than most of us would care to admit. The good news is that once we become aware of this, we can take control of the habits and routines in our lives and design new ones that will get us where we want to be.

Here are five concepts that can transform your music career and your life. If these concepts resonate with you I recommend taking immediate action, however small, towards implementing change. Don’t over-think it. Just take action. Momentum is everything. Read more…

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