DJ Pain 1 breaks down a very common question that artists are always asking us here at NIT, and the answer may surprise you!
So, artists, do you need a manager?
Follow Certified Gold Producer DJ Pain 1 at @DJPain1
5 Artist Tips To Perform Like A Star
November 13, 2013 by 1 Comment
After being on tour for the past few years and seeing thousands of independent and major artists performing, I have picked up a few pointers for artists to take heed of when performing at a live show. The execution of an artists show set is very important and can be the main factor between being at the top, or being a flop. Check out these 5 easy steps to making sure your performance leads you to the top instead of keeping you stuck at the bottom…
1. CONTROL THE MIC
This is very important to get down first so that the rest of the show can be on point. Most artists, especially in Hip Hop, tend to “cuff” the mic by putting their whole hand around it and screaming into the mic. This is not good and will cause a distorted sound which will leave the audience to not able to hear the words of the song. Without proper mic control, the crowd will not be able to enjoy the show no matter how good the song is. You can go online and find some tutorials on how to hold the mic but generally you want to make sure your hand is not covering the diaphragm and that you hold the mic in a steady place directly in front/below your mouth when speaking into it. The 2 worst things you can do is “cuff” the mic by holding your hand around the top of it and move the mic around while you are performing instead of talking into it at the same distance from your mouth the whole time – this is a sound man’s worst nightmare.
2. LOOK THE PART
Apart from knowing how to hold the mic correctly, looking the part is also one of the first points to make sure you have covered before the performance so the show can go well. A lot of artists seem to forget that they are going to be on stage in front of hundreds or thousands of people representing their brand. Keep in mind you as an artist are a brand, and you need to make sure you are conveying the right message about your brand every time you hit the stage and are putting yourself out there to the masses. This does not necessarily mean that you need money to spend on expensive outfits, it just means you need to put effort into figuring out the image that you want to portray with this performance. I have seen plenty of artists who spent little to nothing on their outfits and have still come across as the most memorable performers because of their image and how it related to their performance or the message in their music. In fact, its usually the most outlandish, cheap or free outfits or props that make performers stick out in people’s heads. The best tip I can give here is have fun with it, put some time and effort into finding or making an outfit that will give off the correct image and vibe for what you are trying to do with this show and where you are trying to go with your career.
3. GET YOUR ENERGY RIGHT
Once you look the part and know how to hold the mic, you need to know how to give off the right energy for your performance. Many artists come up with a hype song and stand in one place on the stage performing when they should be going crazy hyping up the crowd. Other artists perform a more mellow track with a message but end up getting so excited that they are on stage that they get too hype and ruin the feeling/message of the song. Keep in mind this is a performance to entertain a crowd of people, this is art. Your look and energy should match the message and feel of your art. Although all artists do not have the type of money that the superstars do, that does not mean you can’t study some of their performances and take away what you can from them. Notice a the sold out arena tours that major artists do, the stage props and set change depending on the track. The artist’s outfit and tone change depending on the part of the show they are in and the type of tracks that they are doing. They put in a lot of time and effort to create an entire “show” that people can hear, see and feel. This can be done at an independent show as well just on smaller scales, be creative and let out the inner artist in you to make sure your energy and appearance embody the art that you are performing.
4. PERFORM THE SONG, DON’T SING ALONG
This goes right along with the energy and is most common with independent Hip Hop artists, although we have all seen major Hip Hop artists do this as well. When a crowd sees you perform a song live, they want to see you PERFORM the song, not just ad lib your own track and dance around while the song plays. This is especially important with independent artists because the crowd usually does not know your song in the first place so if you do not perform it to them, then they have no idea whats going on. From my experience, about 70% of artists perform their track like its already a hit record. They just ad lib their own lyrics and dance around on stage while the song plays like we know the song already and are suppose to sing along. The result, is a complete failure of a performance. The key to performing a Hip Hop song is to first have an actual show set. You can not successfully perform your song over your entire song, you need to have a show version of the song with the verses taken out and maybe some ad libs left in and some back up tracks left in for the hook. The goal is to perform the song so they can hear it like it is suppose to be heard on the CD, but live in person with more energy and life to it. This is impossible to accomplish when your just yelling over your already recorded track and vocals. Make a show set and practice it thousands of times before your performance until you can perform it just like it sounds on the CD…practice makes perfect!
