They written in an honest way, and it sounds a good thing to follow.
I’m going to try it. As soon as we get all tight.

Thanks

I’m the Editor-in-Chief of METAL EDGE magazine. I would suggest allocating your promotional stuff as follows, if possible:

1. Journalists/magazines – Email them a link to download your album via Megaupload or Rapidshare or some similar format. Use a decent MP3 bitrate (at least 192kpbs, but 256 or 320 is even better). I have hundreds of CDs stacked up on the floor next to my desk and am expecting at least a dozen or so more in today’s mail. A link to download MP3s means your album will go into my iPod (which is how I do about 99 percent of my music listening these days) that much faster.

2. Radio stations – Send CD-Rs.

- Phil Freeman

Great article, many of the things you mentioned are things that took me a few years in a band to learn. I do have one more question: How can I get YOU (YOU meaning you guys, but also other webzines and reviewers) to listen to my band’s music? We are very close to finishing our debut EP and really want you guys to listen to it (review it if you like it, post an mp3 if you think its worth it, but really just listen to it and give us a chance).

We are BROKE. We r thinking about buying E-Cards instead of CDs cuz they cost like .70 each instead of $3 each for a quantity under 300. Will album reviewers/radio stations/magazines, etc accept E-Cards? Will you guys listen to our album if we send it with a nice promo pack in E-Card form? We are trying to figure out if CDs are still the ONLY way to go…

Unless you are in a Scandinavian black metal band.

TO ALL BANDS, BE ADVISED WHEN COMING TO HOLLYWOOD. ON & AROUND THE STRIP, ALOT OF CLUBS ARE JUST WAITING TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF YOU!
Fortunately there are a good handfull of clubs that have no pre-requisite & with a small but good chance of getting paid.
Unfortunately, alot of clubs/’promotors’ are too pu$$y-$hit to give Metal bands a shot or nite. Additionaly, the radio stations are CRAP around here. So don’t try & promote your stuff because they have a thing called PAYOLA here – See KROQ… butch poser-a$$pu$$ies, with an identity crisis.
(they only real metal show, CHAOS w/ Full Metal Jackie, Indie103.1 – even though its on at a f*cked up time, sundays @ 10p for 2 hours, ONLY

SUPPORT YOUR UNDERGROUND \nn/

1. Your singer cannot actually be able to sing, he must use a vocoder and pitch correction so he/she sounds like T-Pain

2. You cannot actually be able to play your insturments, you must only play open chords in 4/4 the mosh kids love this

3. Image, Image, Image, Image, if you don’t look like a girl, have a girls haircut and wear girls pants then who the heck cares!

4. Record Demo at the Foundation Studio, Send rise records your demo

5. Profit!

(please note my sarcasm)

-Don’t let your/a significant other manage the band. RARELY does that work out and ends up causing a lot of unnecessary drama (and venue managers/bookers seem to have a disdain for that scenario right off the bat..) Plus it looks unprofessional. This goes for parents managing you as well. In fact, that’s even worse.

-Music first, image later. Don’t dwell on wearing matching jumpsuits or any of that shit. Or having the craziest band publicity photo or jam-packed MySpace page ever. If the music sucks and isn’t tight, no one will be impressed that your band has ultra-glossy photos of you standing in a jail cell, skull fucking the corpse of a dead cop or whatever (oh yeah, that one is true.)

@Topher: Totally on being on good terms with other bands. Also, same goes with venue personnel, who are often kinda mean and cranky. Don’t let that make you be the same with them. Play nice. They’ll remember too and treat you well when you return to their house.

Even if you think they suck, while you’re at the gig always give kudos, mention the other bands from stage, don’t talk shit, etc. This created karma will come back. I can’t tell you how many gigs bands I’ve been in have gotten just from being cool to other bands. A previous band of mine actually found a new bassist because a band whose CD we promoted during our gig remembered the gesture and forwarded a name to us.

And venues will remember you also. They remember if your fan base actually buys drinks while there, whether they’re troublemakers, whether you’re cool to the establishment, et. al. Just not being a dick goes a long way.

You can get a spindle of 100 CD-R’s for really cheap. You can also get those paper sleeves for about a penny each when bought in bulk. Then get some label sheet that you can stick in your printer. You don’t have to get round CD lables. Just get small file folder labels. Be sure to stick them close to the center of the disc otherwise the disc will wobble in the player. The label only needs to be large enough for your band name, the track names, and your website URL. You can save a lot of money that way, and it looks much nicer than using a Sharpie.

Grab multiple CD burner drives and stick as many in your PC as you can fit. I know Nero allows simultaneous burning, so you can burn like 3 discs at the same time.

If you have flyers or stickers, put one inside the sleeve along with the CD. People love surprises.

Oh yeah, one last thing. Your band will never be signed. You are in a band because you love to play and you love to be up on stage. You love it so much, you would pay the club to let you play. That should be your attitude. If it’s not your attitude, then sell your gear and go to college.