The Record Factory Blog

#13 - Gigs and Clubs....

2012-01-24T12:10:00.004+11:00

This is a great blog from Dave Goldberg, an LA based Jazz muso on the difficulties of gigs, bookings and dealing with venue management.

It's very timely and sadly applies everywhere.....

http://www.scribd.com/doc/78468650/La-Club-Owners

#12 - The artist 1-pager

2011-07-22T15:10:00.002+10:00

Hi there,

Wow! It's been a while....

I saw this today at CDBaby and thought it was definitely worth a repost.... Subscribe to their newsletter - heaps and heaps of great info...

Check this out http://diymusician.cdbaby.com/2011/07/how-to-make-an-effective-bandartist-one-sheet/?utm_source=DIYNews&utm_medium=Email&utm_campaign=072111

Cheers,
Simon

#11 - So you want to be a pop star?

2010-04-25T11:17:00.007+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog,

Recently I received an email from an artist in Perth, WA who like a lot of us always seems to be one step short of making it big. She's experienced writing sessions with big stars and been promised a lot of opportunities which never quite eventuate.

I completely understand that this happens. If we all made a dollar for each of the 'if onlys' we wouldn't ever need work again!

Of course, every now and again one of these big opportunities will be the big break. It's a matter of having everything in place and being ready, so can you can take advantage of the opportunity.

Almost every overnight success, was in fact not actually an overnight success - it's something that people have been working hard at for years.

Overnight successes for the most part only happen in the movies. If they do happen in the real world, they won't last long as there's unlikely to be any substance.

So, please don't just sit there expecting a starmaker to knock on your front door and do all the work for you. Get out there and take control of you career yourself.

So what do you do..? Well there's a lot of things and I picked 3 of my favourites.

The Starmaker

I really think the age of the ‘starmaker’ is long gone – last year over 85% of music was independently released. Big record companies aren’t really putting money into unknown/developing artists, they’re struggling to survive themselves. So you have to do gigs, write material and put it out yourself.

It won’t be until you have tangible independent success that a record company will look at you. Josh Pyke is a great example of how it works.

Be Independent

I think the only way to go is to ensure that you have demos/recorded songs available online so people can hear you. Make sure you have a music profile online. Some great examples of this fiercely independent approach are www.amandaeaston.com, www.yolandathomas.com and www.heatherfrahn.com. Unless you’re doing a reasonably sized show a week and selling 500 CDs a week, a manager is unnecessary. Of course all managers work on percentage, so even if you do engage management, unless you are doing the shows and selling the CDs it’s unlikely you’ll get a good manager as the good ones won’t work for free.

Be Ready for 'The Opportunity'

While it’s always great to get songs placed in TV shows and opportunities like writing with a big star could break an artist, I think you have to have everything ready (i.e. gigging, releasing songs regularly) in order that you can really get the best out of these sorts of opportunities. The Idols who lasted beyond the TV show have had heaps of experience and have worked hard on making their music career work. Then of course after getting the Idol opportunity they really work it and don’t rely on the industry to hand it to them. Even after having a number one single and lots of Idol exposure, Casey Donovan is out there doing regular original acoustic pub gigs.

So that's all for now. Don't wait and expect things to happen, go make them happen yourself. When the great songwriter Albert Hammond moved to the US in the 1970s, despite having numerous worldwide hits as a songwriter he still needed to get out there and make things happen "you've got to hustle, no matter what you do. If you don't...[it won't happen]"

#10 - Finished recording? Think about your release date!

2010-04-16T09:29:00.006+10:00

Hi there,

Not quite sure how it's April already, but there you go....

If you haven't checked out the great info at diymusician.cdbaby.com you really should....

Here's a great example of the type of stuff to be found....

I'll be back soon, in the meantime if The Record Factory can help out with any of your 'I want to make a CD' needs, email me.

Cheers

Simon

www.TheRecordFactory.com.au

Release dates: Why it’s better to wait!

You’ve heard it said that timing is everything, right? But the right timing can amount to nothing if you aren’t prepared. This is certainly true when it comes to releasing an album. Now if you’re planning to release songs or albums only through digital means, then you can ignore the following advice. Go ahead and release your music online the moment it is finished. But if you’re going to press up CDs (and we hope you do since CD sales still make up the largest portion of worldwide music sales), don’t be in such a rush. Here are a couple things to keep in mind when deciding on a release date.

Don’t book your CD release party until you have your discs back from the manufacturer. We have heard countless stories of people who book their release show first and then are scrambling around like headless chickens because the process took longer than expected. Wait until they’re in your hands. Are the discs in good shape? Right colors printed on the artwork? Do the CDs actually play? Good, now book your show. That probably means you’re looking at 2-3 months away. Use that time to get your promotional machine in gear. Send your discs to press, radio, and bloggers with enough lead-time so that the buzz will be audible by the time of your release party. If you really want to start selling, do a pre-release through CD Baby so fans in-the-know can get advance copies.

Don’t stale-date your album. Music journalists want to feel like they’re discovering tomorrow’s masterpiece, not yesterday’s news. If you know you’re not going to get discs back from the manufacture until October, November, or December anyways, just go ahead and put the following year’s date on the artwork’s copyright info. Book your CD release show for the early part of that following year, too. Waiting just an extra month or two can buy you a whole year of possible press-coverage."

