i hate promoting

So I'm doing something I hate as a musician. It's called promotion and since I'm currently a complete nobody, it means I have to deal with a fray of people who are also nobodies like me. Which is tough. When you're competing for attention, recognition and satisfying your ego and you're up against teens with garageband* you start to wonder what's wrong with your life. You either run the risk of coming off as too arrogant or irrelevant.

Ugh.

Suggestions? Anyone wear multiple hats as musician and promoter?

*Apologies to the teens with Garageband.

most of this is essentially 'cold calling' -- like when someone rings you at dinner and says, yes sir, we're selling health insurance? logical reply is "fuck off!" because you're eating dinner and the phone call is an interruption and you don't really give a shit. when your product is intensely personal like music is, instead of insurance, you feel that "fuck off!" even though it's not about your music at all.

two options are:

1) fuck this shit, bastards aren't worth it (really, they aren't!)

2) don't pitch to every random jerk, carefully target people/areas you think will actually give it a shot

use facebook

Wait until the next big crazy internet video comes out. Sample some dialogue from it, add autotune & a nice steady beat, maybe some synth lines if you're so motivated, upload it to Youtube with a whole bunch of tags & a link to your real music (try to do this all within an hour or two of the original video going viral). Wait for the masses to roll in.

Actually I think techno remixes of videos are starting to become a bit of a dead horse on the internet, but the strictly Facebook/Twitter crowd might still dig it.

Be a big part of this and other communities. Participate, make friends with people, modestly show them your stuff. If people like you, they will often do tiny things to help you, whether they know it or not, and one or two of those things will spark other people's interests which in turn will grow awareness of your music.

Distant Dream:

Person you don't know: Dude! Check out this dude's music! It's awesome!

His friend: Oh awesome! This is the shit!

Reality:

Your friend: Oh, you like [something they think is related to your music]? My friend makes tunes that are pretty cool. Check it.

His friend: Oh cool. This'd be fun to listen to while doing [stupid mundane crap]. I think I'll download it when I get home.

From there it can eventually grow into people having heard your name before and then maybe people might even pay for your music.

But for reals, slow and steady with consistent, honest word-of-mouth, community involvement, internet presence, and the occasional odd promotional dudad.

or do gigs

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, Adam Beker said:

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

Little to no point being on a label these days. At the most they can take the responsibility of promoting yourself, maybe get some stuff on vinyl or cd. You're better off in the long run doing it yourself these days. It's a bit more work for sure but probably more rewarding in the long run.

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:32 PM, soundwave said:

or do gigs

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, Adam Beker said:

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

I will hopefully do gigs soon. Regarding labels? I'm guessing I still have more to prove until an adequate label will want anything to do with me. Also, I don't know of any labels that would want anything to do with me. I also don't know of labels I would fit in with yet. I'll need to spend more time looking. I've just recently been trying to convince myself to take my musical "career" more seriously. I'm much more accustomed to keeping to myself so I'm finding "promotion" to be an awkward process. I sort of wish I was some unabashed rapper, delusional and with an undeserved sense of confidence. That would make things easier. I needs some gold chains is what i needs.

unfortunately if you don't like promoting yourself the chances of you getting anywhere with your music is extremely low. There are thousands of very talented creative musicians out there who put out one album, dont promote it themselves and then just hide away in the shadows. Maybe if they had helped promote it themselves the results would have been more satisfying. I get a kick out of people who some how look down on musicians who promote themselves, as if the only musicians they respect are ones who get discovered by labels out of complete obscurity (which is actually a very rare occurrence)

  On 3/16/2011 at 10:09 PM, Awepittance said:

unfortunately if you don't like promoting yourself the chances of you getting anywhere with your music is extremely low. There are thousands of very talented creative musicians out there who put out one album, dont promote it themselves and then just hide away in the shadows. Maybe if they had helped promote it themselves the results would have been more satisfying. I get a kick out of people who some how look down on musicians who promote themselves, as if the only musicians they respect are ones who get discovered by labels out of complete obscurity (which is actually a very rare occurrence)

I completely agree with you. That's why I'm forcing myself to do it and learn how to. I envy those who don't second guess themselves. Seems like a great trait to have. I'm also wondering if others relate to this apprehension.

