good places to hand out cd's?

[LEO]

Myspace works wonders.

I started my whole fan base almost soley on myspace. And i released my first mixtape and charged 5 a copy.

Threw my best songs up, And i do new songs constantly, Shit i can pump out 10 in a day if im doin good. Start round noon and smokin herb most the day while doin this all day. Then round 6 start drankin and drank till round midnight and i can do a good 10 songs a night. Throw like 15 songs a mixtape and i got mixtapes all the times.

But i jus on myspace hit the browse button, Set the search for people in your area and post bulletins sayin you got a demo/mixtape and if ya insteresed holla. Ive met people at my crib, The mall, Gas stations, They crib, Liqour stores, All over.

People get to peep ya music before even pickin up the demo/mixtape so if they pick it up ya know they a fan already.

My .02 cents.

 

[NOKUY]

Myspace works wonders.

ummm..doesnt "myspace" own your music once you download it on there...and then they have rights to do whatever the fuck they want with it????

thats what Ive always been told anyways

 

[Wisconsinsmoker]

^^ i hope not...cuz i got a myspace

fuck tom..he can suck one...


but yes myspace does work wonders i've got fans off that too but now im trying to expand

 

[LEO]

ummm..doesnt "myspace" own your music once you download it on there...and then they have rights to do whatever the fuck they want with it????

thats what Ive always been told anyways

Not that i know of. Wouldnt make sense. If one of a famous artists rep's post a myspace of their artists song, Would the famous artists songs belong to myspace? I think not.

 

[Guest]

Go to where the money and free promotion is, High schools and colleges but a lot might just download BUT it's free promotion. Also house parties are good to get your name out BUT only if the crowd looks like it will be open minded to new music. Just listen to what the DJ is playing and how they react. Being that you are there, you can use that to get out the mic to give shout outs. This will get you tons of ass from automatic groupies and WOMEN are your best customers in the beginning most of the time, while MEN are loyal to you in the long run.

For true fans hit up older spots and artistic spots such as lounges and maybe nightclubs. Also hit up the part of your town that is artistic. Most towns have them just look for where there are headshops, tattoo shops, and art galleries. Tell the owners they can sell the cd's on consignment and if they say yes just give them 10 cd's.

Also, I say go to a lounge instead of major nightclubs because most people who go to major nightclubs only want what is popular and play on major radio stations whereas lounges deal with the music being played. Being at these places while your music is being played will help a great deal because people will see you and feel your presence so get in the best gear, get your confidence up so you can have the aura of a star. Once you get inside the DJ booth and start giving out shout outs, it's over and a star is born.

One more thing, being that music is in a slump and true artist are in high demand, I suggest you go the opposite of what most are doing as far as your image. If it's rap, don't come to the club with a lot of people, come in some gear that's not sports attire or button ups. If I was you I think you should get that east coast 1994 type of clothes which was polo, tommy hilfiger, or anything that is STREET but still prep and means that people will have a hard time judging you.

KEEPING PEOPLE IN SUSPENSE AND BEING A MYSTERY YOU GAIN POWER BECAUSE PEOPLE WON'T KNOW HOW TO READ YOU AND BEING THAT YOUR MUSIC IS GOOD, THEY WANT TO HEAR MORE FROM YOU.

THIS IS WHAT 50 CENT HAD WHEN HE CAME OUT. SUSPENSE AND MYSTERY. YOU NEVER KNEW WHAT HE WAS GOING TO SAY. THIS IS TRUE POWER AND CONTROL. PEACE.

 

[Guest]

Also, read this book for how to gain control over a situation without others even realizing that you are winning.

The 48 Laws of Power:
http://www.amazon.com/48-Laws-Power-Robert-Greene/dp/0140280197

50 Cent is about to have one written with him and the author called the 50 laws of power.

Make sure you use these laws in ways that you CAN in YOUR life. You will understand what I mean when you read it. I did most of these laws when I was growing up unintentionally and ALWAYS got what I wanted while others laughed at me when they couldn't understand why I was doing certain things. In the end I ALWAYS beat them. It just takes patience.