#9 – So I’ve recorded my music what now? (part 1 of 2)

2009-11-25T22:24:00.004+11:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog,

Yes, it's been a while, and yes, there's no excuse... but we did just have a little boy and well, it's going great so far (thanks for asking).

This blog is all about tips and tricks to help you get what you want out of your music career. I hope you find the info useful... If you have any questions, or are looking to make a cd and would like some free help, advice and contacts, please email me.

Anyway, onto the task at hand...

So first things first – well done! You had some songs, workshopped them and got them sounding fab. You rehearsed them, played them at live shows and got the band sounding really tight. You sought out and found a great producer at a great rate and you've got your hands on the masters of your album.

"Now for certain rock stardom! Nothing's gonna stop us now!" I hear you say...

And yes, you've certainly taken a great big step, but there's still a way to go yet...

In this blog, I'm going to chat through the next steps to releasing your own CD, on your own label.

"But why would I want do that? With this material I'm bound to get signed by a major and go on tour with Kings of Leon..."

Releasing an Independent CD.
Releasing your own music gives you the freedom to design your own future, promote yourself in your own way (who loves/knows the music better than you?) and means that you get the best return possible from your hard work. Remember – there's been a technology revolution, it is now easier than ever to self-release an album which is equal to major-label releases for a fraction of the cost. You'll have spent way less money and therefore you're likely to break even (and start making money) quicker.

"Hey Simon that sounds great where do I sign up?"... well before you jump in head first, let's consider the costs involved to get your CD into the collection of your fans.

Getting set up

First up it's a good idea, (if you haven't already got one) to get an Australian Business Number (ABN). To get one you'll need to visit www.abr.gov.au/ABR_BC/. This way you can set yourself up as a 'sole trader' – for more info on types of company, ABNs and other business setup information visit the Government's business site www.business.gov.au.

If you're a sole trader you can use your own name and you won't need a separate bank account. However, if you're a band it's a good idea to set up a joint account matching the name of your business which will help you all keep track of your earnings and expenses. It's a good idea to get an account that has a debit card, it'll make buying band stuff much easier. Remember to keep all your receipts and save online invoices in a folder for tax time!

Admin L

No, it's not rock and roll, but it is good to be organised. Buy an a-z folder and file your receipts in different categories, petrol, postage, equipment etc. Why? Well many of the expenses incurred in making your CD will be tax deductible. If you think accounting software is necessary, MYOB and Quicken are two market leaders. I've always found an excel spreadsheet works pretty well too... Prices for accounting software generally run from $150 to $300.

Remember, if you're organised it will take your accountant less time to do your tax. If you save your accountant time, you save money.

The Sound of your CD

It is very important to have a technically consistent sound (i.e. levels, quality of sound) on your CD. For example if you recorded your album over a period of 3 years, it could be that when played back to back you notice small differences in how the songs sound.

This is where mastering comes in. Mastering is the glaze on the pottery! What mastering engineers do is ensure that the levels and sound quality are consistent across the whole album. During the mastering session, you'll also be able to decide the amount of time between the songs on the CD. Mastering a 11 track album will cost in the region of $500 to $2,000, depending on who you choose and where you have it mastered.

The look and presentation of your CD

1. The writing

Writing lyrics is not writing copy. They are two very different skills... You may want to consider getting someone to write your bio, press release or adverts. This will cost anything from $100 to $300. If you spend more than $300 on an independent release, you're probably going overboard. If you want to give it a go yourself, there's some great online resources.

2. The photography

If you are going to have pictures of yourself on the disc, then good photography is the most important aspect of your design. Pictures stand out and are worth getting done professionally. Check out The Record Factory's photoshoot package deal! If you have a plan and are well prepared for the shoot, you will make it easy for the photographer, thus saving time and money

3. The Graphic Designer

Next, you'll need to combine your text and images and layout the design of your release. A good graphic designer can take your materials and create a package that is greater than the sum of its parts. You may be able to call on talented friends to help, or you could solicit the services of disc manufacturers, who often have staff designers with an appreciation for music products. If you go with a manufacturer that offers this service, you can expect pay about $100 per page for package design.

MANUFACTURING

Here's some good news. The cost of CD manufacturing over the last few years has dropped significantly. One word of caution though – make sure you get your CDs manufactured locally. Sure it's a little more expensive, but in my experience having someone on the end of phone onshore if there's a drama is better than having to wait through time zones etc. There's also certain local manufacturers that will spot the little things and fix them up for you.

In addition, non-local manufactured discs are often replicated, not duplicated. That's why they're cheaper and there's the risk that replicated discs won't play in all CD/DVD players.

For budgeting purposes, figure that you can get a basic 1,000 retail-ready disc package with four-page inserts that are professionally printed and replicated for $1,200 to $1,500.

Before you go to manufacture you might want to get a bar code for your CD. Get one from AIR (www.air.org.au).

Phew! Let's cover off the remainder next time. Hope this is helpful – if you have any more questions, just shoot me an email – happy to try and help.

Cheers,

Simon

Simon@TheRecordFactory.com.au

#8 – You’ve just got to check out this blog...

2009-07-22T20:45:00.003+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog,

It's simple this week... There's this guy called Derek Sivers. Amongst other things, Derek founded a internet music retailer called CD Baby, which sells independently released music. It is a great concept and I'd highly recommend it as a great distribution channel for all indie artists... Oh and (shameless plug alert) you can visit my artist page at CDBaby by clicking here.

