Pav suggested to me some books on how to promote your gig\/How to get gigs. I had a look in the college’s library and found some books there I only picked up one of them because it was the most recent one and up to date on how to get gigs. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The first step into the music industry is to get your band out there by creating a “buzz”. You can do this by using social media platforms like Instagram or TikTok to get noticed, Both platforms allow you to upload short videos. Some bands like South Arcade became “TikTok” famous from this.
If you want to get further recognition, you need to stay on recent topics and trends. Or you can upload something original or eye-catching to make the users of these social media platforms stop scrolling and stay and watch your video.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Most bands find success in well promoted gigs, setting up a website, making posters and posting on X about upcoming events greatly improve your chances of reaching and gaining new fans\/audience to attend your live show.
In the music business you will need to create a brand for yourself. The first step is coming up with a band name. This is the most important step because it connects you to your music. Your band name is what fans of your music will google when looking for your social media, band info and tour dates (Weisman, 2015). You also want your band name to be short and catchy. The next step will be to secure your band name, you can do this by getting verified on social media accounts. When you manage to get verified it will come in a form of a blue check mark next to your name, some social media platform like X make you pay a monthly subscription to get verified, You don’t need to do this unless you use X a lot. You can also make a website for your band as this was popular back in the 2000’s. A good example is Linkin Park. When they were starting they needed a name for their website and Chester suggested Lincoln Park referencing their hometown of Santa Monica. (www.youtube.com, revolt 20.5.25)
Now that you have your name and got verified you now need to create a logo, You need to make this eye catching and it has to be original and not stolen art, Also try not to use AI to create a logo as it takes away that originality and creativity from the artists. You can commission art using websites like fiverr.
When\u00a0you’re\u00a0in\u00a0competition, standing out is\u00a0what matters.\u00a0And\u00a0that\u00a0is\u00a0what\u00a0creating a strong brand\u00a0is\u00a0all about. Your band’s brand is\u00a0not\u00a0only\u00a0a logo; it’s its\u00a0character, its\u00a0appearance, its message, and the\u00a0whole\u00a0experience it\u00a0gives\u00a0to its audience. Think about your band’s\u00a0appearance, its\u00a0beliefs, and how you\u00a0wish\u00a0to be perceived. Consistency across all\u00a0of\u00a0your\u00a0channels\u00a0\u2013 from your social media\u00a0platforms\u00a0to\u00a0merchandise and\u00a0live\u00a0stage presence \u2013 will\u00a0seal\u00a0your brand in the minds of your audience. (EBSCO Information Services, Inc. | www.ebsco.com, 2024).
While self-promotion is a great place to start, networking with other promoters can really help you reach farther. Other promoters, booking agents, and even other bands can help you get better gigs, expose you to new individuals, and gain exposure in new territories. You should network within the music industry to create these useful contacts.(Insurance Canopy, 2024)
You can also reach out to a music venue or a music store and have them promote your next gig or promote your newly released music.
BBC and MTV have programs for new upcoming artists
marketing (online\/Physical)
This is where your branding comes into play. You can sell your merchandise through an online store or physically.
Online Marketing: This can be done by releasing your music on to streaming services like Spotify or Apple music, Online marketing can also be selling your merch like clothing, guitar picks or any other band merch. You can also make an event drop, meaning selling your band merch for a limited time when you hit a specific milestone like your bands anniversary or limited edition clothing.
Physical Marketing: This is done by selling physical merchandise. For example physical copies of your music, selling clothing at a live gig or any other physical merch, you can also sell exclusive event drops at live gigs, some examples are Bloodstock setting tour shirts that have the venue printed on the front and and that played live printed on the back. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Copyright also plays a big part in promotion as it helps your fans know which sources to trust so that you don’t have imposters or someone stealing your music. Copyright is a\u00a0statutory\u00a0right granted to\u00a0original\u00a0authors\u00a0of\u00a0artistic\u00a0work, including musical compositions and sound\u00a0records. It\u00a0grants\u00a0the\u00a0owner of the\u00a0copyright\u00a0the\u00a0exclusive\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0manage\u00a0the use of\u00a0their work\u00a0and\u00a0also\u00a0the\u00a0right\u00a0to\u00a0earn\u00a0from it.
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Here is one of SouthArcade’s videos posted to TikTok<\/p>\n\n\n\n