5. ENGAGE THE CROWD
Engaging the crowd is what makes the difference between a “performance” and a “show”. Anyone can perform something, but not a lot of people can put on an actual show that grabs the audience and takes them along for a ride with them. The key to this is commanding the stage with your stage presence. Talk directly to the audience, interact with them, get them involved in your “show” instead of just performing in front of them. Once you get them engaged and involved in your show you can get them to do anything you want. This has a lot to do with number 3 on this list which is energy. If your energy matches the energy of your song, and you can convey that energy to the crowd to make them feel that energy then you can have the entire crowd in the palm of your hands. If you “turn up” they will turn up and bounce and throw their hands in the air and jump around with you. If you do a mellow more heart felt track, they will have their lighters in the air waving side to side with you.
To Perform at an Upcoming Coast 2 Coast LIVE Event Please Visit www.Coast2CoastLIVE.com
Video | Coast 2 Coast Artist Success Stories
January 31, 2013 by 1 Comment
Our partners at Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes and Magazine are always hard at work “Giving Indie Artists MAJOR Opportunities”, but this video goes into depth about how the marketing company has played a key role in breaking some of the biggest artists out today! From Wiz Khalifa to 2 Chainz to Big Sean, Coast 2 Coast has been a key step in the marketing of an artist and building the necessary buzz to get a MAJOR record deal! Check out Coast 2 Coast’s services here: Coast 2 Coast Artist Services
Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes Provides Real Promotion in an Industry Full of Scammers
August 19, 2012 by Leave a Comment
You have all seen it countless times, the typical internet promoter or promotion company offering “thousands of views, likes, comments, etc for your music from REAL people!”, don’t fall for it. There is no amount of purchasing likes, views or anything else that will actually help an artist at the end of the day. You need to engage real fans by really putting your content out there for them to see. There is no shortcut to hard work and diligent PR campaigns to get your finished product into the hands of the tastemakers and fans that matter. And there is DEFINITELY no substitute or shortcut to doing the actual creative work in the studio to create a project that resonates with people in some way.
This is why our partners at Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes have been so successful over the last 6 years in an industry full of scams and overnight promotion companies. The Artist PR and Marketing Services offered provide no guarantee of views, comments, downloads, etc. because that is not something that can be promised with a real PR campaign. Real PR companies can put your music in front of the right faces, but it is up to the music and the artist to engage those tastemakers or fans to post or like the music. No amount of payment can get someone to genuinely engage with your music in a way that is beneficial to you, so please just get it out of your head that you can pay $20.00 for enough views to get the attention of a record label, or anyone for that matter.
So let the company that has done promotions with countless major artists, from Meek Mill, 2 Chainz, Big Sean, Wiz Khalifa, and more to do the exposure end of things once your hard work in studio is done. Leave the scams and pay for view schemes to the amateurs, as this is a game for professional PR and Marketing companies, don’t let the deal that is too good to be true sway you from the ultimate goal of exposing your hard work!
Check out the video below for some info on how Coast 2 Coast has worked with some of the biggest stars in the music industry and played a role in establishing them where they are today. And remember, there is no shortcut here, you must surround yourself with professional people and organizations to be successful on this level in the music industry, so look for companies like Coast 2 Coast to be a piece of your winning marketing strategy and do away with the scams!