So, Derek recently sold CD Baby and now runs a couple of new ventures. He also writes a great blog – it is very inspiring, there's some great ideas, great anecdotes and it is really readable. I'm hooked.

I hope you like Derek's blog as much as I do and of course if you have any questions about recording a CD and would like some free help, advice and contacts, please email me.

#7 – I want to make a CD. How much is it going to cost? – by Simon Morel, The Record Factory

2009-07-14T11:17:00.004+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog,

Every couple of weeks, I'll be publishing some tips and tricks to help you get what you want out of your music career. I hope you find the info useful... If you have any questions, or are looking to make a cd and would like some free help, advice and contacts, please email me.

This week we're going to cover a question I get asked at the beginning of every conversation....

"I want to make a CD. How much is it going to cost?"

Well, the short answer is that it depends... In same way it depends if you asked "I want to buy a car. How much is it going to cost?"

Before we consider the factors which impact the cost of making your CD, I think it's important to talk about your expectations. The majority of CDs that get made are independent – and that means that the band or artist will pay for the project out of their own pockets.

So if you're expecting a shining knight producer in platinum armour to come and pay for everything and 'make you a star', it's unlikely... sure it happens now and then, but most CDs are still made independently.

The indie route has its advantages and disadvantages. On the plus side, you get to make exactly the record you want and in your own time. You 100% own the masters and you are completely in control of your destiny!

On the down side, remember that as you're paying you must do your homework. Research the type of CD you want to make, the type of studio you want ot record in, the producer you'll work with... for some further tips, read my blog on 'How to find the right producer for you' or call The Record Factory and we'll be happy to help you.

So – here are some of the factors which impact the cost of making your CD...

#1 - Producer reputation...
If you want Rick Rubin to produce your CD, then obviously the total cost will be significantly higher than if you record at a studio with a producer with a less well known client list. Experience costs.

#2 - Studio required?
Does the producer you've selected run his own studio? This may be beneficial as the day rate or song rate you're offered will most likely include the cost of their room/equipment.

#3 - How much production?
Are you looking to record with your band playing all at the same time in the same room? This will be cheaper than if you record one instrument at a time.

The second part to this is the sound you want your CD to have. Often the more detail on the album, the more expensive it will be. A guitar orchestra piece with 77 individual parts and with you as the only guitar player will take a significant amount of time to record... A folk song with 2 acoustics, harmonica and two vocals will take a lot less time...

#4 - How many session musicians?
Can you play all the instruments yourself? If not, then you may need some hired help... which naturally adds to the cost of the recording project.

#5 - Are you ready?
This could easily be the most expensive part of making your CD. 'Takes' take time, the more time you're in the studio, the more it will cost you.

How rehearsed are you? Got your sound and style together? Have you been out playing to real life audiences? Regularly? If the answer to these sorts of questions is no, then get ready, rehearse, gig, then record.

#6 – What the ultimate aim for the recording?
Is this a demo to put up on MySpace or do you aim to commercially release the work? Big difference.

Summary
So in summary your question shouldn't necessarily be 'How much will it cost to make a CD?'. It's a question you can answer yourself - 'What's my budget?'.

If you know your budget, then you can work towards getting the best possible value for your money.

Thanks for listening – if you are looking to make a CD and would like a helping hand, please don't hesitate to call (0404 267 623) or email me...

Cheers,

Simon

#6 – Building a Music Career online with David Nevue – Courtesy of Kevin Breuner, CD Baby

2009-06-11T12:02:00.004+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog. At The Record Factory, we help you the artist with free, honest and straightforward advice and contacts to help you make a CD. That includes all the contacts you need from graphic artists to recording studios to CD manufacturers. For free.

I've just read this article on CD Baby and couldn't wait until next week to share it. Enjoy – it's a ripper!

Thanks for follow The Record Factory blog. Visit www.CDBaby.org for more excellent music career tips...

Cheers,
Simon
www.TheRecordFactory.com.au

For over a decade, CD Baby has been flying the flag of DIY independence, fostering a community of spirited, innovative, and self-reliant musicians. There is a cliché about the modern music business that rings true time and time again: Labels don't want YOU until you've done it yourself. Once you've done it yourself, you don't need THEM. With our DIY Musician newsletter, we're rallying the indie music community to share tips, tricks, and converse over topics that run through the collective conscious of every indie musician who creates, sells, and distributes their music with the world.

PODCAST SPOTLIGHT
Our DIY Musician Podcast distills the wisdom of industry experts into a 45-minute audio delight. For those of you who can't sit still that long, here's an excerpt from a classic episode to review at your leisure.

Episode #55: Building a Music Career Online, with David Nevue
Interview by Kevin Breuner

The internet is an irreplaceable tool for music promotion, but is it possible to build a music career in cyberspace alone? In a recent episode of the CD Baby DIY Musician Podcast we heard from solo pianist David Nevue who built his music into a full time career just by creating an effective online presence. It's important to note that David's success did not come overnight, but grew at a steady pace as he continued to release great music and home in on his online marketing strategies. David's business model is the perfect example of what can be accomplished with great music, a little merchandising know-how, and a long-term vision. We cover a lot of ground in the podcast interview but we have some interesting excerpts for you below. To hear the whole interview, you can listen at http://cdbabypodcast.com or subscribe in the iTunes podcast directory.