Here's a snippet:
http://www2.tech.purdue.edu/cg/courses/cgt411/covey/48_laws_of_power.htm

The 48 Laws of Power

by Robert Greene and Joost Elffers

Law 1

Never Outshine the Master

Always make those above you feel comfortably superior. In your desire to please or impress them, do not go too far in displaying your talents or you might accomplish the opposite – inspire fear and insecurity. Make your masters appear more brilliant than they are and you will attain the heights of power.

Law 2

Never put too Much Trust in Friends, Learn how to use Enemies

Be wary of friends-they will betray you more quickly, for they are easily aroused to envy. They also become spoiled and tyrannical. But hire a former enemy and he will be more loyal than a friend, because he has more to prove. In fact, you have more to fear from friends than from enemies. If you have no enemies, find a way to make them.

Law 3

Conceal your Intentions

Keep people off-balance and in the dark by never revealing the purpose behind your actions. If they have no clue what you are up to, they cannot prepare a defense. Guide them far enough down the wrong path, envelope them in enough smoke, and by the time they realize your intentions, it will be too late.

Law 4

Always Say Less than Necessary

When you are trying to impress people with words, the more you say, the more common you appear, and the less in control. Even if you are saying something banal, it will seem original if you make it vague, open-ended, and sphinxlike. Powerful people impress and intimidate by saying less. The more you say, the more likely you are to say something foolish.

Law 5

So Much Depends on Reputation – Guard it with your Life

Reputation is the cornerstone of power. Through reputation alone you can intimidate and win; once you slip, however, you are vulnerable, and will be attacked on all sides. Make your reputation unassailable. Always be alert to potential attacks and thwart them before they happen. Meanwhile, learn to destroy your enemies by opening holes in their own reputations. Then stand aside and let public opinion hang them.

Law 6

Court Attention at all Cost

Everything is judged by its appearance; what is unseen counts for nothing. Never let yourself get lost in the crowd, then, or buried in oblivion. Stand out. Be conspicuous, at all cost. Make yourself a magnet of attention by appearing larger, more colorful, more mysterious, than the bland and timid masses.

Law 7

Get others to do the Work for you, but Always Take the Credit

Use the wisdom, knowledge, and legwork of other people to further your own cause. Not only will such assistance save you valuable time and energy, it will give you a godlike aura of efficiency and speed. In the end your helpers will be forgotten and you will be remembered. Never do yourself what others can do for you.

Law 8

Make other People come to you – use Bait if Necessary

When you force the other person to act, you are the one in control. It is always better to make your opponent come to you, abandoning his own plans in the process. Lure him with fabulous gains – then attack. You hold the cards.

Law 9

Win through your Actions, Never through Argument

Any momentary triumph you think gained through argument is really a Pyrrhic victory: The resentment and ill will you stir up is stronger and lasts longer than any momentary change of opinion. It is much more powerful to get others to agree with you through your actions, without saying a word. Demonstrate, do not explicate.

 

[WeedMan90.OG 01]

Book venues and perform live is the best way to start up a fan base.

 

[Guest]

I forgot to tell you about CD baby(www.cdbaby.com) to get your stuff to other parts of the country and the world. Also, find out about international record stores because hip hop in it's purest form is BIG overseas. Toronto, Japan, London, Paris and Germany are major consumers. If you learn spanish then you have an even bigger market to pursue.

I have one criticism and that's that you should put a popper stopper on the microphone to prevent the pops when you say words that start with a p or a b.


I like that Blood, sweat and tears joint!. BE A STAR AND DO YOUR THING.

 

[Wisconsinsmoker]

thanks alot lotty for all that info really gonna help!

and yea i do need a pop filter (popper stopper) haha but thanks

 

[Guest]

Another thing, if you have any rhymes that deal with busting somebody in the head or just being tough in general, I suggest you don't go crazy with them or start boxing and rolling with the THUGS because these type of songs bring out the WOLVES who come to shows to test you and see what you're about.

They also bring the hip hop police and yes they are real. They watch EVERYTHING you do just so you can catch a case. Make sure if you ride dirty, you have somebody to take the charge for you.

Hip Hop is a beautiful culture BUT if you come on some hard shit, you WILL get tested. If you can handle the shit by having security and also down to knock somebody out for talking dirty and don't care about the consequences go for it. In fact a lot of artist are pussy and if you can handle yourself with your hands and let it be known as well as you don't deal with guns to handle personal problems, the wolves will actually be your best protection.

