| As an independent musician and/or recording artist, if | | | | And, right now, in your own area, there are quite a |
| youdid *NOT* earn $30,000 (or more) with your music | | | | fewbeing planned for this summer. Weddings are one |
| alonelast year, let's jump right in and get you started | | | | of themost lucrative income generators for musicians, |
| with doingso this year. | | | | becausefamilies generally are very liberal in spending |
| Again, bear in mind that the main necessary ingredient | | | | on them, andgo all out, so to speak, for this special day |
| is | | | | for theirdaughters. |
| "consistency" of every aspect, and on a weekly basis. | | | | So, in our worst case scenario, let's say you can get, |
| Remember! This is a worst case scenario, in regard | | | | atleast, one wedding gig per month, at $1,000 per gig |
| towhat you should be able to easily earn within each | | | | (morewedding gig opportunities are likely during |
| aspect,and you are very likely to earn much more. | | | | summer monthsespecially): |
| The "lead generator(s)" in each aspect reflects the | | | | $1,000 X 9 months = $9,000 |
| variousresources that you will use to obtain results in | | | | Our monthly sub-total is now $3,016 |
| these areas. | | | | Lead Generators: |
| So, here is the financial mathematical layout. | | | | * Caterers & Catering Services |
| [---GIG EARNINGS---] | | | | * Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly |
| Practically any band should be able to market and | | | | newspapers |
| promoteitself well enough to obtain, at least, one gig | | | | * Your website notices of your availability for |
| per week,whether the band is based in a metropolitan | | | | weddings |
| or rural setting,and whether it performs on a fulltime or | | | | * Providing your business card to area upscale |
| part-time basis. | | | | restaurantsthat cater wedding receptions and |
| So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at getting one | | | | banquets |
| gigper week: | | | | * Your business card left with flower shops |
| 1 Gig X 1 Week @ $300 X 4 weeks = $1,200 per | | | | * Your business card left with jewelry stores |
| month | | | | * Your business card left with bridal shops |
| Lead Generators: | | | | * Your business card left with tuxedo shops |
| * Contacting venue managers and bookers directly | | | | * Your business card left with bridal services |
| * Signing on with an area booking agent | | | | Note: You should also provide your business card |
| * Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly | | | | towedding attendants who inquire about your services |
| newspapers | | | | forupcoming functions that they may be hosting in the |
| * Contacting area performance theaters | | | | future. |
| * Host your own gig at an area hall or theater | | | | [---WEDDING CD SALES---] |
| * Contacting high schools for performances | | | | You may also be able to sell your CD at weddings, |
| * Contacting college student activities offices | | | | however, |
| forperformances | | | | ASK FIRST when coordinating your |
| * Low-cost college newspaper ads for possible gigs | | | | performancearrangements. Attendants usually interact |
| * Low-cost college radio ads for possible gigs | | | | with the band, asit is a happy occasion. |
| * Your website calendar gig notices/tours | | | | If you are allowed to sell your recordings at weddings, |
| Note: Provide your media kit and business card | | | | youshould do so passively by having your CDs placed |
| toprospective clients. | | | | near theperformance area in a conspicuous position. |
| [---GIG CD SALES---] | | | | However, I would not "hard sell" (repeatedly mention) |
| As you are already aware, most gig employers will | | | | the |
| allowyou to sell your music during performances. | | | | CD from the stage, unless of course, a wedding |
| So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at getting | | | | coordinatordecides to do so, or states that you may |
| salesduring gigs, with a minimum of 100 people at each | | | | do so. |
| gig, andwith 10% (10 sales) of the crowd who, after | | | | So, in our worst case scenario, let's say, at least, |
| witnessing yourmind-blowing spectacular performance, | | | | 100people attend each wedding (more are likely to |
| suddenly realizethat life is not worth living, and they | | | | attendmany weddings), with 10% of them purchasing |
| simply cannot go onunless they own a copy of your | | | | your CD: |
| CD: | | | | 10 sales X $10.00 (per CD) X 1 month = $100 |
| 10 sales X $10.00 (per CD) X 4 weeks = $400 per | | | | Our monthly sub-total is now $3,116 |
| month | | | | Lead Generator: |
| Our monthly sub-total is now $1,600 | | | | * Your performance |
| Lead Generator: | | | | * Your website notice |
| * Your incredible stage performance that left | | | | [---RETAIL STORE CONSIGNMENT SALES---] |
| themmesmerized. | | | | Since stores won't be laying out cash in advance for |
| * Your website for additional sales | | | | yourmusic, you should have very little problem |
| [---TEACHING---] | | | | consigning yourmusic to retailers. |
| Right now, in your own area, there are innumerable | | | | A word of advice is for you to not consign more than |
| peoplewho would like to learn to play your instrument, | | | | fivecopies per per store, per 30-day period, at any |
| or be able tosing as half as well as you. So, why not | | | | time. |
| teach them how todo so while earning a bit of income | | | | Limiting copies to stores will allow for sufficient time in |