Tell us about yourself as an artist and your history of selling music online.
I'm a pianist and composer and have been playing music for a long time. I released my first album back in 1991. I had the fortune of getting a job working for a company called Symantec, which is best know for their Norton products like Norton Anti Virus. That put me in a position where I was able to work in a technology industry at a time where the internet was just coming into public view. It was back in 1995 when I first put my music online and started selling it through my website.

The thoughts that I really had was thinking about who my target audience is and figuring out how to find them. Being that I'm a pianist and composer and that I write this great piano music that people love and enjoy to play, a good chunk of my audience was obviously piano players. So I went out searching different places where I could find piano players hanging out on websites, and in piano player forums and groups and just started getting involved. People started to ask me about my music and then they started purchasing my music and things just sort of took off from there.

You recently had your highest weekly payout for digital distribution through CD Baby and it surprised you so much that you spent some time thinking about it and even wrote on your blog about it. What were some of your conclusion as to why your music sales where on the rise during an economic recession?
Well, the one payment that got me really excited was a one week payout of over $2,100 just for my digital sales (Not including CD sales). On average month, I probably do around $1,500 total, so this was my largest one-week payout ever. That doesn't happen usually unless you get really lucky and just have something that gets on fire and people are suddenly buying it for whatever reason. In my instance, I just have a lot of music available online and I have a lot of product out there. The more product you have, the more you have to sell, and I think it feeds into the whole internet marketing thing.

I have 150 tracks available online for sale and that's 150 opportunities for people to find my music. Also, when people find and they really love your music, they have a whole bunch more that they can buy. That's something that has been great for me as an artist because it's very common for me to sell multiple CDs at a time when people come to my website to buy music. It is actually pretty rare when people come to my website for them to only buy one CD. The more products you have, the more merchandise you have that people can purchase. If they find you and discover you and like your music, they're going to want more. If people are excited about your music then they also tell other people about it which is also a big key for selling music online. You've got to have music that people want to share.

What are some of the products you're offering through your website?
I have sheet music. I have CDs. And I link to CD Baby and iTunes for my digital downloads. I also have a DVD for sale that is just my music that someone put to some very beautiful videography.

Are you generating consistent income from your personal website as well? I know you mentioned your CD Baby digital sales, but does your website continue to generate CDs sales and sheet music sales on a consistent basis?
Absolutely. I do great in terms of sheet music sales. Probably in the neighborhood of about $1,500 a month. I sell the score for each song for $3.95, and I also sell them in groups so people can buy a sheet music package. The sheet music thing is something that I don't think a lot of artists are keying into that they ought to. You can sell sheet music or just lead sheets of your music or songs with the chords and lyrics with the melody, and fans of your music will buy that. Especially if they are piano players or guitar players. If you release an album, why not score your music or create tablature of your music? That gives you something else you can sell. For me, it's great because when I release a CD, let's say it has 15 songs on the album, I can sell that album for $10 as a digital album. I can sell it for maybe $12-$13 as a CD. But just from sheet music sales, when I sell it for $4 a song, I can get $60 for the sheet music sales from that same CD. That's a huge market!

Some keys to David's success
1. Taking time to listen to his audience and what they wanted — Artists and bands spend a lot of time and energy trying to communicate their music and message to their fans, but do you ever listen to what they say back? Have you ever asked them why they like your music in the first place? Their response may surprise you!

2. Sticking it out for the long haul — David started back in 1995, and he certainly didn't see success overnight. What he did notice is that as his fan base grew and his musical catalog grew, the whole thing started to snowball. Now, with over 150 tracks available for purchase, the cycle is somewhat self-perpetuating and new fans go back and buy many of the older catalog titles.

3. Creating other products for his audience — David generates quite a bit of income from selling downloadable PDF's of his sheet music. Give your audience other ways in which they can interact with your music

4. Maintaining an active email list — For any artist hoping to make a living from selling music online, this is key. You must keep active communication going with your fans.

#5 – So I’ve got an artist website, what now? 11 Things a successful website needs!

2009-06-09T14:54:00.004+10:00

Hi,

Welcome to the fifth instalment of The Record Factory blog. So far we've had a chat about building relationships and maintaining professional standards, promotion of your music over the internet and last time out 'How do a find a Record Producer' was the topic.

This time, courtesy of merlesworld.blogspot.com/ via www.addme.com, the topic is '11 Things a Successful Website needs'. It's a really good read and the article makes some great points about what and what not to do. Points that I really think are relevant to artist websites are 'Contact us' boxes and Social Media Links...

I hope you find it helpful! Remember – if you're thinking about making a CD, or getting any of the 101 things done that are connected with releasing a CD, contact The Record Factory for free, honest and straightforward advice and contacts.

To subscribe email me (I'll send a weekly blog straight to your email) or click here.

To share this blog click one of the 'add me' buttons on this page.

Cheers,
Simon
www.TheRecordFactory.com.au

"11 Things Every Successful Website Needs

So you've put together a spectacular website, and you're ready to go live on the Internet for the whole world to see. Not so fast there Bucky. In case you didn't know, there are a few essential requirements that every site needs to include in order to be successful.

Let's review, shall we:

1) Privacy Policy/Disclaimer:

Now, I'm not a Lawyer and don't claim to be one, but these two documents should be standard issue for every site you have. People want to know how you're going to use their personal information, and a "privacy policy" does just that.

In today's litigious society you'll also need to include a disclaimer/terms of use page. This protects you and spells out to your visitors what they're agreeing to by using your website. If you don't know where to start in generating these documents, you'll find plenty of help online.