Wahrk knows whats up.

IMO it's really important not to bother people who don't give a shit about your music. I know dudes who have 10's of thousands of likes on their stupid facebook fan page for their alias because they spam the living shit out of it and the music is terrible, the art they made looks tacky (Architecture anyone? lol) and the bio section is completely overindulgent etc. you know the stereotype, and these people just come off like they desperately need a reality check and at least from what I've noticed it seems like those who quietly do gigs gain lots more respect and true fans than these self-marketing whores.

But of course you seem like a pretty IDM kinda guy so I doubt you'll go and make that mistake. Just my two cents.

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:52 PM, Aces said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, Adam Beker said:

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

 

Little to no point being on a label these days. At the most they can take the responsibility of promoting yourself, maybe get some stuff on vinyl or cd. You're better off in the long run doing it yourself these days. It's a bit more work for sure but probably more rewarding in the long run.

Well. I'm just curious are there any artists that are popular or make money from music that aren't signed to a decent label?

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:02 PM, Adam Beker said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:52 PM, Aces said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, Adam Beker said:

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

 

Little to no point being on a label these days. At the most they can take the responsibility of promoting yourself, maybe get some stuff on vinyl or cd. You're better off in the long run doing it yourself these days. It's a bit more work for sure but probably more rewarding in the long run.

 

Well. I'm just curious are there any artists that are popular or make money from music that aren't signed to a decent label?

There are always some that will earn on a label. If you are not part of the current trend (or hate most of them...) it's better in the long run to do it yourself. Mind you i will temper this statement a little, i've been on a label before and it earned me sweet fuck all (apart from i made a good friend or two) I've earned more money gigging and on bandcamp. I'm not saying i earned lots but it's all profit which is not to be sniffed at.

I think if your music is produced with a high enough level of experience and knowledge and it's interesting/unique enough, it couldn't be too hard to find a label who will pick you up and market you intelligently after a few tries.

I think the most difficult situation, and the biggest hurdle for a lot of people on this forum is that they don't realize they actually are following a trend, a trend that isn't relevant anymore (acid/idm/etc) and thus is very hard to sell.

  On 3/16/2011 at 11:02 PM, Adam Beker said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:52 PM, Aces said:

  On 3/16/2011 at 9:38 PM, Adam Beker said:

Why don't you just send your music to a good label?

 

Little to no point being on a label these days. At the most they can take the responsibility of promoting yourself, maybe get some stuff on vinyl or cd. You're better off in the long run doing it yourself these days. It's a bit more work for sure but probably more rewarding in the long run.

 

Well. I'm just curious are there any artists that are popular or make money from music that aren't signed to a decent label?

I met a drone artist who makes enough to tour small venues around Europe for the last 9 months.

Dr. Steel has gotten a pretty decent cult following without being on a label or releasing any new music in ten years, but most of his base are like Steampunk Juggalos.

Also Jandek, who's become (mostly in)famous with virtually no self promotion or label involvement, but he's been releasing music at Venetian Snares rates since the 70s.

  On 3/16/2011 at 10:54 PM, Al5x said:

Wahrk knows whats up.

:sup:

I've been encountering this with the musicians I play with as well, which is frustrating, but no one really seems to get that you typically have to keep doing what you do for years before anyone outside of your circle of friends gives a shit. Don't be afraid to shift direction here and there, but don't get too discouraged just because no one's listening. The number one cause of failure is giving up. Perseverance is king. Devotion of time is one of the most validating aspects of an artists to someone who's stumbled upon them. Just keep it up and don't worry so much and eventually you'll garner some attention.

BUT if you want to get there quick, here's a shortcut:

Its standart marketing. If your product sucks no one will buy it and if you do not promote yourself nobody will care. Investors ( labels ) will only invest if they see something in your buisness thats worth investing in. Having some customers and a good product already helps a lot to covince them to invest thats for sure. Just take a random sucessful (non musical) product like a webstartup and try to learn from its sucess

your ego has to be as big as your talent, in other words. it would be nice if the music could just speak (to the masses) for itself, somehow.