| doing it as well? | | | | yourproduct moving off retailer shelves. |
| So, in our worst case scenario, let's say you teach | | | | Consider getting your product consigned with, at least, |
| only oneday each week, with only two students, at | | | | fivearea retailers. However, if there are not enough |
| one hour each,while charging $10 per student, per | | | | musicstores in your area, consider consigning it with |
| lesson: | | | | otherretailers such as; bookstores, flower shops, |
| 1 day X 2 students X $10.00 (per student) X 4 weeks | | | | jewelry stores,and any other such retailer that gets |
| = $80 per month | | | | quite a bit of trafficand might be interested in carrying |
| Our monthly sub-total is now $1,680 | | | | your music. |
| Note: If you decide to devote an entire day of the | | | | You will, generally, be required to present retailers with |
| week toteaching, say 8 students/8 hours, your income | | | | yourown consignment form, and I have created one |
| increases to | | | | that you canfreely download and customize for your |
| $80 per day/$320 per month. | | | | own use at: [ |
| You can also consider contacting area community | | | | Just be sure to duplicate it so that both you and the |
| collegesthat will likely be receptive to your classes | | | | retailerhave copies. |
| within their | | | | So, in our worst case scenario, let's look at your area |
| "Continuing Education" program, which can even pay a | | | | retailpossibilities: |
| bitmore money. And, if time allows, why not get the | | | | 5 Stores X 5 copies X $8 (your take) = $200 per |
| best ofboth worlds, so to speak, by teaching both | | | | month |
| independently,as well as within the college system? | | | | Our monthly sub-total is now $3,316 |
| Lead Generators: | | | | Lead Generators: |
| * Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly | | | | * Low-cost classified or display ads in area |
| newspapers | | | | newspapers |
| * Contacting high schools to post notices/fliers | | | | * Low-cost radio ads |
| * Low-cost college newspaper ads | | | | * Low-cost cable television ads |
| * Low-cost college radio ads | | | | * News releases to all forms of media |
| * News releases to area radio and print papers | | | | * Feature interviews at local television, radio stations |
| * Feature interviews on area radio and in newspapers | | | | andprint media |
| * Your website with your class notices | | | | * Music reviews in your area print media |
| Note: Provide your credentials to student prospects in | | | | * Your website listing area stores carrying your music |
| theforms of a resume and/or portfolio. | | | | Note: Provide your media kit and business card to |
| [---ONLINE SALES---] | | | | retailersin order to further influence their decision in |
| Just a few noted sites include: | | | | consigningyour product. |
| CD Baby ( ) | | | | [---PRODUCTION---] |
| The Orchard ( ) | | | | Did you produce your own CD? If you did, and if |
| ( ) | | | | people areraving about how great it is, why not |
| New Artist Direct ( ) | | | | consider producingother area bands as well for some |
| With fairly decent online promotion, at the least, you | | | | extra cash? |
| oughtto be able to realize an average of 3 sales per | | | | Between now and the end of this year, you should be |
| week fromeach of these sites. While all may not | | | | ableto produce, at least, two acts for, at least, a $1,000 |
| produce those 3sales individually each week, some of | | | | feeeach. |
| them are likely toproduce more than 3 sales, | | | | Lead Generators: |
| dependent upon yourpromotional efforts, of which | | | | * Word of mouth and fellow musicians you know |
| should still average out to | | | | * Placing low-cost ads in your area weekly |
| 3 sales each. | | | | newspapers |
| However and again, let's review a worst case | | | | * Low-cost college newspaper ads |
| scenario: | | | | * Low-cost college radio ads |
| 4 sites X 3 sales each X $7.00 = $84 X 4 weeks = | | | | * Your website notice of your production skills |
| $336 | | | | * Fliers in music instrument stores |
| Our monthly sub-total is now $2,016 | | | | Note: Provide your media kit and business card to |
| Lead Generators: | | | | contacts. |
| * Peripheral online sales from gig audiences | | | | As our monthly sub-total is $3,316, providing a |
| * Low-cost ads in area weekly newspapers | | | | grandsub-total of $29,844, when you add on your |
| * Low-cost college newspaper ads | | | | $2,000production fees for both bands that you |
| * Low-cost college radio ads | | | | produce, yourminimum grand year-end total comes to |
| * Internet marketing and promotion on music | | | | $31,844. |
| messageboards, music forums, and within discussion | | | | As I stated at the beginning of this article, each of |
| list signaturefiles | | | | theseaspects contain 'bare bones' minimum figures in |
| * News releases to area radio and print papers | | | | respect towhat your earning potential is within them. |
| * Feature interviews on area radio and newspapers | | | | * Special Note: In each of these areas, it is very likely |
| * Your website sales | | | | thatyou will experience repeat business, as well as |
| [---WEDDINGS---] | | | | word ofmouth promotion, which will further add to your |
| Though weddings occur within every month of the | | | | annualincome this year, thus, creating the potential for |
| year, thebiggest and most traditional month for | | | | doubling oreven tripling your income. |
| weddings is June. | | | | |