DMA Privacy Policy Generator
OECD Privacy Statement Generator
Google Adsense & other Ad Networks Privacy Policy Generator
Privacy Policy Generator
Free Site Disclaimer

This is not legal advice, and if you need help in this department, consult with a local attorney.

2) Contact Us Information:

I can't tell you how many sites I've been to that fail to include a way to contact the owner. If you can't include a phone number, at the very least have an email address or a "contact us" form. By providing this information, you'll make your visitors feel more comfortable knowing there's a way to reach you should the need arise.

If you need a form and don't know how to create your own, try one of these free form services.

Bravenet
Freedback

Email Me

3) Search Box/Site Map:

If your site is rather large, you'll also want to include a way to search, or have what is called a "site map". There are many ways to add a search function to your site, the easiest being to use Google's free service at- http://www.google.com/sitesearch/

or try PicoSearch.

A site map sounds technical, but it's just one web page that contains links to every page of your site, usually broken down by category. Here are some resources to help.

FreeFind

4) Google Analytics/Tracking System:

Once your site is up and running you'll want to keep your eye on traffic.

Who's visiting your website, what pages are the most popular, where is the traffic coming from. All of these questions and more can be answered by using a good analytics program.

There are several ways to add a thorough tracking system to your site, but the easiest and one that won't cost you a dime is Google Analytics Once registered, you can add as many sites as you like all under one user ID and password. You'll be given some code to copy and paste on your pages. Simple, easy, and you're done.

5) Newsletter Sign Up/RSS Feed:

There's an old saying that people won't buy from you the very first time they come to your website, so you need a way to stay in touch with them to bring them back again and again. By offering a newsletter, also known as an ezine, you'll be building a list of possible prospects which is invaluable to any site owner.

You'll find a multitude of free and low cost newsletter services online. It's up to you, depending on your needs and what you can afford. If you don't want to pay anything, my favorite free services are:

FreeAutoBot

Yahoo Groups

You can also offer an RSS feed for your newsletter, or updates to your blog or site. This makes it easy for others to keep up with your most recent posts. The best service for this is...

FeedBurner

6) Consistent Navigation:

This might sound like a no brainer, but many folks get it wrong. No matter what type of menu system you decide upon, make sure it stays the same across the board on all pages of your site.

Your job is to guide your visitors through your website, making sure they always know where they are and how to get to where they need to go.

For more see:

Eye on Web
Web Page Mistakes

7) Search Engine Optimized Copy:

At first glance you might not think this is so important, but trust me it is. You want your pages to rank well with the search engines and there are a few steps you can take to ensure this happens.

Each page of your website should be optimized for 2, or at the most 3 keywords/phrases. Weave the keywords into your titles and into the body of each page. You can also include them in your image titles, alt tags, even in the names you give your pages. Look at each page individually and decide what it's about, then optimize accordingly.

For help see:

MarketLeap
CopyBlogger

8) Social Media Share Button:

With the popularity of social media sites such as Twitter, Facebook, and MySpace, you'd be foolish not to include an easy way for your content to be shared with others.

You'll find many free services that will give you the code you need to instantly add a "share button" to your web pages so that visitors can instantly share them with their friends.

To generate your own buttons see:

AddThis

TwitThis

9) Meta Tags:

Some may tell you that meta tags are dead. Don't listen. Meta tags should be included in your HTML code at the top of every page. Many search engines will read them to pull a description to include in their search results.

Again, each page should be optimized separately and have a unique title, keywords, and description tags.

For help see:

AddMe Meta Tag Tool

10) Copyright Notice:

Sounds simple but forgotten by many. All pages should include a copyright notice. If you don't want to have to update it manually every year, find a simple Javascript that will automatically do it for you. You'll find one such script at:

Uncle Jims

11) Trust Seals/Testimonials:

I grouped these two items together as they both instil trust and confidence in your visitors. Remember, when someone comes to your website, they don't know who you are and if you're selling something, they may not feel comfortable giving out their credit card information. To help them feel more "warm and fuzzy", include trust seals for any organizations you belong to:

For example:

BBB
Honest E Online

Also, if you have testimonials from happy customers, or ezine subscribers, weave them into your site copy. People always love to hear that others have had a happy experience with your products/services. Make sure you get permission first from the testimonial writers before placing them on your website.

So there you have it -my short list of what every site needs to succeed online. Now that you're armed with this information, get out the magnifying glasses and take a close look at your own website to see what may be missing.

It's not hard to create a website, but for one that stands out head and shoulders above the rest, you need to include these important elements. When you launch your next site you want it to be successful, not average. So what are you waiting for? You've got a lot of work to do, so get busy."

About the Author

Merle's Mission Blog "Rants, Raves and Random Acts of Kindness" a self proclaimed "Internet Junkie" with a passion for net marketing, affiliate marketing, social networking. An avid Blogger and writer with several niche sites to her credit. Find out more at http://merlesworld.blogspot.com/

#4 – How to find the right producer for you – by Simon Morel, The Record Factory

2009-06-02T15:24:00.010+10:00

Hi,

Welcome to the fourth instalment of The Record Factory blog. In the past few articles, we've dealt with building relationships and maintaining professional standards. Last time courtesy of Nashville Songwriters Association International, promotion of your music over the internet was the topic.

