I speak with a lot of artists every week looking for promo and marketing support for their music.  While well intentioned, 80% of these artists don’t understand the importance of getting out in front of an audience on a regular basis.  This needs to come first.

Regardless of how great your music is, it’s absolutely necessary to promote yourself in this manner.  Performing live is the most cost effective form of quality promotion and marketing.  It gets results and builds a solid fan base.

If you’re not currently performing live at all, then start local.  Book a show where ever possible, a coffee house, book store, private party, etc.  Be willing to perform for free if necessary, but get out in front of people.  Once you get some experience performing live then you’ll eventually be able to charge a fee for your performance.

Show-up prepared.  Bring some merchandise to sell, such as CDs, DVDs, T-Shirts - what ever you’ve got.  Bring a sign-up sheet to get fan email addresses.  Only send emails when you have news, but stay in touch with everybody.  Use your email list to let fans know when you’re performing again & ask them to bring friends. Thank them for their support.

Once you have a solid local fan base, then begin booking shows out-of-town.  A college town close to you is great place to start.  Then, spread out from there.

Build a solid fan base.  Perform live as much as you can in order to continue adding to your base.  Then, you’re ready for additional marketing and retail support to take things to the next level.

If you’re looking for something different, then you may want to check out Betty McBethal. Her song Mad is not so unusual, but Betty is not your typical musical artist: She’s a cartoon character.

Complete with a music video and real promotion to back it up, Mad tells of Betty’s and Bongo Dog’s trials and tribulations in trying to get a record deal. If anything, it’s a unique twist on the process of trying to get a record deal that so many artists desire. Perhaps somebody out there can relate?

Keni Thomas has a new CD out called Gunslinger. The new single from the CD has a lot to offer, called Shreveport 2 L.A.  Also, checkout the video on CMT featuring Leeann Tweeden.

You may remember Keni and his band performing in the movie “Sweet Home Alabama,” or in the TV promotion for NASCAR’s Talladega Superspeedway, but he’s at his best when he’s writing and performing live.

Listen and learn more about Keni at http://kenithomas.com.

I suppose it’s never too early to get a head start on your Christmas shopping. Hot Pop group 13 Stories has a new Christmas single out. Christmas Makes Me Hot plays on the power of reminiscence with the Christmas theme…(Does that make you randy???) Check out Christmas Makes Me Hot, which is already available on iTunes, and hear more from 13 Stories at http://13stories.com.

You saw it here first, Rehab’s music video for Bartender Song featuring Hank Williams Jr., and it’s been nominated for CMT’s Wide Open Country Video of the Year. I have to say, this duo sings it like they know what their talking about (By the way, I wonder how many of those drinks were required before Hank would sing the na na’s?). Watch the CMT feature……I have confirmed that no Chevys were actually harmed in the making of this video.

Show your support by casting your vote for Rehab & Hank Williams Jr here. Check out Rehab tour dates at hear more music at http://rehabmusic.com.

It’s been a while since I’ve heard an Athens band that actually has that great, authentic Athens sound.

You might find Suburban Soul’s smart song writing and catchy tunes just as appealing. Checkout Yours and Sometimes. Both songs should be hitting radio soon so listen for them. Learn more about Suburban Soul at http://suburbansoulmusic.com.

Like any other genre, Christian pop/rock can at times fall victim to the ever-dreadful cookie cutter. It’s hard to be unique and good within a very specific genre.

Life and Limb has successfully reached into the Christian genre, keeping the Faith while not reaching into the genre’s cookie jar. Give Sweet Jesus a listen. Learn more about Life and Limb at http://lifenlimb.com.

If given the opportunity, would you perform in front of a captive audience of 5,000 people for free?  Or, would you perform live on the radio for free? If you’re an independent artist, the answer should be “YES!! Book it!“For the independent artist, such exposure is gold and immensely important to career development. Businesses pay a lot of money for exposure in the form of advertising. Free advertising, or artist exposure, is a great business opportunity (and make no mistake about it: if you’re selling your own music then you’re a business owner and need to make good business decisions to be successful). The most successful indie artists make good business decisions.

However, if you’ve entrusted someone else, such as a manager, to make such important decisions on your behalf, the manager might not agree with this perspective on exposure.  So, why wouldn’t your manager want you to get the most exposure?  The goal is to get in front of, or heard by (radio), as many people as possible, is it not?

Of course. But, managers typically don’t get paid unless you do.  So, if there’s an “opportunity” for you to get paid performing for the walls at Wild Bill’s House of Caramel Coated Green Beans (open ’til midnight to satisfy your caramel green bean cravings), your manager might book you there to get paid and turn down the exposure opportunity of opening for a big act for free. $300 is good money for one night, but if you’re serious about building your career then quality exposure should be the priority.

Indie artist managers seem to be overly focused on short-term compensation, making decisions that get them paid today at their artist’s expense tomorrow.  “You’re too good (big,  famous, talented - whatever, insert any ego stoker) not to get paid big bucks for your performance.” Hogwash! I’ll trade a buck for a new, enthusiastic fan earned by live exposure any day. Quality exposure leads to valuable career development. If this means that you can’t quit your day job then so be it. If you stay focused on your career then you’ll understand this perspective. The truth of the matter is that many accomplished individuals work more than one job while developing a career. Music is no different.

Resist the ever present temptation of a laissez-faire approach when it comes to the business aspect of your career, music. If you do have a manager, it will benefit you not to trust him or her blindly (Billy Joel and many other artists have learned this the hard way).  Insist on reviewing all important documents and any decisions that effect you and your career, including booked appearances. If your manager is constantly defensive when you ask honest, sincere questions about decisions made that will effect your career, then get a new manager - now.

MJG has a new single featuring SLIM called Big Time. The video is currently being shot in Atlanta and also features SLIM, which should be completed & available online soon.  Listen for Big Time at radio & call the request line if you like it.

When you hear a statement like this from someone at radio then it’s usually worth checking out the tune. Listen to Cowboy Mouth’s new song, I Believe, and find out for yourself. Randy Scott, 94.1 KMPS Morning Show in Seattle, says “Each time we play I Believe on our morning show the phones light-up wondering who the band is.” At the very least, I Believe is a welcome breath of fresh air with a great message that appeals to many. Known for putting on an impressive live show, New Orleans’ Cowboy Mouth performs 200 shows a year. Check them out at http://cowboymouth.com.