Video | @DJPain1 – Promoting Your Music Online Series
February 3, 2012 by 4 Comments
Our good friend and Coast 2 Coast DJ, DJ Pain 1, has taken some time in recent weeks to post a great series for upcoming artists on how to promote music online. The series turned into 3 parts from social networking to getting beats to artists for producers. Pain 1 is a certified Gold producer himself with placements with Jeezy and more, as well as an FM radio DJ, so he has a great perspective to dish out some advice. Enjoy!
http://www.facebook.com/djpainone
A not-so-short video explaining how to submit music to hip-hop blogs and websites (without paying) and how to build a database of website and blog contacts.
http://www.facebook.com/djpainone
A video full of tips on how producers may send beats to independent and unsigned recording artists as well as major label artists. The video also includes advice for upcoming producers on building a buzz and attracting potential customers.
http://www.facebook.com/djpainone
http://www.twitter.com/djpain1
The Set-Up…Are You Really Focused On It? Or Just Excited to Hear Yourself?
November 22, 2011 by 3 Comments
With today’s technology, artists feel that once they have recorded a record and are completely excited about it, all they need to do is SoundCloud it, post it to their social media sites, and they are off and running. That is just WRONG! I have experienced good records, which could have been worked on a bit longer and been made great. They were lost because of an artist who was TOO anxious, and they destroyed a song’s chance before it had even had an impact—not allowing the record to marinate and build the right plan.
There is an opportunity to expose a record to the maximum potential IF, and only IF, a plan can be put into place. The plan must include all aspects of marketing and promotions, no matter what your budget. It does not matter if you live in a city of 15k or 1.5 million, the setup is virtually the same, but the money and EXPENSE of the plan are different.
If you do not incorporate streets AND viral, then you are blowing money, and your vendors are the only ones that will win. I was on a call with the Nerve DJs a few nights ago and Yelawolf said it best: “Streets still reign, viral is nothing without them…” This is so very true. We are in the age of digital and mobile formats in order to have access to music, but what makes a potential fan and consumer look up your brand? It is what they hear and see on the streets.
I am not giving you a formula or a plan. That is what you must come up with, based on your market. I am only providing suggestions of what should be put in your plan to set up your record and brand. The objective is to get your music to the ears of as many consumers (= $$$) as possible.
Step One: Is your record viable?
I am not saying it must sound like what is on radio right now; what I am saying is does the “sound” (recording, mixing, and mastering) quality equal what is on radio? Does the record match the artist and speak for the artist when he/she is not around? Does it leave an impression? Does the hook get stuck in your head? Are the lyrics “real” for the artist?
Step Two: Marketing tools
What do you want to use to get the word out? Posters? Flyers? Stickers? Download cards? CDs? Social media? Website? Videos? A mobile app? What will get your brand and sound out to the consumers the quickest and with the most impact?
The logo and image are what will make the first impression. Have you taken the time to truly consider your name and image? Does your logo fit you? Can you live with it for the next ten years? Please make sure you take as much time on defining your image and logo as you do on creating your music. It is what sells you when you are not there. Always ensure the images you are using on your street marketing materials are the same images that are used in your viral campaign and advertising. People must come to know your brand. Use the same images and logo in all street and viral material. Yes, you will get tired of it. Just like you will get tired of doing the same song over and over once you create a hit, but it is all relevant.
Social media is a blessing and a curse. Having access to building a direct fan base is a wonderful thing. We did not have it in this business ten years ago, and we still broke records and quality rose to the top. With the access artist have to people via social media, there are opportunities to connect directly with fans and with music professionals. As you build your social media awareness, make sure your marketing efforts in the streets coincide. It all must work together.
Step Three: The DJ
This is your first “gate keeper” to the consumers. No, they are not the assholes you consider them to be. Remember, they have a job to do at a club or a party. They MUST keep the floor full and the bar ringing. First consider who the DJ is playing for. Does your music work in the type of sets they do? Does your music work in the type of club they are DJing at? Have you approached the DJ with respect as a fellow businessman or woman? How is your product being presented? Find out how the DJ wants to have the music delivered. CD, MP3, thumb drive. Take the time to research who you are dealing with and understand they are in the business of making money just like you are.
