Marketing artists, beats, albums, etc..

[BOO BLADES]

Peace fellow slutz...i know this forum is mainly about the production of the music and getting great fidelity...but once you get this masterpiece created...what do u feel is the best way of getting that product out to the masses?...Since this is the hip hop forum i know there are alot of indies and diy'ers here and i would like to hear opinions and experiences...I'll set it off with my personal experience:

After i got my album mixed and mastered...i also threw together a mixtape and got it hosted by Kay Slay...the purpose of the mixtape was to give away to people in my target markets in hopes of creating a buzz...i also hired street teams in these markets to do postering and hand outs ( dfegad every single team sucked)...i then assembled my own street team along with shrink wrapped vehicles and launched a massive assault on miami beach for memorial day...we gave out over 1000 t-shirts and 5000 cds (very effective )...we got the wax to the radio dj's out on the beach and they played my single on the air a few times over the weekend as well as commented on the job my street team did...then we hit v.a. beach for 4th of July (again very effective thumbsup ) and the feedback spurred us to do promotions in damn near every state from boston to miami...someone in every market remembered us from either miami or va...but it dawned on me that we need radio play to follow up in these markets cuz no matter how hard you promote you wont be able to impact everybody...so i hired 3 radio promoters for more money than i care to admit ( dfegad not very effective)...we got spins on mixshows but that doesnt translate into good bds cuz the cutting and scratching the song and it needs to play for about a minute and a half to register for bds...then i hired a publicist and some other marketing firms for print, etc ( not effective at all)...so in saying all this...the best results i got was from loading up my trucks and taking my team into the target markets and shaking hands and kissing babies...i met some good dudes along the way that are in the industry and i;ve met some vultures...right now i have resolved to push my project by myself, market to market, but i will not lie...this is the hardest thing i have ever done in my life...its physically and mentally exhausting...my next move is to get a dedicated web promo team but im skeptical about hiring anyone else for anything due to my experiences.

Im sorry if i got a lil long-winded but im just recounting my actions...and im wondering if there is a more effective way? (i wont say easier cuz theres no such thing with this business)...or maybe your way was different and got you better results...as of now i have a luke warm buzz due to this dvd i put together that has girls freaking off in it from all the markets we hit...ofcourse dudes love to see naked women but its better when its chicks from their hood i guess so i've sold close to 8000 of them in like 2 months...im thinking my next move has to blanket all of my target markets so that i can have a successful release for my album...any suggestions? (without radio play)...ok thats about it for me...what about you?


www.booblades.com

[Oh My!]

Was good fam keep up wit cha hustle. You doing alot more than a lot of dudes tryna do it. Yo I peeped your video for hands up. That was wild!!!!! I forgot who sent it to me but one of my peeps sent me that joint. Anyhow stay on ur grind. You just gotta set up that album keep working that single in the clubs. the streets is what get your buzz up so keep feedin em. I know cats who have worked records for months before they dropped.

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by BOO BLADES

Peace fellow slutz...i know this forum is mainly about the production of the music and getting great fidelity...but once you get this masterpiece created...what do u feel is the best way of getting that product out to the masses?...Since this is the hip hop forum i know there are alot of indies and diy'ers here and i would like to hear opinions and experiences...I'll set it off with my personal experience:

