Music Research Blog

April 2009	Page 1 Of 1

Sell your music by manipulation Posted On 2009-04-14 , 1:42 PM It was a trick. I will not tell you how to sell your music by manipulation. But I will tell you this: What makes you want to buy? Do you want to buy a car from a salesman who is shifty-eyed? Who looks at the floor while speaking to you? Who speaks vaguely and meekly? No. When you buy a car you expect a sales pitch. You want to buy from a confident, straight-forward person who walks right up to you, shakes your hand, introduces themselves and proceeds to convince you there's no way you could live without that car. What inspires confidence in a product? The customer must have confidence in the product to buy, no matter what the product. You will find that people are suspicious when you approach them, even if you are offering them a free CD. To show your confidence, this is how you should approach someone about your music: Walk up and introduce yourself (but be polite - never rude or pushy). Know what your music is (genre-wise) and be proud of it. Expound on your music, your purpose, and your message with all of the imagery and descriptive words you can muster. Know that not everyone will say yes, and don't take it hard when they say no. Just move on to the next one. What will get you noticed? Relax. It's not hard (even though few do it). Get noticed by being confident (when you speak about your music, as well as when you perform it) and also by being tenacious. If you keep doing shows, you will get better. If you keep selling CDs, you will get better. If you keep on trying, you will get smarter. And if you keep on reading my blog - you'll be famous. comment
Sell Your Music With Your Performance Posted On 2009-04-09 , 1:43 PM Sell It - Your Style The most important part of any performance is getting the crowd going. Sell It - Your Masterpiece Second to that is telling them you have CDs available, and that they are cheaper than the overpriced pieces of pop confection which are sadly being sold as music these days. Thank them Finally, make sure you give back to the ones who make you what you are. Without fans, you are just a dude in a sequined shirt. Thank you comment
Selling your music on iTunes - Word of Mouth Posted On 2009-04-07 , 8:30 AM Get your music heard In the short term, it may seem like an excercise in futility. In the long term, advertising by word of mouth can be very effective. Spice up someone's life Every day conversation is mundane. Almost every person you pass on the street is looking for an escape from the droll, repetitive life they live. We yearn for a beat to bob to, some bounce in our step. If you can hand over a map to an escape route, you can save their day. You could save their life. You could be the spice that makes their night nice instead of dark and lonely and cold. So save a life. Get out there and tell people about your music. Describe the sound honestly and simply, and try to stay away from "It's like nothing you've ever heard before..." because that statement doesn't state anything. If you can't think of the words to describe what your music sounds like, try to describe how it will make you feel to listen to it. For example: "Track 4 will amp you up like a raging bull ON Red Bull." "Track 1 will make you believe you are Mr. Moneybags at the Copacabana, and all the soul singers in the world are singing for you." If you can excite a person's interest with a few lines about your music, they will be ever more enticed into loving your lyrics. Show your personality, your style, and the crowd will love it... Even if they aren't in the crowd yet. comment
Keeping at it Posted On 2009-04-06 , 4:05 PM Action is Key I have been spreading posters, posting classified ads, and generally spreading the word about starting a band. I have heard back from a total of 4 people. All seemed to be very interested, but not very active. Keep it up Spreading posters hasn't brought about any results, so I keep on moving to different mediums. I have gone (so far) to craigslist, myspace, other sites for independent artists, spread posters locally, posted classifieds with the local paper, sung in the park and generally tried to get my name out there and get heard. I will remain tenacious, and will conquer. Keep practicing I have been playing for about an hour every day, and I use every extra minute to play my guitar. I try to compound my practice experience by practicing in public or where people can hear me. I've been working on my stage presence in this way, trying to get comfortable with looking around while I'm playing, looking at people and not losing confidence... It doesn't come naturally, but almost something like naturally. ... Slowly, though. Sincerely, Lisa Mac comment
April 2009	Page 1 Of 1