Giving away things for free is both easy and hard. It’s easy because there are alot of people out there who like FREE things and won’t give you the time of day if you ask them for money. It’s hard because it can often devalue your work in the eyes of its recipients. We thought [...]
So what’s the deal!? You either have a very expensive hobby or a lousy paying job. At least that’s what it feels like, right? Well, lets not make it so black and white. Just because you’re not making $50k a year doesn’t mean its not a job. Lets break it down and find out what [...]
It’s no surprise that the more content you create, the more interest you generate. The two go hand-in-hand. Without a weekly dose of photos, videos, and/or blogs, you are missing out on new fans, engaged fans, and the opportunity to make your music travel further than your immediate network. Let’s break it down. PICTURES [...]
There’s a popular quote out there that says, “If you’re good at something, you should never do it for free.” I disagree with this…sometimes. In many cases, you have a greater chance of making money if you provide your service for free. Give Free Music Brooke Waggoner is again my prime example for this. Waggoner [...]
Today’s post is another contributed article by UK-based artist, Andy Mort. He goes by the moniker, Atlum Schema and this time writes an article on something we’ve all experienced: “emotional blackmail”. There’s also some food-for-thought for event organizers who might not understand the importance of paying their entertainment. ______________________________________________________________________________ A month or so ago I received an [...]
Today’s “Ask Grassrootsy” Question comes from Lydia, a book publicist in Houston, TX. Its a pretty universal question that can be applied to any trade. How much do you charge someone when they’re a friend, or a friendly acquaintance? Here are some thoughts. Feel free to offer yours in the comments section. THE QUESTION: I [...]
YOUR PHOTOS Be careful of the photos you post…particular anything that could potentially be used as a press photo if it is not intended for that purpose. It will get to a point that you can’t take it back. Your pictures may land on random sites where you will never have a say in whether [...]
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_70xGUxznYY] We are Miracle Whip and we will not tone it down? Huh? The idea of putting ideas into people heads, for the most part, is a very selfish thought. It comes with a preconceived notion that you are that good…that your “product” should be the #1 thing on everyone’s mind. Watch the above Miracle [...]
Money-related issues are undoubtedly the most-shared frustration among all independent artists. Its hard to fund your art while also trying to fund yourself through your art. This post offers suggestions on how and when to ask for money Asking for Compensation Don’t be afraid to ask for money! If you’re providing a service to people, you [...]
Last week Sean Atkins of The Lost Sea came up with a really great idea for artists in Pittsburgh – The Digital Mixtape. An online compilation CD with up to19+ songs by indie artists. Web surfers can go to a website, download the mp3s and be exposed to several artists they’ve never heard of (and a few that [...]
Be sure to read the first two posts in this series 1.) Starting from Scratch: What it takes to Release a CD 2.) Alternatives – CD Packaging, Production, & Distribution So once you’ve got the recording, artwork, and packaging done, its time to decide on ways to get your music out there. We talked a [...]
Ok, so there’s the ongoing debate about whether it helps or hurts to give away free mp3s to people. Read “What’s Your Motive? Making Money or Making Music?“ for some good arguments. And while you’re figuring out what you think, here are some other options of how you can show appreciation to your fans while still promoting yourself. [...]
So it must be Andrew Dubber week, b/c I’ve come across some excellent articles by Dubber through his Music Marketing Strategies blog; the latest being ”Why Give Music Away For Free?” Here’s the disclaimer (and Dubber says this as well): Giving away free music is not for everybody, but when done properly, it will actually help [...]
