| Featured Article - The First Step In Starting A Band |
Before dreams can fully transition into reality, every band must figure out where the first step is. Great music, explosive energy, raw talent, and pure ambition are obvious requirements for success in the music industry, however, if there is no plan and no starting point... well honesty, how do you start a band without pinning down the starting point? A plan to plan is the first step in starting a band - read this article and get yourself on track today! |
 |
STARTING A BAND:
The First Step |
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISING STRATEGY: Band Promotion Budget
As we stand just steps away from the creative aspect of a marketing plan, it is time to gather financial assets and build a marketing budget. Yes, promotion is unfortunately not always free. At the same time, a band can do some very creative things on a low budget. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
STARTING A BAND: Vocalist Wanted
My band doesn’t have a vocalist yet and we aren’t looking for one right now. Out of all the roles in a band, the vocalist brings most of the character to the music. A mistake here results in the end of most bands. So, my band is going to wait it out. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKTHROUGH BAND: Target Market
Currently, three different audiences have discovered Breakthrough Band. This includes aspiring musicians, established or beginning bands, and music industry experts. While all three of these groups are useful to Breakthrough Band, our target audience will remain with the musicians and industry experts should develop as a byproduct of effective networking. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
STARTING A BAND: Bassist Wanted
A group of musicians get together to start a band and don’t have a bassist, so they force another guitarist to switch or just grab a friend and teach some basic chords. Now, if this modified bassist learns quickly and can start to create unique bass lines, then you are set. However, your band is missing out if the assumption is just to add some fullness to a pre-created song. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
ADVERTISING STRATEGY: Target Market
The single largest indicator of the impact of an advertising strategy is the target market research. Even the most appealing advertisements and catchy slogans are irrelevant to a population who could care less about your product or service. This advice may tick off a few underground bands, but it is true - just because your music is original doesn’t mean anyone else will like it or listen to it. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
BREAKTHROUGH BAND: SWOT Analysis
The Situational Analysis comes to a summary as Breakthrough Band analyzes Strengths Weaknesses Opportunities and Threats. Take a look at a sample SWOT Analysis READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
July 8th 2010
STARTING A BAND: How to Buy an Electric Guitar
Through connecting with guitarists and researching the technology, I was able to select a guitar and an amp that fit my budget, my musical style, and my preferences. Find out how to select an electric guitar and amp and take a look at some resources that helped me along the way. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
MUSIC IN THE NEWS: Arcade Fire On Vinyl
Arcade Fire is taking a nostalgic approach to marketing their upcoming album, “The Suburbs”, out August 2nd 2010. With the heavy downloading and leaking of albums, bands need to find ways to offer something of value to their listeners. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
June 19th 2010
REFLECTIONS: Beloved - Failure On
If you haven’t listened to the band Beloved in a while… or at all, I definitely recommend you find a copy of their album, “Failure On”, somewhere and blast it through your stereo. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
May 8th 2010
STARTING A BAND: Recording Drums
When I was researching tips and advice about recording drums, I read over and over that the most difficult aspect of recording music is recording the drums. I tasted snaps of drumming frustration a few weeks ago as I tackled the first steps of putting together a few songs with a friend. Although there are various breakdowns and outlines to follow for recording drums, a structured plan may be quickly abandoned due to the tremendous number of variables. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
April 7th 2010
BLOG CARNIVAL: Music Industry Blogs
In this second edition of Breakthrough Band’s Blog Carnival, I have invited bloggers within the online music community to submit a blog post with relevant advice or information pertaining to the music industry and starting a band. Check out the Blog Carnival page of Breakthrough Band to learn how you can be part of the next round. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
March 27th 2010
REFLECTIONS: When You Try... You Fail
What happens when you try? …you fail. Commitment and determination have such a high impact on success in any field. For any aspiring musician tackling the challenge of starting a band, these words are not encouraging at all. If the odds are stacked against you, why try? Why sacrifice and why risk finances, time, and relationships to try and succeed? I think that is the point of the cliché above. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
March 13th 2010
STARTING A BAND: Practice Space
Any group of musicians looking to start a band will be not only looking at venues and clubs to play, but also searching for the right place to write music, practice songs, and rehearse for each show. While you may be fortunate enough to have a space that is perfectly designed for each of these purposes, most bands will need to put some work in to find a practice space. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
March 6th 2010
YOUR MUSIC: Stagehands Music
Marco Pandza of dramatic rock ensemble, Stagehands, connects with Breakthrough Band to share some insights into starting a band as they are carving their own niche in the music industry. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 27th 2010
ADVERTISING STRATEGY: SWOT Analysis
Simply defined, the SWOT analysis is a marketing guide that summarizes a brand’s Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats. Pertaining to band promotion, whether you are starting a band or re-evaluating your band’s marketing strategy, the SWOT analysis can outline important core elements of the current situation. The SWOT analysis becomes a fitting summary for the Situational Analysis. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 21st 2010
BREAKTHROUGH BAND: Competitive Analysis
Breakthrough Band is positioned within an unsaturated niche of music blogs where options are limited, but the resources are very powerful. Rather than diving into comparisons with the plethora of music blogs, the focus here will be on three resources aimed at aspiring musicians. These resources include Artist House Music, Indie Band Advice and Head Above Music. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 13th 2010
NOTEWORTHY: Supernova Band Wars
Learning how to start a band goes beyond grabbing a group of friends together with instruments. There comes a point where a band is ready to rock and needs to begin promoting the music and performing live. What better way to promote your band than to get out into the community and play your heart out. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 5th 2010
MUSIC IN THE NEWS: Angels and Airwaves Free Music
Another band is offering free music as part of the marketing strategy for their new album. Angels and Airwaves announced that they will put up free downloads of “Love” their newest album, online at Fuel.Tv. You can even download “Hallucinations”, the first single, right now. But, why the free music? READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
February 1st 2010
STARTING A BAND: Guitarist Wanted
Although a guitarist may not dictate the success or failure of a band, it is the guitar that directs and sketches out each song. The guitarist of your band will have tremendous impact on the sound of your band’s music. It is no wonder why most band leaders and writers are guitarists. The guitar outlines the thoughts of the writer. Learn what to consider before posting that "Guitarist Wanted" ad. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
January 30th 2010
ADVERTISING STRATEGY: Local Band Promotion
For any rock band looking to gain exposure in the music industry, there is a priority to start small and saturate the local area first. If your band promotion strategy can a specific geographical area, then you can build support and translate that strength into other channels. By grasping every opportunity for local attention, you can build a network that will drive a loyal fan base and create opportunities. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
January 28th 2010
YOUR MUSIC: Promote Your Band
The opportunities for online band promotion are constantly evolving each day. Breakthrough Band will dive into each avenue for band promotion and unveil tips and tricks to reach new listeners and expand your fan base as content continues to grow. At the same time, Breakthrough Band will be reviewing YOUR music to see which bands have what it take to succeed. READ MORE
- David James
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
