#16 Defo, I maybe write 100 songs a year and only 8-10% make it to release. I have a process and removed all the barriers to the writing process so I can bang songs out on schedule. After that, it's just a process of ruthless culling, cutting, swapping and rewriting.
Great vid Damian!! I´m just thinking that when promoting your EP everywhere and to everyone face by face, it has a big risk to turn in to a negative promotion. I have seen a lots of bands that have done this too much, and it is mostly annoying and makes me to block those people for spamming.. When promoting like this, you need to be 100% sure your music is good enough and promoted for the right audience :)
Again, I have to disagree with you on the point you´re trying to make about PR companies, Damo. Of course, momentum is the shizzle, but a PR company can help you get fans if you don´t have enough to sell records. Because, guess what? Playlists on Spotify generally don´t care how many fans or followers you´ve got. Especially the unofficial ones. They only listen to check if it fits their vibe. And getting your single on one of these can really make a huge difference. They can even help break a band. A little disclaimer: Artists need to learn to approach PR companies well in advance, before the music is out. It is hard to create expectations to a release when it´s already out there. That´s the real issue.
Tomas Fordelsen I just don’t agree bands don’t need to change their timing they need to be realistic with what a PR can do. A good PR company with the right band who have history and an audience and a story will work.. but every day I get messages from bands who thought PR companies would solve their problems... A great manager can break the right band but not the wrong one, same for a great playlist but there are no promises and because pr companies usually charge per hour/retainer bands can hire them anytime they want.. If I spend 10 hours trying to get a band reach it could cost hundreds of pounds with no guarantees whatsoever. Hiring the pr company to build the momentum is the tail wagging the dog.. building the momentum and then triggering the right pr company at the right stage has potential.. but still only potential
Sure, just as there are shit bands which are not on a pro level and where a PR campaign wouldn´t help, there are shit PR companies which are just in it for the short win. But I felt you were knocking PR companies altogether.
Mistake # 31 (which I just experienced myself): having started a band which is now great, tight and has a good and friendly atmosphere and bringing in a guy to play brass on the next concert and finding out he is taking control of the band, set list, how the show should be run and so on...
I thought I knew but when I watch this video and the last one, it made me RE-Think about what I've been doing for the past years... I didn't do shit... Gotta work harder to achieve the goal. Just ordered your book sir! I always enjoy watching your videos! Thank You Very much!
My band Til All Is One is slated to release our first full length record next month and I definitely want to employ the proper strategies to make this a success. We have all the right components artistically and image wise but certainly can use some mentoring on how to properly manage and promote ourselves to jockey us into a place of success. Please help sir.
I really dont know how to tell A/ The story before we release music. What is that. What does that look like. Videos of the band writing? Music video? Vlog?
Hey Damian, I 've got two questions. 1. How do I find out what kind of story I wanna tell? I mean in a specific kind of way. 2. How do I manage my time? At the beginning it is so freaking hard to make music to plan a show to get content for social media to connect to other musicians and so on... Maybe you can tell me how to manage all my to do's the best way. So I can become momentum. Btw thank you for helping out so many musicians. cheers
Id very very strongly disagree with you about the PR company. If your putting a release out there you need to invest in a PR company to get your music on blogs/playlists/radio plays. If you think fb and content deserve some money then your song definitely does. its your best bit of content that you will ever have.
Always like your advice because you use "tough Love". You say what needs to be said. The problem with my acoustic band here in Las Vegas - and we are a band that just wants to play 5-6 times a month - but many venues - and I understand this - want to see a video of us playing. And I feel a bit out of the loop on this form of technology, but perhaps I am thinking it is way more difficult than it is. I wonder about the lighting, the backdrop the sound of any video we make...arrg! It all sounds so time consuming and so difficult. Help with this aspect of our band?
Hey Damian, I got a predicament.. I keep trying to push the bill about releasing music and doing the promo but my guitar player who started the band doesn't want to listen. He'd rather release a 10 song album and no one has even heard of us. What the hell should I do? I really enjoy the band I'm in and want it to take over the world and bring metal back to life. I just don't see any way his plan would work, any advice?
Hey dude, Such a predicament and something I think is happening all over the world. The tradition of releasing albums like our heroes is very hard to break. The problem is while it's tradition a lot of bands are struggling with getting traction and momentum to build an audience. What I would say is this is about strategy and whatever you decide to do it needs to be together because this is hard enough when everyone is pulling in the same direction. It's nearly impossible when everyone is pulling against each other. I would sit down with the band and have a chat about what are you trying to achieve and what the best way of doing this is.. but if you feel this can't be resolved you should be prepared to either go with their way or take more drastic action. Just don't settle and look back in regret is my advice! hope this helps bro
thank u for all the awesome advice! i'm an unknown musician/songwriter making my first album in northern California at a local studio. im paying for the time out of pocket to record at a real studio because i believe the songs are that good & deserve the chance. I also have 2 friends who are a very talented helping with drums and some bass. i am trying to better understand the whole social media thing to promote it all. this def. helps me & i will tell them to check this channel out!
Damo! Great tips as always, man! Just got your book yesterday and I've already torn through it (no golden ticket, though :( ). Now I've got to go back through again and take some notes and implementing this stuff. You're a huge help, man!
I do have set up a mailing list but apart from getting emails from downloads of my music (which my target audience really doesn't do that much), I have no idea how to collect these email addresses. Any suggestion?
So many great tips here - thank you! Still struggling with finding ways to bring value to audience in Social Media posts though. Just never know what to post! (Am great at it with my business but not so good for band)
