Bloodpuppies Entertainment
Tips for Bands
Rules of Thumb: 8 Truths for Winning as a Support Band
1. Don’t expect proper soundchecks and be ready to play the moment you finish linechecking.
Apparently in Melbourne we are spoiled since our opening acts get 15 minute linechecks – in Sydney it’s more like 2 minutes. So unless you are Matt Sorum who has the luxury of soundchecking (just drums!) for 2 hours, you’d better be ready to go with the flow and play when the soundie tells you to. And don’t chuck a hissyfit either – it’s both unprofessional and immature, even for a rockstar. Wait til you start selling out shows before you make demands for “proper soundchecks”.
2. Be observant of opportunities to network at every show you play.
The word networking sounds overly formal cos in the music industry, that really just means a few slaps on the back over pints of beer. Do not be afraid to approach someone and introduce yourself (and your band). Not just the fans, but managers of other bands, the promoter’s friends. Just like speed-dating, there is a genuine chance that whoever you’re talking to could change your life.
5 Free Online Tools Every Independent Band Should Use
Days of spamming your MySpace friends’ comment walls are over. With the rise of Twitter and Facebook, it’s becoming a lot easier to get in touch with your fans and promote your band.
Here are 5 superb online tools that help you get your music out there. All of them free.
1. Big Cartel
Big Cartel provides simple and customisable shopping carts for bands to sell their CDs, Tshirts directly to their fans. Their free accounts allow up to 5 products which is more than enough for most independent bands.
Be Connected