After i got my album mixed and mastered...i also threw together a mixtape and got it hosted by Kay Slay...the purpose of the mixtape was to give away to people in my target markets in hopes of creating a buzz...i also hired street teams in these markets to do postering and hand outs ( dfegad every single team sucked)...i then assembled my own street team along with shrink wrapped vehicles and launched a massive assault on miami beach for memorial day...we gave out over 1000 t-shirts and 5000 cds (very effective )...we got the wax to the radio dj's out on the beach and they played my single on the air a few times over the weekend as well as commented on the job my street team did...then we hit v.a. beach for 4th of July (again very effective thumbsup ) and the feedback spurred us to do promotions in damn near every state from boston to miami...someone in every market remembered us from either miami or va...but it dawned on me that we need radio play to follow up in these markets cuz no matter how hard you promote you wont be able to impact everybody...so i hired 3 radio promoters for more money than i care to admit ( dfegad not very effective)...we got spins on mixshows but that doesnt translate into good bds cuz the cutting and scratching the song and it needs to play for about a minute and a half to register for bds...then i hired a publicist and some other marketing firms for print, etc ( not effective at all)...so in saying all this...the best results i got was from loading up my trucks and taking my team into the target markets and shaking hands and kissing babies...i met some good dudes along the way that are in the industry and i;ve met some vultures...right now i have resolved to push my project by myself, market to market, but i will not lie...this is the hardest thing i have ever done in my life...its physically and mentally exhausting...my next move is to get a dedicated web promo team but im skeptical about hiring anyone else for anything due to my experiences.

Im sorry if i got a lil long-winded but im just recounting my actions...and im wondering if there is a more effective way? (i wont say easier cuz theres no such thing with this business)...or maybe your way was different and got you better results...as of now i have a luke warm buzz due to this dvd i put together that has girls freaking off in it from all the markets we hit...ofcourse dudes love to see naked women but its better when its chicks from their hood i guess so i've sold close to 8000 of them in like 2 months...im thinking my next move has to blanket all of my target markets so that i can have a successful release for my album...any suggestions? (without radio play)...ok thats about it for me...what about you?


www.booblades.com

What Kind of MC are you?? How are you Branding yourself?

I think you already are doing the best thing anyone can do and that's the streetwork and grinding yourself. I'm kinda weary of paying anyone else to do what I can for myself but honestly the grind takes you away from making music.

When you hit a city you have to hit more than the "tourist" strips. Go in the mall, go to the hoop spots, go to the clubs, go to the barber shops. GO EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE

Do you have something people would buy on the spot? IF so sell sell sell. EVEN if you gotta dayum near beg for those $10-20. GET THAT

Sponsor some radio give aways that coincide with your product.
Read the book guerilla marketing and make sure you are doing everything there that applies toyour business.

And while you have all that cranking think "what would make ME buy a hot record from someone" think like a customer. WHATEVER would make you buy will make someone else buy

and last but not least SELL in markets where other artists DONT go. All of your major cities NY, Philly, Jersey, ATL, DC, New Orleans etc... will be full of people/artists. Go hit Hatties burg Ms. HOuma LA, Port Arthur TX, All of the forgotten "little" towns that have people there.

GET an all female street team to pass out/sell DVDs you would be surprised how fast cats would go in their pockets for a woman!

[filterayok]

it sounds like you're funded-------i think you HAVE the answer already---what you did in Miami and VA was perfect.... i'd say just do it on a bigger scale, with more people, more cds, and t-shirts----as you hand out the cd's, start a mailing list... get the persons email or address.... ---if the music is strong, then i'd say you'd have to repeat the process, now that these areas have been somewhat exposed, contact everyone on the list to let them know your coming back, this time SELLING cd's instead of handing them out---if your selling enough cd's yourself, trust me, people are gonna come to YOU.... i think what your doing is amazing though----i wish i had the ability to do what you did for hisboyLroy...

[BOO BLADES]

Originally Posted by Philly Stress

What Kind of MC are you?? How are you Branding yourself?

You know what...thats a good question...im not a consious rapper or backpacker...i guess a bit hardcore...im marketing myself as myself...a hustler just trying to give the people good music...my album topics are a bit diverse tho cuz i remember how hot hip hop albums used to be but check the website and let me know what u think?

www.booblades.com

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by BOO BLADES

You know what...thats a good question...im not a consious rapper or backpacker...i guess a bit hardcore...im marketing myself as myself...a hustler just trying to give the people good music...my album topics are a bit diverse tho cuz i remember how hot hip hop albums used to be but check the website and let me know what u think?

www.booblades.com

What of production do you rhyme over?? Are you more Swizz Beats or Premo or inb etween a la Just Blaze??