To be continued…
Janie Jennings
industryworks@gmail.com
Twitter.com/industryworks
Networking Do’s and Don’ts
September 28, 2011 by 3 Comments
Hello all. As many of you should know by now, networking is the key to winning in this music industry. From the first showcase, to the first seminar, to the first networking event I have ever been to, I have met so many people, with whom I now have great relationships, who have helped me on my journey to where I am today. I have also learned a lot, so I decided to share some of my networking do’s and don’ts with you all as we enter the 3rd annual Coast 2 Coast Convention—which will be a breeding ground for effective networking.
When going out to an event and anticipating a night of power networking:
Do…Dress for the occasion; have a fully charged smart phone; have enough business cards for everyone; have fresh breath and gum or mints on deck; carry yourself with confidence; have a 15–30 second pitch about who you are and what you do; always make eye contact when speaking.
Don’t…Wear a suit and tie to a hip hop show; tell everyone how hot you are and that you are next up; give anyone a CD with nothing written on it; drink excessively; flirt with female business contacts; or name drop as if anyone cares.
After networking and when attempting to make first contact:
Do…Send a quick and personalized thank you email reintroducing yourself and reminding when you met; let that contact know if they need any support in your area of expertise, to reach out to you; respond promptly to any reply—always thanking them for getting back to you; store the contact and business name and type into your smart phone, so when they call again, you know who they are.
Don’t…Text or call the contact at weird hours of the night; ask them how they can help you; add them to your mass email list and bombard them with unwanted music, event invites, and additional spam.
After you have mastered the act of networking, it’s time to build relationships:
Do…Touch base at least once a month to stay in the know; personally invite the contact out to an event you are throwing or performing at, and add them to the guest list with as many pluses as they want to bring; (if you can afford it) get the contact a few drink tickets and shout them out on the microphone, acknowledging that they are in the building; thank them for coming out; have a conversation that doesn’t involve business.
Don’t…Call this contact daily and blow their email up with regard to a CD you gave them; assume that because you have their email or Twitter that you actually have a REAL relationship; get mad when the contact doesn’t get right back to you, as if you are the only person trying to get at them for something.
Here are some other pointers on how to network effectively:
- Shake hands firmly with someone so they know you are serious about business
- Be humble—don’t come off cocky or standoffish—you never know who you may be talking to, or where they will be in three years
- Find out what that contact likes to drink when out—an occasional drink gesture without asking goes a long way
- Do your research on the contact—be informed. Know what their business background is, what projects they are currently working on
- Make it a habit to go out and network at least one night out of the week
- Do not have an “I know everything” attitude; keep an open mind
I hope you can understand where I am coming from here. Having been a leading showcase promoter for artists and producers for ten years and seeing some of the biggest names in music blossom from their inception into the industry, as well as seeing common mistakes made daily, please understand that I have seen just about everything.
Pay attention: networking is the key, and relationships are the foundation, to this empire called your career that you are trying to build. It needs to be strong. Many expect opportunities to just arise out of thin air. Stop watching music videos/tweeting/tagging people in annoying Facebook posts every day and get out and shake hands again. The Internet has helped us immensely, but it has also hurt us in more ways than one. Good old face-to-face meetings, business synergy, and an overall vibe are still very relevant in today’s music society—as much as they ever were before. So get out there, network, and don’t miss an opportunity to grow your brand. You are a walking advertisement; if you look a mess, have bad breath, and speak in broken sentences, then you get what you put out. That is an impression not easy to change once made.
Be prepared, then execute.
J Hatch is the co-founder of iStandardProducers.com, founder of the Get Your Buzz Up Showcase, and VP of Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes.
Coast2CoastVP@gmail.com
99Designs – Get Affordable Professional Graphic Design
August 11, 2011 by Leave a Comment
We just recently launched a design contest on 99designs.com for Coast 2 Coast Mixtapes to create a T-Shirt and loved the platform that they provide. The basic idea is you create a design “contest” for their community of tens of thousands of designers from across the world. Over the period of a few days you are provided with dozens of examples from these designers and are able to provide feedback to them on their designs, at the end of the period you pick the winning design and award the designer the cash prize. It is so simple! Obviously you get some crappy designs but it is totally worth the amount of creativity you see! We are about to award multiple designers prizes as there are a few designs we are planning on working with.