This time, we're going to take a step back and look at the key things you need to consider when looking for a producer. Deciding on when, where, who with and how you are going to record your music is probably one of the most important set of decisions you'll make. After all, no amount of great mastering, cool artwork or top shelf promotion will sell music that has been poorly recorded after a bad set of decisions.

#1 – What's your budget?

Number one is to consider your budget. It's important to decide/figure out how much money you have and then go and make the best CD possible based on your budget.

Don't be afraid to talk to producers about your budget first and what their rates are. And don't forget to talk about a payment schedule. At The Record Factory we think 50% upfront, 25% halfway through and 25% before you get the masters is fair.

Talking about the money upfront is a good thing, it gets it out of the way and then you get to talk about the direction, vibe, sound of the CD. It also sets up expectations and no-one's time is wasted. For example if your total project budget is $1,000 for an 11 track album, then it's unlikely that ARIA award winning producers will be in your price range.

And one last thing whilst we're on the filthy lucre, don't forget the other things that you'll need to spend some of the budget on. CD manufacturing, mastering, graphic art and promotion will all require a slice of the pie.

#2 – Are you ready?

So after you've decided that your CD will sit right next to Pete Murray, Josh Pyke and James Blunt, you need to have a very honest conversation with yourself (and your band). Are we ready? Are we good enough? Can we play in time together?

If you've been playing the songs with your band at 5 gigs a week over the last 6 months, it's likely that you've refined the songs and are well rehearsed. If you finished writing the songs at 2am this morning and are due in the studio at 10am, it's less likely.

It can be a hard decision, but do make this decision. It will save you money in the studio. Think about it, if you're well rehearsed, the band may get it on the first take. Don't waste time at $400-1000/day in a studio rehearsing/re-writing/adding a bridge/changing the lyrics. The more prepared you are, the better the result. As my Marketing Director brother says – "Piss poor preparation, leads to piss poor performance". Enough said.

#3 – Do you buy your jeans from your local greengrocer?

Huh? Well, what I mean is make sure you're going to the right person for the job. Who are your fans (apart from your mum)? What kind of music do they like? Think about one of your fans, if they owned your CD, what other bands/singers CDs sit on the shelf next to it? This decision helps you think about what genre of music you make. That in turn allows you to consider who might be the right producer for you. Generally speaking, if you think your CD would sit nicely alongside Cradle of Filth's latest release – the best producer for you won't be a commercial tween pop producer.

What has the producer done before? Get a discography of their work. Go listen to it. Do you like the sound of it? Do you like the way it's been recorded? Can you imagine your song with a similar treatment? Do you like the way the vocal/drums/guitar/lute sounds? Does it sound like the record in your head? Think about it... as I said, you don't try and buy jeans from your local greengrocer, so why try the musical equivalent – you'll end up being disappointed.

#4 – How is your act set up?

Are you a band or a solo singer-songwriter? This will impact how you record your music and it may also have an impact on the budget.

A full band could book a studio with a live room and track the whole thing live (remembering that if you're rehearsed you'll need fewer takes/overdubs).

If you are a solo singer-songwriter, then you'll have to factor in budget for extra musicians, or even if you play every instrument you would like on the CD, you'll need more studio time as you can't play everything at once (unless you're a one man band with guitar, a bass drum on your back, a tambourine on your left foot and shaker on your right).

#5 – What kind of record do you want to make?

This is about getting a 'source CD' together of tracks that you love the sound or feel of – not always the songs themselves. This will inform the 'sound' of your record. Producers prefer artists to say "I want the drum sound to be like on 'Race for the Prize' by the Flaming Lips", not "I want the drums to sound, you know, more... like... well... I guess... more crimson." Further explanation after the producer hears the source CD is great. And remember, you're paying the producer not only for their equipment, experience and production skills, but also their ears! So use them.

In addition to the 'source CD', ask yourself how 'produced' you want the finished product to sound. Do you want 17 tracks of guitars on each song? Rock 'n' roll! - But that will take time, and as you know, time = money. Do you want a stripped back style with acoustic guitar, two vocals and percussion?

There are some studios which are set up for bands, some for solos, some for both...some producers play a whole bunch of instruments, some play none. Consider all these things when selecting a producer.

#6 – Do you think you'll get on with the producer?

Last but not least is the personal angle. I tend to think that the best work gets done when you're in a comfortable, supportive environment. I think it helps the overall vibe of the CD if everyone gets on. Do you like working with people you don't get along with? No, of course not. Catch up with producers over a cup of coffee before you start the project. Get a vibe for them, ask them about their best and worst recording experiences. Ask them what team they go for, what their favourite album is, if they prefer cats to dogs.... (Cats, by a whisker - thanks for asking)

Summary

So that's just some of the things to think about before you step into the studio. There's a fair bit more, but I've got to go and do the washing up. It won't wait any longer.

If you're looking to make a CD and are interested to find out how The Record Factory can help you, give me a call or email me.

All the best with your project!

Cheers,
Simon Morel - The Record Factory

www.therecordfactory.com.au

#3 – Bruce Michael Miller’s “Strategies for Promoting your music on the Internet”

2009-05-27T11:02:00.005+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog

In the last issue we spoke about Professionalism and Relationships and their benefits. This time here's something which was introduced to me by Zelda Sheldon from NSAI Australia (http://www.myspace.com/nsai_australia). It's a piece by Brice Michael Miller describing a range of strategies for promoting your music on the internet.