There does seem to be a bit of a double standard with music fans looking down on self-promotion like it cheapens this thing that you should be doing entirely for enjoyment, when at the same time they probably would never have heard of most of their favourite musicians if there hadn't been self-promotion going on at some point down the line. Doing shows & sending out demos count. I imagine it's very rare that some dude will just be riffing on his Casiotone out in the garage for fun & a passing record exec will think, "I must sign this man pronto".

  On 3/17/2011 at 2:10 PM, mafted said:

your ego has to be as big as your talent, in other words. it would be nice if the music could just speak (to the masses) for itself, somehow.

I completely disagree.

Most human beings do things for selfish reasons. Most people make art or music because they want people to love them or think they're special. & that's all fine and dandy but I don't think that means it's impossible, or even very hard to approach your own view of your own music on it's own merits. Deep down you know whether it's produced well. Deep down, even if you have denial or make excuses you know how relevant it is, how danceable it is, how good the transitions are, how tinny or big the drums are, etc, you know who's going to like it. So just use that knowledge to market it in the right way to the right people who will actually care about whatever it is you're up to.

Do be aware of where you fit in the musical world, and use it to your advantage. if your music is good and you promote it in a way that isn't annoying, all you're really doing is pleasing people's ears.

Just don't be a douchebag about it. It's not hard.

All im really saying is get past your silly insecurities or your weird notions about art and just be honest and in touch with reality. If some people think you're not as good as you think you are, that doesn't make you an asshole. That makes everyone assholes with opinions that don't matter at all in the long run. Get used to having haters, and get used to not giving a shit about them.

Even more importantly, make loyal but strong-minded and honest friends who will let you know when you're being a cunt.

  On 3/17/2011 at 3:47 PM, Cryptowen said:

There does seem to be a bit of a double standard with music fans looking down on self-promotion like it cheapens this thing that you should be doing entirely for enjoyment, when at the same time they probably would never have heard of most of their favourite musicians if there hadn't been self-promotion going on at some point down the line. Doing shows & sending out demos count. I imagine it's very rare that some dude will just be riffing on his Casiotone out in the garage for fun & a passing record exec will think, "I must sign this man pronto".

exactly, i just think people who havent tried to do this themselves sometimes have rigid ways of looking at it. It's almost like you have to 'earn your keep' so to speak but not by actually promoting yourself, so how exactly is one supposed to get their music heard?

  On 3/17/2011 at 4:10 PM, Al5x said:

  On 3/17/2011 at 2:10 PM, mafted said:

your ego has to be as big as your talent, in other words. it would be nice if the music could just speak (to the masses) for itself, somehow.

 

I completely disagree.

 

Most human beings do things for selfish reasons. Most people make art or music because they want people to love them or think they're special. & that's all fine and dandy but I don't think that means it's impossible, or even very hard to approach your own view of your own music on it's own merits. Deep down you know whether it's produced well. Deep down, even if you have denial or make excuses you know how relevant it is, how danceable it is, how good the transitions are, how tinny or big the drums are, etc, you know who's going to like it. So just use that knowledge to market it in the right way to the right people who will actually care about whatever it is you're up to.

 

Do be aware of where you fit in the musical world, and use it to your advantage. if your music is good and you promote it in a way that isn't annoying, all you're really doing is pleasing people's ears.

 

Just don't be a douchebag about it. It's not hard.

 

All im really saying is get past your silly insecurities or your weird notions about art and just be honest and in touch with reality. If some people think you're not as good as you think you are, that doesn't make you an asshole. That makes everyone assholes with opinions that don't matter at all in the long run. Get used to having haters, and get used to not giving a shit about them.

 

Even more importantly, make loyal but strong-minded and honest friends who will let you know when you're being a cunt.

I have to say that alex really fucking evolved before he made this post. Great points, well stated.