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Permalink Reply by Stereo Espionage on June 29, 2010 at 9:07pm

Hey guys, this is gonna be a long answer but you'll find it useful i hope.

A: Chat to bands in the UK, even use this site to find them or myspace to find some, get to know them, make friends and ask to go on tour with them. Obviously this means you'll have to travel to the UK, so it's gnna cost.

B: Don't just put your songs on myspace, use as much as you can, such as www.reverbnation.com, facebook and my personal favourite Guguchu (search it on google and watch the video on the site), it is amazing what Guguchu can do (it might be spelt Gaguchu).

C: Find out if there are any managers in your area, region, or perhaps in another country that will take you on. Managers are ideal as they help you get gigs, promote you through press and can get label attention.

D: Just keep at it man, try and invite any press you know to your shows.

E: Even try sending your tracks to record labels, but you have to mail it, and when you do, include many things, including your CD which MUST HAVE a cover on it, like an image on the actual disc itself and a suitable album art on the case. Make sure this is done proffesionally as there aren't many second chances, Include a biography of the band, some pics of you guys playing and photoshoots etc. Fanmails if you can get some, any merch you might have such as clothing, any press or newspaper cuttings you've gotten involving you. Pretty much put everything that has anything to do with your band into these "Press Packs" as they're more commonly known. As you can see, this will start to cost alot if you have to make 10 copies of the whole press pack to send to 10 record labels, so target labels that seem appropiate to your genre of music.

Guys i hope this helps, literally everything i just mentioned is what my bands doing at the moment, we live in england so we don't have to worry about going abroad. Just stick with it and make sure your always bugging labels (seriously, bug them, so they do listen to your tracks). Just remember guys that it takes a few years to make it big with most bands, but be optimistic like me and believe that it can happen in months because if you manage to get a label to listen to your tracks and they love you, they may just sign you straight away and then your sorted :)

OH BTW MAKE SURE YOUR PRESS PACK LOOKS AMAZING, put as much effort into designing it etc, don't just use a folder or plastic wallet or shoe box, actually make something brilliant to put all your things in.

And my last note, which is a sad one, please guys don't do what every other band does nowadays, if you go to a gig, watch the crowds reaction, alot of "nice people" will cheer when you finish a song etc even if they don't actually like your stuff (i know this, because we've done it for other bands :( ) So make sure that a crowd cheers and goes crazy and is still cheering when you've finished, you know if they like you when they don't walk off as soon as your done, or if they ask you for your myspace etc.

If you get alot of "fake cheers" from all your gigs, somethings wrong, your either targetting the wrong crowds, or its your music in general.

Please yeah, if every single label, manager, venue owner refuses you, or crowds don't seem to like your music, then you HAVE to change your sound, otherwise you'll be another dead end band that goes on for years and years getting nowhere and eventually you'll waste this time and just give it up at the end. We've had this happen and we've changed our sound BIG TIME, we used to be pop-punk, but now we're new-wave rock, it's a mix of Enter Shikari and You Me At Six style music. and fans have started to give us genuine cheers (we knwo this because they always chase us down for our myspace or hugs lol)


So guys, good luck with everything :) im about to listen to your stuff :)

I'll add you on myspace too, never know, we could be touring one day in the future :D

See ya around

Stereo Espionage
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