If you're interested to find out more about NSAI Australia, send Zelda a message via the MySpace site.

Cheers, Simon

Strategies for promoting your music on the internet

by Bruce Michael Miller

1. THE MUSIC BUSINESS

You need to know how the music business works if you want to be successful in it.

Good news about the music biz, is that it has changed dramatically over the past few years – and it continues to change. It has become more of a level playing field, which effects how music is heard, distributed and sold. Now regular people like us with a computer can get their music 'out there'.

It's a passion industry – your passion can take you further than any job you do just for money.

There's over 1.5 billion people on the internet.

The internet is not a magic pill, it is hard work, regularly an 8 – 14 hour a day job. The major powers and labels still hold the majority of the power to sell music – but there are many opportunities for independent music marketers like you and me.

The internet is now tailored to the buyer rather than the seller and we are in the age of the 'empowered music fan'. The days of radio DJs informing us of new acts is going...

2. INTRODUCTION TO THE INTERNET

Internet facts and figures

In 2008 the digital music business grew by 25%
In 2008 the digital music business grew to $3.7 billion. Projections for 2012 put it at $11 billion.
Singles drive the download market – 1.4 billion singles were downloaded in 2008.

Now is a great time to get into internet marketing of your music – it's not that old yet, it's still being developed and refined.

Illegal downloads are still a problem and this had eroded music business profits. It's free and easy. Interestingly research has found that 72% of those who illegally download said they would stop if they were asked by their ISP to stop illegally downloading.

It used to be a 'scarcity economy' – we were introduced to new books, music, film etc via the press, TV and retailers. All these avenues had their limitations, after all there's only so much air time, column inches and shelf space available. This led to a lopsided mentality – being limited by space. Only those titles deemed most popular by businesses were stocked and supported. Everything else was considered fringe and therefore not worth promoting.

Now we have online retailers (such as CD Baby, iTunes) who are not constrained by space or costly promotion exercises. As an example, let's compare some numbers...

An average book store holds 100,000 titles, Amazon holds 4 million.
An average DVD/Video store holds 3,000 titles, Netflix holds 60,000.
Walmart sells 55,000 titles or individual songs, Rhapsody hold 1.5 million.
- 40% of customers buy from Rhapsody, because they can't find it elsewhere.

3. WHAT YOU NEED TO GET STARTED

A computer
Fast internet provider
Web browser
Web host
Domain name
E-mail (remember to use a professional name)

4. YOUR WEBSITE

Make it easy to read
Online Press kit
Music available on your site
Digital downloads
Search engine registration
Optimise your site – sell you music/merch on the site, link to other places

5. SOCIAL NETWORKING

Social networking sites including MySpace, FaceBook and Twitter are widely used by entities and individuals including Presidents, Prime Ministers and major corporations who can afford to have their own websites. These entities now used social networking sites to reach out and keep in touch with their customers/followers. You can also use these tools to create a following for your music. Make sure to keep all the sites up to date. You could use a tool like www.ping.fm to update multiple sites at once.

6. FURTHER RESOURCES

CDBaby. (http://cdbaby.net)

Any artist can sell their songs via CD Baby. With a CD Baby membership, you not only get to sell your CD on the world's largest independent music store, you also can sell your downloads via retailers, including iTunes, Amazon, Rhapsody, and more. For just a $35 setup fee, CD Baby takes care of all the work and makes your music available to the world.

'The Long Tail' – Chris Anderson, all about 'selling less of more'

'Guerrilla Music Marketing' and 'The Buzz Factor' – Bob Baker www.bob-baker.com

Online Publishing companies

The way that music is found for TV, Film and advertising is also changing. If you have 'broadcast ready' tracks, you can upload you music and be paid licence fees and royalties as your music is used for a variety of channels such as online, TV, games or corporate clients.

The Nashville Songwriters Association International (NSAI) is now in Australia. Australian songwriters in any music genre and any level will benefit from being part of this vibrant songwriting community. NSAI consists of a body of creative minds, including songwriters from all genres of music, professional and amateur, who are committed to protecting the rights and future of the profession of songwriting, and to educate, elevate, and celebrate the songwriter and to act as a unifying force within the music community and the community at large.

What does NSAI do?

First and foremost, NSAI operates as a legislative advocacy group on behalf of songwriters. What does that mean? That means our organization FIGHTS for songwriter's rights - the right to be paid, to be taxed fairly, to be recognised and to protect the future profession of songwriting.

Second, NSAI teaches writers about the "craft" of writing. We teach you songwriting tips, provide songwriting tools, suggestions and ways to write the best song you possibly can. WE ALSO LISTEN TO YOUR SONGS

Third, NSAI teaches you about the Music Industry, how it works and how to position yourself and your song within the industry for the greatest possibility of achieving success.

#2 – Professionalism - The Record Factory’s Tips on Music Professionalism

2009-05-17T11:01:00.008+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog

Last time in the two part blog on Music Professionalism we spoke about Relationships, this time out it's the much easier stuff... Professionalism.

Cheers, Simon

PROFESSIONALISM

After having worked really hard on developing those relationships, don't let yourself down by getting the easy stuff wrong!

Hard Work.

It's unfortunate, but music is like any job – the more you put in, the more you get out… Be rehearsed – that means you have learnt your material at home before you get to the band rehearsal, rehearsals are not for learning the songs. Know your instrument and have good gear that works – all the time. Be consistent and give your best each time you're on stage whether there's an audience of 10 or 10,000.