[jlotto]

as far as web presence and dj awareness start hittin up

www.rapmullet.com
www.sohh.com
www.allhiphop.com
www.mixtapetalk.net

rapmullet- dj forums and mixtape reviews. djs from all around the world r their.

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

I think you already are doing the best thing anyone can do and that's the streetwork and grinding yourself. I'm kinda weary of paying anyone else to do what I can for myself but honestly the grind takes you away from making music.

When you hit a city you have to hit more than the "tourist" strips. Go in the mall, go to the hoop spots, go to the clubs, go to the barber shops. GO EVERYWHERE POSSIBLE

Do you have something people would buy on the spot? IF so sell sell sell. EVEN if you gotta dayum near beg for those $10-20. GET THAT

Sponsor some radio give aways that coincide with your product.
Read the book guerilla marketing and make sure you are doing everything there that applies toyour business.

And while you have all that cranking think "what would make ME buy a hot record from someone" think like a customer. WHATEVER would make you buy will make someone else buy

and last but not least SELL in markets where other artists DONT go. All of your major cities NY, Philly, Jersey, ATL, DC, New Orleans etc... will be full of people/artists. Go hit Hatties burg Ms. HOuma LA, Port Arthur TX, All of the forgotten "little" towns that have people there.

GET an all female street team to pass out/sell DVDs you would be surprised how fast cats would go in their pockets for a woman!

Why would a Dude who's doing the Indie thing in NY, drive 2000 miles to Backwater towns in MS and LA to try and sell East Coast Hip Hop?? He mite take a wrong turn and get lynched Talk about bad business advice...

[BOO BLADES]

Originally Posted by Philly Stress

Why would a Dude who's doing the Indie thing in NY, drive 2000 miles to Backwater towns in MS and LA to try and sell East Coast Hip Hop?? He mite take a wrong turn and get lynched Talk about bad business advice...

i dont think its bad business advice cuz alot of those towns just love to see a dude doing his thing...also i have southern type joints...(go t0 to the site and listen to "hands up" when u get a chance)...plus the project im selling now has alot of t&a...and we all know sex sells anywhere

www.booblades.com

[Philly Stress]

Originally Posted by BOO BLADES

also i have southern type joints
www.booblades.com

I think this could be a problem,speading yourself to thin could hurt your brand.
If I'm from some hick town down south why would I want to get Crunk with a New Yorker??

This is what hurts NY cats alot, lack of focus. That something for everybody stuf fusually doesn't work. Think about it how many down south dudes do you see doing Buckwild or Mobb Deep Style track?? Why? Because they are focus on there ownStyle/region. Try staying between Boston and Baltimore and every small town in between (Trenton, NJ Wilmington DE, Chester Pa, Etc.). This should keep you travel expenses down the Promo team won't get side tracked in Boston like they would in Miami. Gear up for the Summer, because most big releases happen in the 4 quarter of ther year (Oct-Dec) and you want to work around the big boys. Gear you Marketing Attack to clubs and show Promoters, because you should be able to get gigs opening up for some old school acts who are out there touring an that will lead to opening for bigger acts.Get your stage Presence tight as Possible! You Gotta sell your record/T-shirts ,etc. at shows! If you throw a good show you'll make a killing !!! Trying event marketing too. Throw some car Shows in the early and late summer,Find some other indie acts and have them Proform with you as opening acts maybe try getting a fairly big name act to proform too! Sell you're CD's and Merchandise get a publist to get some press for you.

One more thing... Print this post! It the best on in this thread so far!

