10
Fundamental Things That Big Bands Do!
Revealing the secrets ...
by Gilson Rodrigues de Arruda, Imperative Music.
I've been working since the 90's on the Metal Scene both in Brazil and
abroad, and I would like to share what generally famous bands have done in the
past, maybe the newcomer bands can learn something of that and benefit in their
career .
Also, in addition to my experience in international relations with
bands, record companies, stores, media in Europe, United States and Japan, I
also graduated in Foreign Trade and I noticed several tools, data, situations
and policies in business worldwide so any band can use on promotion and
agreements.
Working at the national level is one thing, it is still important to
always be a professional, but working at a world level is a step by step, you
need improvement, professionalism, dedication, devotion and a lot of patience
and humility.
10 Basic Systems in the Heavy Music Business:
1 – This is a business, there will be entrepreneurs/managers wanting to
make money with your band, but you can gain space and some money in the right
places. If you want to do shows abroad, look for an agency, ask the bands that
have worked with it, and if you want to invest in Europe, select key countries
like Germany, France, England because in these countries they have a lot of
public and many Record-Labels and most important Magazines to try get a record-deal,
interviews, merchandise sales, etc.
2 – Do business with everyone, it's not capitalism, but what I want to
say is about partnerships, for example, be sure to send your CD to be reviewed in
any Fanzine from Bolivia, Lithuania because they are as important as one from
Germany or United States. I know about one story that a Swedish band was signed
by European Record-Label after having seen the band in an interview on small
fanzine from Bolivia, incredible? I've heard and I know some bands that do not interviews
with people located in distant/poor countries, or do not send promotional
material to get reviews in other parts of the world, what is the advantage in
this?
3 –Sent answers to Emails within 24 hours or within a maximum of one
week if you are experiencing personal issues. Remember, good care is in fact to
keep customers and people will see you as a responsible person for future
business. On the Facebook page and other social networks, print your contact
addresses (Emails, Postal Address, Website, Phone number).
4 –Learning English is expensive when we are living in poor country and
our schools teach almost nothing. At least the band's vocalist/ leader need to master that language, it
will be useful, it's something to think about and study.
5 –Having a band is a long-term investment, sometimes it is not with the
Debut album that the band will succeed, see the bands from the past, many of
them have obtained international contracts with major Record-Label when the
band released the second or third album by a small record label of your country
as was the case of Behemoth, in these cases, persistence is fundamental.
6 –Promotion has never been and will never be a missed investment. All
the Media is a channel to get something different, some readers read only one
magazine, and the country may have two magazines, so it would be good to send
your promo-CD to both, do you understand? Start broadcasting locally, statewide
and later nationally, and when the band is mature and have a very well recorded,
mastered, produced album, invest in the international market.
7 –Connection and Cooperation with other bands of its territory and
other locations is a great start. Give yourself the confidence and space to
learn from everyone else, you will also need to chase after people, and not
wait for the phone to ring to get things done. A lot of humility and enthusiasm
will be good for building your career in the music world.
8 –If it is not possible on the debut album, make an effort and planning
to produce next album in renowned studios. The cover and designer of the CD need
to be well presented. The same is about Band Pictures, Video-clip, try a
professional production.
9 – Share anything! A tool of our days for
Social Networks, but before was photocopies of the Flyers and we sent these
little bastards in mail and it worked. Today on Facebook for example, Like and
Share makes people aware of the gigs/festival, reviews of their demo or album,
information about the release of the CD or T-shirts. Any and all matters about
your band is important thing, it's a must share to keep the band up and get new
fans, because you think Metallica or Megadeth are every day
"spreading the word" with their new videos, comments or something
from their private lives? This is a type of "Marketing" to conquer
and direct the 'looks' to them. I do not believe that the big bands play only
what they want or like, 80% of the repertoire's elaboration is to please, to
take advantage of the wave of the current musical scene, as we know, we already
had the Hard Rock wave, Grunge wave and Today we are in the Heaviest wave or Extreme,
see the great success and interest of the major Record-labels by bands like
Behemoth, Amon Amarth, even in movies appeared their songs. Even Dream
Theater, Metallica have their recent albums heavier, so the actual trend
is extreme Metal, you need to pay attention to and mend this move if your band
intends to succeed.
10 – Be yourself, copy is something I would give: It is half way to
failure. I know we are all fans of many bands, but, but imitating the voice,
the riffs of a big band, can limit the interest of the great majority, be
better than the original, is something I have never seen, sincerely. In the
Demo era it may even be fun to see a band imitating, playing like such a big
band, but when the band is going to release a full length album, better try to
be original as much as you can. I know that many bands have influences, but it
cannot be a ‘copy’ in the face that anyone says, this is just like that band.
The ideal would be someone to say, this band is as good as such and such bands.
I wish all bands good luck and that this report that I described in the
years that I have been working in Brazil and the rest of the world can be of
some use and improvement in the career of your band!
Gilson Rodrigues de Arruda
Imperative Music
https://www.imperative-music.com/
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