Don't be late.

In fact be early. Gig at 9:30? Be there at 8:30 – it will help you relax, get you in the zone and allow you to give your best possible performance. And as a reward, get yourself a beer.

Playing at a showcase style night? Then if your slot is at 9:30, but the evening starts at 8, be there by 8. It will give you the opportunity to meet the crowd, meet the promoter, talk to the bar manager and other artists at the show. Support your music community.

Be the 'easy to work with' person.

Be generous and respectful to your fellow performers, be helpful and constructive, learn your material, don't be a prima donna.

Dress for the gig you're at.

This is really the same as going to a job interview – look your best and dress appropriately. Remember… look good = feel good!

If you're playing in a wedding/function band – don't turn up in ripped jeans! If you're playing in a hard rock band, maybe leave the 3-piece suit in the wardrobe and wear that Metallica t-shirt...and the ripped jeans. Remember, if you're unsure… ask!

Listen…

When you take down the details for the show, payment or client requirements, write them down – keep them in a diary, phone, whatever. Agents, promoters etc hate being asked twice for the same information. If somebody asks you for a promo pack or photo, don't leave it until later – get it to them straight away. Yes – straightaway! If a magazine has asked you for a photo, it's likely they'll ask other artists at the same time and they'll use the first one they get, so straightaway means now! Take your promo around on a memory stick and nip into an internet cafe if you need to.

Be easily contactable.

Have a mobile with voicemail and regularly check your email/MySpace/FaceBook. Don't make it hard for people to get hold of you. Get back to people as soon as you can.

Take notes.

No matter how good a musician you are, you can't remember everything! Fix this by writing it down... Whether it's remembering that the stress of the word is on the first syllable, the next chord is A minor, your gig is at 9 or 9:30 or the load in access to the gig is from Wilson Road and not through the front doors, you're only making it harder for yourself by not making a note of it.

Ensure you have a business card, website and promo/press kit.

Unless your act is a fart-based comedy show, the email address iliketofart@hotmail.com might not be for you. If you have a day job, don't use the Mick.Jagger@woolworths.com.au address – give the impression you are a 'Music Professional'. Mick@TheRollingStones.com is much better!

Positive Attitude.

Positive people are infectious. Maintaining a positive attitude not only means the people you work will enjoy working with you, it also shows you have pride in what you do. Who wants to work with a whinger?

Thank You.

Say it! Always.

Conclusion

There are no promises that if you employ these tips you'll be a multi-grammy-winning, chart-topping or MCG-selling-out musician.

However, with a strong network of contacts, hard work, professionalism and patience you will give yourself the best chance to succeed.

#1 Relationships - The Record Factory’s Tips on Music Professionalism

2009-05-05T11:36:00.008+10:00

Hi there and welcome to The Record Factory Blog

So here we go, I thought I'd start with a two part blog on Music Professionalism... Part one deals with Relationships.. Cheers, Simon

Introduction

You might be Australia's answer to John Lennon, but unfortunately your musical talent alone will not magic up a music career. Displaying a level of professionalism in your work is absolutely key to maintaining, developing and enjoying a fulfilling and sustainable music career.

In the race to the equivalent of a musical Melbourne Cup victory, RELATIONSHIPS win by a nose, with PROFESSIONALISM running a very close second. Here's a list of tips to hopefully help you on your way to a successful music career.

RELATIONSHIPS…

Building and maintaining mutually beneficial creative relationships.

This doesn't mean just getting along with your peers/mates! We're talking about the broader context of creating a network, working with clients and developing new business.

'Music Professionals' spend years building professional relationships. Creating rapport, establishing trust, sharing information and ideas and having hard conversations all will probably happen before your relationship yields fruit. Remember that your investment of money, time and energy is, more often than not, certainly worth the effort.

Be good to everyone

"I was running for an elevator once and the person inside clearly saw me but jumped for the 'door close' button anyway, calling out "I'm late for an interview" as the doors slammed in my face. He needn't have worried about being late... the interview was with me. You just never know who people are and where they might wind up, so it just makes sense to make friends with all people at all stages of their careers." Les Vogt, US Promoter

Get beyond 'being nice'

Building relationships is about getting to a point where you have a mutual understanding of what you can achieve together. Over time, move beyond the surface and talk about expectations, challenges, objectives, desired outcomes and a definite plan for cooperative projects with each other.

Be brave and ask for feedback and advice!

Don't be afraid to be open and to share info with your network. Don't miss the opportunity to benefit from the good people you've surrounded yourself with. It can be personally challenging, but if you've surrounded yourself with like-minded people, they'll appreciate your openness, honesty and desire to improve.

Maintain contact.

Don't be the person that only calls or turns up when you need something. People will quickly find you out. Once that happens, it will be really hard to change their impression of you. I know it's sometimes hard if you're time-poor, but try to keep in touch with people. Even a simple email or MySpace post will let them know you're there.

Keep your word.

Reliability and integrity are essential in building a relationship. Don't promise to help someone out or attend an event if you have little/no intention of going. Don't try to be everything to everybody. Unless you're Doctor Who, you can't be in two places at the same time (even he finds it hard and he's a Time Lord, you're just a musician). Don't agree to do things purely for your own benefit. Be selfless sometimes – your good work will come back and benefit you at some point, often when you least expect it.