Check it out for yourself and get your branding done right from the start! Remember your first impression is many times your last so take the time to put in a few hundred dollars and get a logo, business card, and maybe even a website from our friendly team of thousands of designers over at 99designs.com!
There are many other crowd sourced design websites out there, I chose the highlight 99designs.com from my actual experience. When I get a chance I will update this post with a list of other sites once I can check them out.
Here’s an example of what they came up with:
Artists: Relationships 101
April 8, 2011 by 3 Comments
There’s always been a saying, “Its not what you say, but how you say it.” In this business, relationships are the most important element, period. Without relationships, nothing would get done. I personally feel that artists sometimes think that just because they have a record on the radio, or have a sold units in the past, it means they do not have to go out and continue to build. The life cycle of an artist is very short, and if you do not continue to be your own politician, then your level of success may not be as great as you anticipate.
Artists, no matter if you are signed to a label or not, you are a brand. Let’s break that down: you are a product, good or service that is attempting to appeal to a consumer. Now your product, or brand, has to have all of the necessary ingredients to capture or generate a level of interest. What you say, how it’s said, the message and image you are delivering—what type of picture does it all paint? Will a consumer be turned on or off by your sound? But most importantly, can this product be sold to produce a profit? If so, will you garnish enough attention to spark the interests of investors (major labels and distributors)?
Now you have caught the attention of the majors, you’re on the radio, have a good viral campaign, however your downloads and sales do not reflect those efforts. What could I possibly be doing wrong that’s not generating the level of excitement necessary? In the markets you are trying to break into, do you have the relationships with the DJs? That will give you a lane to the club circuit. How about the local schools and community centers? What type of branding have you done for yourself in the markets that are giving you radio and club support? Do you expect the majors to do this for you? Not in this new music industry. Your business model must be solid and you must be able to show that your brand is marketable and that your company and you the artist can market your own brand.
At the end of the day, the relationships that you build by going to DJ retreats, conferences, record pool meetings, club visits, community centers, even your local bus or train station, are a factor. You would be surprised how your relationships can get you further than you can even imagine. You have contacts in your phone, business cards in pockets and backpacks, literature with other important information, websites that have contact information, and so forth. Now the REAL work begins—the follow up. Follow up with emails, phone calls etc. Even if your contact does not return your calls or emails, do not get discouraged. If your song or movement is on the level it should be, they will return all of your messages. Now the journey begins.
Derek “The Bigg DM” Jurand
@thebiggdm
New Artist Tip – Become a friend to the DJ community
September 30, 2008 by Leave a Comment
As an artist in todays industry, it is crucial to form great relationships with DJs. No matter what you do, you cannot make it unless you have the support the DJs… the more DJs that you have the support of, the better. The best way to gain this support and respect from the DJs is simple, show them support and respect first.
This means dont blast them with unsolicited spam emails with your tracks attached and dont bombard and harass them about things that dont make any sense for them to do. Remember that they do not know you and since they do not know you, they most likely will not bother to even give you a listen. So understand the position you are in and be nice, respectful and treat them as you would want to be treated.
Hit them up with a short and personal courtesy email introducing yourself and asking if you can network with them in any ways and if there is anything that you can do for hem to help them out, ask them there permission to send them MP3’s and ask them in what form and where they would like them to be sent to. Understand that there time is valuable so let them know maybe a few key points or reasons that they should check out your music and network with you. Offer them drops to along with the track or exclusive tracks in the future or anything else that you can offer them. Trust me, your better off giving as much as you can to them to benefit them, they will like that but again make sure to ask them and talk to them about it first, dont just send them things.
Also, if possible the best way to start a relationship with anyone in the industry if you are an unknown artist or company is to put some bread in there pocket! Everyone understands the international language of cash. With DJs, its simple to do this… have them host your mixtape for whatever there hosting fee is or whatever.. that way you get benefits from it and they get some money in there pocket… now they are much more likely to take kindly to your songs, emails and they will be open to networking and working with you more.