[BOO BLADES]

fam i feel you and that some good advice but i will be honest with you...my biggest buzz is in va and n.c....with the current climate of rap these days you dont know what market you gonna break out in...also remember that b4 there were all these different types of rap it was just n.y. based rap so its still reguarded as true hip hop and a cat thats hot is a cat thats hot.

www.booblades.com

Philly stress I listened to his material and told him some markets I think he would do well in, because I have been in those markets. They will only know he's from NY if he decides to tell them. And honestly if they like the music, they wont give a dayum

If you really believe he might get LYNCHED LOL you need to get out to the south more often

We actually have running water,
computers
and neighborhoods where you dont get lynched

[BOO BLADES]

Originally Posted by no ssl yet

Philly stress I listened to his material and told him some markets I think he would do well in, because I have been in those markets. They will only know he's from NY if he decides to tell them. And honestly if they like the music, they wont give a dayum

They'll know im from N.Y. when they see the license plate on my truck and the first time i call someone "SON"!!

www.booblades.com

Originally Posted by Philly Stress

Why would a Dude who's doing the Indie thing in NY, drive 2000 miles to Backwater towns in MS and LA to try and sell East Coast Hip Hop?? He mite take a wrong turn and get lynched Talk about bad business advice...

Why? Because there's money there

You would be surprise how many other areas people call each other "son" in

[PhonoquO]

I don't think there is any other way to get around your problem this far in. You should relocate to LA or Miami or wherever you think you could have or already have your biggest potential fanbase. All the travel expenses associated with the interstate promo is going to hurt you in the long run. Like some peeps already said, it's difficult to get alot of attention if ur album has mutliple hip hop styles of production. If I were you, i would pick the most suitable style for your crew, then put a new spin on it, get a gimmick going in the production, like a trademark sound or something, so that when people hear one of your tracks, they be like dayum that's a BooBlades track without hearing BooBlades dropped in the vocals. Ultimately your live performances are what are going to get you the most important credibility. You've got the streets being taken cared of nicely, but if you land a nice opening spot for an established group, you will be exposing yourselves to countless potential new fans and A/R which should all have a cascading effect on the other areas you've already invested alot of money and time. Image seems to be the order of the day, so put alot of effort into choreographing the stage shows. This is some serious grind your on, and you got good music, so i think if you play your cards right, in the next few months you'll be closer to where you can be. I've got little experience in this area, so i'm just using gut instinct. Props

mark

[azwun25]

BooBlades, take comfort in the fact that 9 out of 10 heads tryin to make it don't grind half as hard as you do...that will amount to somehting in time...keep bangin it out

[BOO BLADES]

thanx for all the encouragement fellas...i guess i just have to stay on the grind...im about to take my trucks out to allstar weekend and get my hustle on out there in Houston (damn 26 hour drive)...as far as creating a Boo Blades sound...thats kind of hard to do cuz I produce what ever tracks i hear in my head...and to be honest with you...i dont like when a dude album sounds all the same...i like diversity in songs like albums from back in the days when hip hop was hot...nonetheless, into the trenches i go but i would appreciate any help i can get...yall fellas make sure you check out the site and if ur feeling it...put a couple people on to it and that way we can create a domino effect and i can credit G.S. as a factor for my success...peace

www.booblades.com

[ProToolzLE]

I feel your grind booblades! We have been doing some promotion too you know like hitting the malls in my hometown, putting flyers in stores, outside of stores in the barbershops on peoples cars. We have 5,000 CD's being pressed now for a show we are performing at in which we will be opening for a big act which include the Kadalack Boyz, Rasheeda, Mr. Collipark, and Ying Yang Twins and many more. At the club we will be handing out more flyers and cd's. We have been getting a good response lately. We also have done showcases downhere and in ATL, oh I'm from Macon, GA. Hell we have even performed in a Strip Club in the A and must I remind you we are only 19, 19, and 20. We are getting a site designed now and will be doing some internet promotion too. So we grinding too man. But you with the Kay Slay you doing it man I like your music keep pushing. We also have just started expanding to little country or small towns like Hawkinsville and Lizella and Roberta man they will show you love. Just last week my cousin from Columbus Ga called and said that they were spinning one of our records in the clubs up there and that people go crazy so we just left from there this weekend promoting and meeting our supporters so keep at it bruh. One