 

[Verite]

Too funny .. does anyone make music anymore or is it just a thuggin tard free for all one up the next mofo before he one ups you?

p.s. I heard the hip hop police are lactose intolerant so they avoid all dairy states like wisconsin.

 

[Wisconsinsmoker]

i make music i aint in a thuggin tard free for all

 

[Guest]

Verite, you're taking this out of context. I was stating that if he writes songs that deal with some sort of roughness and machismo, he will have certain people at his shows and watching him and I was showing him how to deal with the situation.

The same thing happened when rock'n'roll artist started focusing on drugs in their songs which got the hell's angels involved with them and brought violence and extra police scrutiny to their concerts.

He's making MUSIC and good music at that. I don't see where your statement is coming from?. Peace.

 

[Wisconsinsmoker]

today i went to the mall to hand out some cd's ran into a guy from my old highschool who used to rap turns out hes a A&R. i gave him the cd and my number he said hes callin me back

 

[Guest]

GOOD LUCK!.

Make sure you get a lawyer to read the contracts and make sure you get a good percentage of your merchandising and digital sales IF they won't let you keep it. Especially the digital sales because these itunes and ringtones are making a killing.

Also, make sure you keep your publishing because that's where your real money is for the long run. Go to BMI or ASCAP(google them) to license your music and make sure you get paid every time your songs get played on radio or tv, copyright all your material as soon as you do them or before you let others hear them and you should be straight.

A trick a lady at the copyright office told me once was to save money you can put all your songs on one CD and that can be used as a copyright and when you feel the need or get the money, you can copyright each song by themselves.

Another trick you can do to get a bigger deal is to get your label, production company or entertainment company(whatever you want to be known as) incorporated(http://www.mynewcompany.com/quote.php) for a couple of hundred dollars, then go to a label as a record company looking for distribution which gives you more rights and checks($) for yourself as opposed to an artist who might just get a small cut of the deal and maybe nothing and have to tour to eat.

If you're offered an artist development deal, don't do it because these deals are basically the label turning you into what they want, own your music and publishing, and might NEVER put you out which means if another label wants you, they have to pay to get you. If I'm correct this is what the Lox did with puffy and that's why they had a big fallout. As well as other artist that were on his label.

If you pay attention now, most if not all the artist he has signed are from other production companies who he just distributes. They aren't his artist they are just affiliates.

Here's an article by Wendy Day who is VERY knowledgeable about the game and how to protect yourself. She might can even help you do a deal with the record company to protect yourself.

HOPE EVERYTHING GOES GOOD. PEACE.

http://wendyday.blogspot.com/2006/04/different-types-of-record-deals-by.html

"There are a multitude of different deals out there for any recording artist. It depends solely on what you agree to contractually. There is no such thing as a standard contract-- a contract is just an agreement between two people that says who will do what by when, what happens if they do NOT do it, and how everyone gets paid. You don’t get what you deserve in this business, you get what you negotiate. A contract can tie you up for three to seven years, so be VERY careful what you sign!

Just like every deal is different, so is every record label. While one my be great at radio, another one might suck at radio but be great at blitzing the streets. It’s important to know the label’s strengths and weaknesses when negotiating a deal. In the deals I negotiate, I always make sure the artist is compensated for the area in which the label is weak. So if the label is weak at radio, for example, I make certain there is an additional budget for the artist’s team to hire their own radio promotion people."

 

[Wisconsinsmoker]

thanks ffor the advice man ima await his call probally tommorow or the next day he'll call

 

[smoke1sun]

What kind of music is it

Everybody else pretty much sumed it up on were to hand out cds.
But myspace is artist heaven i mean you can promote the hell out of yourself on there, and without it my artist would not have done a single show yet.

find the market for the kinda music you make start in your own city. Lets say your Insync, lil bow wow, cris brown. you know grade school to junior high girls are gonna be the ones to purchase your cds do a search invate them as friends your music gets heard, then bring that to the attention of the right people "local promoters, booking agents" then go from there. You might think it sounds cornie but is works.

 

[Yummybud]

colleges/ universities?